Ayami Morita

Ayami Morita is a Lecturer in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures at Washington University in St. Louis. She holds an MA in Japanese Linguistics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (20XX) and a BA in Japanese Studies with a teaching focus from Nanzan University, Japan (20XX). Her professional roles include teaching Japanese at Bowdoin College, Franklin & Marshall College, and Middlebury Summer Language Schools prior to joining WashU.

Research interests center on second language acquisition mechanisms, pragmatic development, and the intersection of language learning with learner identity. She emphasizes inclusive pedagogy, fostering respect and cultural awareness through initiatives like tea ceremony demonstrations rooted in her Sado Matsuo-ryu Nanzan-kai training.

Teaching experience spans formal academic institutions and volunteer roles in Cambodia, complemented by high school classical Japanese instruction. Her work integrates cultural immersion with linguistic competence development.