Amanda Lanier

Amanda Lanier is a Professor at Michigan State University's Department of Linguistics, Languages, and Cultures. She serves as the Director of the Center for Language Teaching Advancement's online Master of Arts in Foreign Language Teaching (MAFLT) program and is affiliated with the Second Language Studies initiative. With a Ph.D. from Georgia State University, her work spans applied linguistics, teacher education, and intercultural competence.

• Education: Ph.D. from Georgia State University

Research Interests: Amanda's scholarship focuses on intercultural competence, teacher identity development, online learning pedagogies, and corpus-based analysis of vocabulary and grammar. She actively explores sociocognitive approaches to second language writing and the role of technology in task-based language teaching (TBLT). Her work on heritage language learners, particularly Arabic, highlights intersections between identity, motivation, and sociocultural contexts.

Publications: Her recent research (2010-2015) emphasizes heritage language education, intercultural communication, and technology-mediated learning. Key themes include identity negotiation in digital environments, lexical pattern acquisition in second language writing, and the sociocultural drivers of Arabic language learning among early adolescents.

Program Leadership: As MAFLT Director, she advances foreign language teacher education through innovative online curriculum design and intercultural communication frameworks.