James Cohen, Ph.D.

Professor of ESL/Bilingual Education

Department

Curriculum and Instruction

Education

• Ph.D., Arizona State University
• M.A.T.E.S.O.L., School for International Training
• B.S., Secondary Education-English University of Wisconsin-Madison

Academic Interests

My research interests lie in the areas of bilingual and ESL education, Literacy instruction of immigrant and non-native English speakers, non-parallel schooled immigrant students and undocumented immigrants.

Selected Publications

Books

Cohen, J., McAlister, K., Rolstad, K., and MacSwan, J. (Eds.) (2005). ISB4: Proceedings of the 4^th International Symposium on Bilingualism. Vols. 1-5. Somerville, MA: Cascadilla Press. Xxiv + 2,455 pages.

Refereed Articles

• Wilder, P., Cohen, J., Deogracias, M. and Trudeau, A. (2024). Cultivating Nonviolent Relationships Within Global Literacy Education Partnerships. Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, 00, 1-7.
• Lech, I. and Cohen, J. (2021). Voice for change: Model of investment theory in professional development for school administrators. Mid-Western Educational Journal, 33(2), 230-248.
• Orazova, G. and Cohen, J. (2021). English as a tool for empowering women's educational success: A case study of a young rural Turkmen Woman. TESOL J; 12(1).00:e536.
• Rieb, C, and Cohen, J. (2021). Impact of music on language acquisition. Mid-Western Educational Journal, 32(4), 350-368.
• Smith, P., Cohen, J. and Strid, J.E. (2020). Engaging English learners in the reading classroom: New Perspectives on traditional strategies. Illinois Reading Council Journal 48(4). 11-24. DOI. 10.33600/IRCJ.48.4.2020.11
• Kusumaningtyas, P., and Cohen, J. (2020). The Chinese diaspora's ‘imaginary' homeland in the novels by four Chinese-American and Chinese-Indonesian writers. Diaspora Studies, 13(2), 152-169.
• Wickens, C.M., Cohen, J.A. and Theriault, J.C. (2020) Shifting Identities: The Figured Worlds of One Adolescent Immigrant English Learner. Urban Rev 52, 650–668.
• Wickens, C., Cohen, J. and Walther, C.S. (2017). Reflexivity in the interstices: A tale of reflexivity at work in, during, and behind the scenes. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education.
• Cohen, J., McCarthy, S., Strid, J.E. (2016). Why should a monolingual English speaking reading teacher advocate for biliteracy of English learners? Illinois Reading Council Journal, 44(2), 20-27.
• Mass, A., Cohen, J., McCarthy, S., Dahnweih, G., and Franklin, M. (2016). The Impact of living in a mixed-status family on PK-12 students. Association of Mexican-American Educators Journal, 10(1), 18-35.

Book Chapters

• Cohen, J., Haro, M., Heinz, S. and Marron, T. (2023). Working with Undocumented Immigrant Students: Developing and Sustaining Longstanding Relationships. In A. Esmail, A Pitre, A.D. Ross, J. Blakely and H. P. Baptiste (Eds.), English Language Learners: The Power of Culturally Relevant Pedagogies (pp.17-26). Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield publishers/NAME.
• Strid, J.E., Cohen, J.A., Gathings, A., Stepter, R., and Taylor, A. (2019). Roadblocks to Bilingualism. In S. Keengwe and G. Onchwari (Eds.), Handbook of Research on Engaging Immigrant Families and Promoting Academic Success for English Language Learners (pp. 66-90). Hershey, PA: IGI Global. doi:10.4018/978-1-5225-8283-0.ch004.
• Flynn, J., Hunt, R., Wickman, S., Cohen, J. and Fox, C. (2014). Architecting the change we want: Applied critical race theory and the foundations of a diversity strategic plan in a college of education In Sleeter, CL., Kumashiro, KK. and Neal, LI. (Eds) Diversifying the Teacher Workforce. (pp.153-167). New York, NY: Routledge.
• MacSwan, J, Rolstad, K., and McAlister, K., Cohen, J. (2005). Introduction, pp. xxi-xxiv. In Cohen, J., McAlister, K., Rolstad, K., and MacSwan, J. (Eds.) ISB4: Proceedings of the 4th International Symposium on Bilingualism. Somerville, MA: Cascadilla Press.

