Masaru Yamamoto
PhD Candidate
he / him / his
(Critical) Applied Linguistics
Multilingual Socialization
(Multimodal) Academic Discourse Socialization
Social Network Analysis
Multimodality
Biography
Masaru Yamamoto is a PhD candidate in the Department of Language and Literacy Education (LLED) at the University of British Columbia.
His scholarly interests center on critical applied linguistics and language socialization, with a particular focus on multimodal interaction, language learner identity and agency, (non-)participation, and access issues to socializing opportunities in postsecondary settings, including study abroad contexts. Methodologically, he integrates ethnographic case study approaches with various other analytic approaches, such as multimodal interaction analysis, social network analysis, and thematic analysis, among others.
Masaru has a broad teaching experience in formal and informal contexts, having taught English as a foreign language at the secondary level in Japan and disciplinary content courses at the university level in Canada. He approaches teaching as a space for dialogic inquiry, in which students and teachers together identify sites and moments of epistemic injustice, collaboratively explore epistemic resources to make sense of the struggles they encounter, and, in turn, construct a deeper understanding of the socially situated and fundamentally intricate nature of additional language learning and teaching. For him, language socialization, critical applied linguistics, and pedagogy converge as praxis, with teaching, theory, research, and our own emic experiences informing one another in ongoing dialogue. He has also delivered numerous invited workshops and presentations on a range of topics.
Masaru has been actively engaged in professional service and community initiatives, including accessible knowledge mobilization through multimedia production, digital media and materials development, and community-building projects. He was also a member of the conference organizing team for the American Association for Applied Linguistics (AAAL) in 2021.
His work has appeared bilingually, in English and Japanese, in venues such as Applied Linguistics, TESL Canada Journal, Alternative Approaches to Second Language Acquisition (2nd ed.), and 英語教育 (English Teachers Magazine, published in Japanese), among others. He is the recipient of several awards, including the AAAL Graduate Student Award (2022), the LLED Outstanding Graduate Student Service Award (2024), and the LLED Best MA Thesis Award (2022).
Selected Publications
Duff, P. A., & Yamamoto, M. (2026). Language socialization approaches to second language acquisition in changing multilingual contexts. In D. Atkinson & E. Taylor (Eds.), Alternative approaches to second language acquisition (2nd ed., pp. 119–145). Routledge. https://doi.org/DOI:10.4324/9781003426516-6
Yamamoto, M. (2024). Multimodal academic discourse socialization: Examining geoscience students’ disciplinary knowledge construction and socialization at a Canadian university. Applied Linguistics, 45(6), 1050–1074. https://doi.org/10.1093/applin/amae060
Journal Guest Editing
Yamamoto, M., & Aoyama, R. (Guest Eds.) (2023). Toward more diverse and inclusive ELT in Japan: From critical applied linguistics perspectives [monthly serial]. English Teachers’ Magazine. [Open access on my professional website]. Monthly serialized special column, originally edited in Japanese: 山本大, & 青山良輔. (編) (2023). 多様性と包摂のための英語教育を目指して: 批判的応用言語学の視点から. 英語教育.
Journal Articles
Kowkabi, N., Yamamoto, M., & Lin, T.-Y. (2025). Harnessing multilingual international students’ English academic socialization through asynchronous interactive online modules. TESL Canada Journal, 42(2), 65–78. https://doi.org/10.18806/tesl.v42i2/1432
Yamamoto, M. (2024). Multimodal academic discourse socialization: Examining geoscience students’ disciplinary knowledge construction and socialization at a Canadian university. Applied Linguistics, 45(6), 1050–1074. https://doi.org/10.1093/applin/amae060
Moore, A. R., & Yamamoto, M. (2023). How heteronormative is your language classroom?. English Teachers’ Magazine, 72(9), 58–59. [Open access on my professional website] Article published in Japanese: アシュリー・ラッセル・ムーア, & 山本大. (2023). わたしたちの教室はどれほど異性愛規範的か. 英語教育, 72(8), 58–59.
Yamamoto, M., & Aoyama, R. (2023). Re-examining and re-imagining ELT in Japan: From critical applied linguistics perspectives. English Teachers’ Magazine, 72(8), 56–57. [Open access on my professional website] *Article written in Japanese: 山本大, & 青山良輔. (2023). 批判的応用言語学の視座から英語教育を再検討する. 英語教育, 72(8), 56–57.
Yamamoto, M. (2021). A (second) language socialization perspective on learning and interaction: A case from a geoscience classroom. English Teachers’ Magazine, 70(3), 1–4. Article written in Japanese: 山本大 (2021). 学びとやり取りを見つめる(第二)言語社会化理論の視点: 地球科学の教室内事例研究を 例として. 英語教育, 70(3) 1–4.
Motobayashi, K., & Yamamoto, M. (2021). Classroom interaction in the “New Normal”: Focusing on the non-verbal aspects. English Teachers’ Magazine, 69(13), 70–71. Article originally written in Japanese: 本林響子, & 山本大 (2021). 「新しい日常」における教室内インターアクション: 非言語要素に着目して. 英語教育, 69(13), 70–71.
Surtees, V., & Yamamoto, M. (2021). Creating an interactive online orientation to academic practices for international students. BC TEAL Journal, 6(1), 29–41. https://doi.org/10.14288/bctj.v6i1.378
Book Chapters
Duff, P. A., & Yamamoto, M. (in press). Theoretical multiplicity and methodological variation in multilingual socialization research. In B., Smith, & E., Berman (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of language socialization. Oxford University Press.
Duff, P. A., & Yamamoto, M. (2026). Language socialization approaches to second language acquisition in changing multilingual contexts. In D. Atkinson & E. Taylor (Eds.), Alternative approaches to second language acquisition (2nd ed., pp. 119–145). Routledge. https://doi.org/DOI:10.4324/9781003426516-6 Duff, P. A., & Yamamoto, M. (2024). Language socialization, discourse, and second language research. In B. Paltridge & M. T. Prior (Eds.), The Routledge handbook of second language acquisition and discourse (pp. 200–212). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003177579-17
Duff, P. A., & Yamamoto, M. (2024). Language socialization, discourse, and second language research. In B. Paltridge & M. T. Prior (Eds.), The Routledge handbook of second language acquisition and discourse (pp. 200–212). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003177579-17
Yamamoto, M. (2022). Technical tips for successful audio- and video-recording of speaking tests: Column 2. In R. Koizumi (Ed.), A practical guide for developing English speaking tests (pp. 76–78). Taishukan Shoten. Book chapter originally written in Japanese: 山本大(2022). スピーキングテストの録音や編集を行うときの注意点: コラム 2. In 小泉利恵(編), 実例でわかる英語スピーキングテスト作成ガイド (pp. 76–78). 大修館書店.
Other
[Invited podcast] Duff, P. A. & Yamamoto, M. (2025, December 1). Multiscalar approaches to ethnographic research in applied linguistics. REACHing Beyond: Conversations on Language and Literacy Research Methods and Methodologies. Available on: RSS, Spotify, Apple Podcast
[Invited blog post] Yamamoto, M. (2024, March 6). Crafting a conference abstract that resonates. American Association for Applied Linguistics (AAAL) Graduate Student Council Blog. https://www.aaal-gsc.org/post/crafting-a-conference-abstract-that-resonates-an-initial-step-into-aaal-as-a-community-of-practice
[Newsletter] Yamamoto, M. (2022). What does a multimodal approach tell us about classroom interaction?: From a language socialization perspective. JALT Pragmatics SIG Newsletter, 59, 45–46.