Gail Nemetz Robinson, Ph.D. San Diego State University Language Acquisition Resource Center Founding Director

Dr. Gail Nemetz Robinson, (Ph.D., Stanford University), Professor of Linguistics and Spanish at San Diego State University, was Founding Director of its Language Acquisition Resource Center as one of the nation’s first three National Language Centers funded through the U.S. Congress, bringing innovative research to language and culture learning with particular attention to media use. Under her direction, LARC developed educational videos addressing: ethnographic interview techniques for understanding others through effective listening, the cultural issues surrounding NAFTA and contemporary Japan as well as the use of video for language testing, including the Video Oral Communication Instruments (VOCIs) in seven languages. She also directed language authoring systems, videodiscs and software for teaching Spanish, Hebrew and Arabic, in additional to texts for Chinese and Portuguese. Among her numerous awards, she was Title VI Fellow at Stanford University, Visiting Scholar to the Faculty, Australia National University, Most Influential Faculty, SDSU and has received over $3,500,000 in grants for SDSU.

Before joining San Diego State University, Dr. Robinson held other leadership positions as Language Research Specialist with SONY, Japan and the New South Wales Dept. of Education. Her research in Europe, Mexico, Australia, Asia, North America and Papua New Guinea inform her research and publications, including: CROSSCULTURAL UNDERSTANDING (Prentice Hall Intl); ISSUES IN SECOND LANGUAGE & CROSSCULTURAL EDUCATION (Heinle and Heinle), The Magic‑Carpet‑Ride‑to‑Another‑Culture Syndrome (Foreign Language Annals), Culturally Diverse Speech Styles, in Interactive Language Teaching (Cambridge University Press), Second Culture Acquisition, (Modern Language Journal), Effective feedback strategies in CALL, Computer Assisted Language Learning: Critical Concepts in Linguistics, (Routledge)., Crosscultural preparation for language study abroad, ADFL Bulletin, (Modern Language Association).

Dr. Robinson’s current research focuses on the development of peace through innovative communicative techniques. Her newest book, recently released is: and PEACEFUL CONVERSATIONS – Preventing Conflict in Communication – across cultures, in the workplace, among family & friends, forthcoming in Spanish, August, 2017: CONVERSACIONES PACIFICAS – Prevenir Conflictos en la Communicación, (RiversMoore Books). For more information please see: gailnemetzrobinson.com or larc.sdsu.edu/drgailrobinson.