Kazuko K. Saito, M.S. Ed.
Adjunct Lecturer & EdTech Faculty Fellow, Hunter College (CUNY), World Language Teacher at Clarkstown Central School District (Clarkstown High School South, Felix Festa Middle School)
Email: ks2833@hunter.cuny.edu / ksaito@ccsd.edu
Kazuko Saito, M.S. Ed., is an adjunct lecturer of Japanese language and an EdTech Faculty Fellow at Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY). She is also a world language teacher at Clarkstown Central School District and teacher at middle/high school (Japanese 1, 2, 3, and AP Japanese) and an active member of the NYS World Language Leadership Council. With a specialization in online language teaching, she has successfully implemented the Synchronous Online Flipped Learning Approach (SOFLA®) in her college language courses, contributing to innovative pedagogical strategies in online and hybrid instruction.
Professor Saito is a passionate advocate for standard-based instruction and K-16 articulation. She is the founder of the Boston x New York Study Group, a professional learning community dedicated to promoting World-Readiness Standards for Learning Languages. She also established the Human Library for Japanese Teachers, an initiative fostering collaboration and diversity in Japanese language education.
As an experienced presenter, Professor Saito has shared her expertise at numerous national and international conferences, including ACTFL, ICJLE, and Princeton Japanese Pedagogy Forum. She has led SOFLA®-focused workshops, such as “The Synchronous Online Flipped Learning Approach in Japanese Language Courses” (JALT 2021) and SOFLA® implementation sessions at the TESOL Electronic Village Online (EVO). Her research interests include flipped learning, AI in language education, and fostering intercultural competence through virtual exchanges.
Recent Presentations (SOFLA & Related Topics)
- SOFLA® in Japanese Language Courses, Japan Association for Language Teaching (JALT), 2021
- Synchronous Online Flipped Learning Approach (SOFLA®) for Japanese Hiragana Instruction, Association for Asian Studies Annual Conference, 2022
- The Synchronous Online Flipped Learning Approach – SOFLA®, ACTFL Annual Convention, 2022
- GenAI as a Teacher’s Ally: Integrating AI into Online and Hybrid Language Teaching, CUNY IT Conference, 2023
Publications & Papers
- “Leveraging Online Professional Learning Communities to Address the Challenges in Japanese Language Education: Boston x New York Study Group”, WorldCALL Proceedings, 2023
- “Standard-Based Course Design Aimed at Improving Proficiency Starting from Beginners: Case Study of Using Open Educational Resources ‘We Authors'”, Princeton Japanese Pedagogy Forum Proceedings, 2023
- “Navigating the Realm of Bridging Language Education through Task-Based Virtual Exchange in Novice Japanese Language Course Design”, Princeton Japanese Pedagogy Forum Proceedings, 2024
Professional Affiliations
- SOFLA® Certified Trainer
- American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)
- American Association of Teachers of Japanese (AATJ)
- NYS World Language Leadership Council
- Boston x New York Study Group (BNYSG)
- Northeast Council of Teachers of Japanese (NECTJ)