Selected Presentations

• Cohen, J. (2024, Aug.). 8 principles of Speaking/Listening in the EFL Classroom. Presented to teachers at Al Azhar School district, Jogjakarta, Indonesia.
• Cohen, J. (2024, Aug.). Classroom Management: It does not need to be so difficult. Presented to teachers at Al Azhar school district, Jogjakarta, Indonesia.
• Cohen, J. (2023, July). Perspectives are the key in policy making at the school and classroom levels. International Conference on global Education: Educational Trends, Issues, and Innovations. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Keynote presentation.
• Cohen, J. (2023, Feb.). Unaccompanied Minors: The Truth and its implications in schools. Spotlight presentation (similar to Keynote). National Association of Bilingual Education Annual Meeting. Portland, Oregon.
• Cohen, J. (2023, June). Perspectives is what it is all about. Presented to Pradita Dirgantara High School teachers, Central Java, Indonesia.

Funded Grant Writing

• Cohen, J., Tonks, S. and Borg, T. (2024). Uruguayan Teacher Exchange, Awarded from Sept 11-Sept 28, 2024. Funded for $131,328.32
• Cohen, J. and Wasonga, T. (2023). Expanding perspectives of pre-service teachers through immersion: An international experience. Awarded Dec 1, 2023 for $10,000.
• Cohen, J., Tonks, S. and Borg, T. (2023). Uruguayan Teacher Exchange, Awarded from Sept 9-Sept 29, 2023. Funded for $141,291.02
• Cohen, J., Tonks, S. and Borg, T. (2022). Uruguayan Teacher Exchange. Awarded from Sept 11-Sept 29, 2022. Funded for $131,853.31
• Cohen, J., Thurmaier, K., and Wasonga, T. (2021). Fulbright-Hayes Group Projects Abroad Program Grant. Awarded from 2/01/21-7/01/2023. Changing Perspectives: Language and Cultural Exploration Through Experiencing Difference. Funded for $76,166.00.
• Cohen, J., Tonks, S., Borg, T. (2021). Uruguayan Teacher Exchange grant, awarded from Sept. 19-Oct. 8, 2021. Funded for $131,447.24.
• Cohen, J., Borg, T., Tonks, S. (2020). Uruguayan Teacher Exchange grant, Awarded from Feb 4, 2020 to Feb 24, 2020. Funded for $77,599.24.

Courses Taught

• LTIC 700: Seminar on Language and Identity
• LTIC 700: Seminar on English as a lingua franca
• LTIC 400: Introduction to Teaching English Language Learners in schools
• EPFE 505: Foundations of Language Minority Education
• LTIC 420: Methods and Materials for teaching English Language Learners in the Content Areas
• LTIC 520: Methods and Materials for Teaching English as a Second Language Foundations of Education for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students
• LTIC 501: Cultural Studies of Second Language Learners in The Classroom

Awards

• 2022: Fulbright-Hayes Group Project Winner, Tanzania and Kenya
• 2021: NIU Outstanding International Educator Award
• 2019: Fulbright Scholarship for Summer 2019, Uruguay, South America
• 2019: NIU College of Education Outreach Community Service Award
• 2017: NIU College of Education Exceptional Contributions in Diversity/Social Justice Award
• 2015: NIU Latino Resource Center: Recognized as an Exceptional Outreach Professor for the Latino Community
• 2013: NIU Presidential Commission on the Status of Minorities Deacon Davis Diversity Award
• 2012: NIU College of Education Alyce Kramer Marcus Exceptional Teacher Award

Honors Faculty Fellow (2021-2022)

As an Honors Faculty Fellow, Professor Cohen will teach a seminar on Undocumented Immigrants in spring 2022 in the University Honors Program. The Honors Faculty Fellowship program identifies faculty eager to teach innovative, exciting seminars of interest to highly-motivated students from across the university.