Education
Michigan State University; East Lansing, Michigan; USA
Ph.D. Second Language Studies with Language Testing concentration
Expected graduation date: 2024
Lancaster University; Lancaster, England
M.A. in Language Testing (2017), With merit
Thesis advisor: Dr. Sara Cushing
Thesis title: Exploring task representations of professors and students in classroom-based writing assignments at an English medium instruction university
Michigan State University; East Lansing, Michigan; USA
M.A. TESOL (2008)
Northern Michigan University; Marquette, Michigan; USA
B.A. English (2005) Publications
Yoder, M. (2022). Comparing university students’ reading proficiency with course materials. Kudos Lay Summary of Holzknecht, F., Guggenbichler, E., Zehentner, M., Yoder, M., Konrad, E., & Kremmel, B. (2022). in Journal of English-Medium Instruction.
https://www.growkudos.com/publications/10.1075%25252Fjemi.21006.hol/reader
Holzknecht, F., Guggenbichler, E., Zehentner,
M., Yoder, M., Konrad, E., & Kremmel, B. (2022). Comparing EMI university reading materials with students’ reading proficiency. Journal of English-Medium Instruction, 1(2), 180–203.
https://doi.org/10.1075/jemi.21006.hol
Yoder, M. (2021, February 9). A self-reflection approach to bolstering motivation in the foreign language classroom. TESOL Applied Linguistics Forum.
http://newsmanager.commpartners.com/tesolalis/issues/2021-02-09/email.html
Paquot, M., Gries, S., &
Yoder, M. (2021). Measuring lexicogrammar. In T. Brunfaut & P. Winke (Eds.), The Routledge Handbook of SLA and Language Testing. Routledge.
Yoder, M. (2017). Exploring task representations of professors and students in classroom-based writing assignments at an English medium instruction university (Unpublished master’s dissertation). Lancaster University, Lancaster, England.
Yoder, M. (2015, April 2015). The importance of writing instruction: A Lithuanian perspective [Web log post].
https://transnationalwriting.wordpress.com/page/2/
Yoder, M. & Letson, A. (2008). Materials development and teaching tips: Implementing self-assessment into the classroom. In C. Pearson, K. M. Losey, and N.A. Caplan (Eds.), “Making Connections”: Selected Proceedings of the 2007 Michigan Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages Conference. Ann Arbor, MI: Michigan Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages.
https://commons.emich.edu/mitesol/6Projects
A) Using test-taker response processes to inform what contributes to item and passage difficulty in C-tests
This project uses screen capture recordings as an online measure and stimulated recall retrospective measures to capture test-takers’ test completion behaviors and perspectives on what makes C-test items and passages difficult. Findings from the project aim to inform the item-writing training and add to both the bodies of C-test research and item writer training research in general in the field of Language Assessment.
B) Do visuals really require less cognitive processing than texts in item options?
This project explores the interplay between visual complexity and item difficulty in visual-rich listening test comprehension items of a standardized English language proficiency test for Young Learners. Findings from the project aim to: a) add to the existing literature on linguistic and lexical complexity measures that contribute to item difficulty level of listening comprehension language assessments and b) inform item-writing training and test specification descriptions for item writers and test developers in the field of Language Assessment. Upcoming Talks and Conferences
O’Connell, S., Yoder, M., & Kim, A. (2022, March 7-11). Developing a Coding Scheme to Explore Listening Item Difficulty for Young Multilingual Learners. [Poster presentation]. Language Testing Research Colloquium 2022, virtual conference. Memberships
Midwest Association of Language Testing (MwALT)
European Association for Language Testing and Assessment (EALTA)
Michigan TESOL (MITESOL)
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL International)
Christian English Language Educators Association (CELEA)
European Association of Teaching Academic Writing (EATAW)
American Association of Applied Linguists (AAAL)
