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Each year, ASSETT, the Arts & Sciences Support of Education Through Technology, awards a faculty member with the Excellence in Teaching with Technology Award. After reviewing recommendations from peers and students, ASSETT recognized Dr. Sangbok Kim as the 2024 recipient of the Excellence in Teaching with Technology Award for his development and implementation of a language learning program in his Korean classes and for his exceptional use of other technologies in his courses.

Sangbok is a senior instructor and a Korean Language Coordinator at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Dr. Kim teaches beginner to advanced levels in the Korean language and has experience teaching at several universities. He also conducts research in linguistics, Korean and English language acquisition, and education. Dr. Kim has published several papers throughout his career. 

As an instructor dedicated to enhancing language learning experiences, Dr. Kim's impact extends far beyond traditional classroom walls. His innovative spirit is evident in the creation of PIP Lang, or Pronunciation - Interpretation - Performance Language. PIP Lang streamlines language acquisition by offering students a unique opportunity to practice their Korean oral skills from the comfort of their homes. PIP Lang transcends typical language barriers and fosters a deeper connection to the language. Dr. Kim's dedication to harnessing technology for educational advancement shines brightly, illuminating the path forward for educators interested in incorporating technology into the classroom. 

PIP Lang is a web platform that works in conjunction with Kim’s Anytime Korean textbook series. These textbooks have about 4-5 semester's worth of content. This connection between the software and textbooks creates an immediate application in the classroom. Dr. Kim explains that “it allows [students] to practice one-on-one conversations with virtual Korean speakers… [and] it is equipped with AI that automatically grades learners’ pronunciation during these virtual interactions.” Active oral production is crucial when building language skills. Using AI speech recognition, PIP Lang provides real-time feedback to students. Through Dr. Kim’s research on the benefits and effectiveness of using PIP Lang, students reported conversing with confidence, gaining insights into Korean expressions, and improving their pronunciation, oral production and interactions. 

Dr. Kim developed PIP Lang to expand his capacity as the only native speaker in the classroom. “This limitation also hinders [students’] ability to receive immediate pronunciation feedback. Furthermore, students engage in conversation with peers throughout the entire class, and since these peers are also learning Korean, there’s a risk of reinforcing incorrect pronunciations and developing a skewed perception of the target language due to shared non-native accents and errors.” Dr. Kim describes PIP Lang as a virtual TA, offering real-time feedback, pronunciation corrections, autonomous speaking practice, and a flexible learning environment.

When asked about his use of technology in the classroom, Dr. Kim said, “I have always placed a strong emphasis on technology in my language classroom. In addition to PIP Lang, Dr. Kim actively uses many other technologies in his courses such as iSpring, Quizlet, and Gemini for their effectiveness in language learning. He also emphasizes the importance of platforms like YouTube for cultural exploration, and he integrates organizational systems in Canvas and OneDrive to share materials and host discussions.  

Instructional technology is particularly beneficial for language learning because it caters to learners' perspectives and offers diverse teaching methods.” This is undoubtedly evident in his students’ reflections on their classes with Dr. Kim, noting how his use of technology has helped in their individual learning as well as their collaboration with classmates. One student writes, “Personally, this has helped me a lot with my learning, and I believe that his methods will also continue to improve over time and help many more students in the future.”

Dr. Kim recommends three steps for technology-curious instructors: “(1) Focus on maximizing in-person interaction, (2) use technology to enhance, not replace, instructions, and (3) explore and experiment to find the right fit,” he explains. “By strategically utilizing these tools outside of class time, you can free up valuable classroom minutes for interactive and engaging activities… Don't be afraid to experiment and see what works best for you and your students.” 

Congratulations again to Dr. Sangbok Kim! Thank you for continuously working to improve your students’ learning experiences through innovative technology use.