Alan Juffs

Associate Professor of Linguistics

Director, English Language Institute

BA University of London

MA University of Durham

PhD McGill University

Address:2833 Cathedral of Learning
Telephone: (412) 624-5901
E-mail: juffs at pitt.edu
FAX: (412) 624-6130

Previous Employment

  • Lecturer in ESL at Xiang-Ya (Hunan-Yale) Hunan Medical University, P.R. of China, 1992.
  • Assistant Professor at the International University of Japan.
  • Lecturer in ESL at Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, P.R. of China.
  • Other teaching experience in France and the United Kingdom.

Areas of Specialization

  • Linguistic theory
  • Second Language Acquisition
  • Syntax and semantics
  • TESOL
  • Working memory and sentence processing

Current Projects

  • Research on syntax-semantics interfaces in second language acquisition and class-room based instruction
  • Cross-linguistic study of semantics, morphology and argument structure
  • National Science Foundation funded: Robust Learning of vocabulary in ESL.
  • Pittsburgh Science of Learning Center
  • Chair of the English Course Committee, Pittsburgh Science of Learning Center
  • SLA RESEARCH LABORATORY

Selected Recent and Forthcoming Publications

  • DeKeyser, R. M., & Juffs, A. (2005). Cognitive considerations in L2 learning. In E. Hinkel (Ed.), Handbook of Research in Second Language Teaching and Learning (pp. 437-454). Mahwah, NJ: Lawence Erlbaum Associates.
  • Juffs, A. (2004). Representation, processing and working memory in a second language. Transactions of the Philological Society, 102, 199-226.
  • Juffs, A. (2005). The influence of first language on the processing of wh-movement in English as a second language. Second Language Research, 21, 121-151.
  • Juffs, A. (2006). Grammmar and parsing and a transition theory. Applied Psycholinguistics, 27, 69-71.
  • Juffs, A. (2006). Processing reduced relative vs. main verb ambiguity in English as a Second Language: a replication study with working memory. In R. Slabakova, S. Montrul & P. Prevost (Eds.), Inquiries in Linguistic Development in Honor of Lydia White (pp. 213-232). Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
  • Juffs, A. (in press). Working Memory, second language acquisition, and low-educated second language and literacy learners. LOT Occasional Papers: Netherlands Graduate School of Linguistics.
  • Spinner, P., & Juffs, A. (2006). Acquisition of L2 gender: locating the source of the problem. Proceedings of Generative Approaches to Language Acquisition, 1, 333-344.

PhD Dissertations Directed or Co-Directed and Job Placement

  • 2007. Annalisa Czeczulin. The Russian Reflexive in second language acquisition. Binding preferences and L1 transfer. Instructor, Goucher College , Maryland and Johns Hopkins University. Co-directed with Professor David Birnbaum.
  • 2007. Guillermo A. Rodriguez. Second Language Sentence Processing. Is it fundamentally different? Assistant Professor, University of Vermont.
  • 2007. Patti Spinner. Placement testing and morphosyntactic development in second language learners of English. Assistant Professor, Michigan State University.
  • 2006. Greg Mizera. Working Memory and L2 Oral Fluency. Lecturer, University of Pittsburgh.
  • 2003.Alan Vogel. Verb Classes in Jarawara. Senior Linguist, Summer Institute of Linguistics, Brazil. (Co-Directed with Professor Sally Thomason.)
  • 2002. Michael Fender. English word recognition and word integration skills of Arabic and Japanese ESL learners. Assistant Professor, California State University at Long Beach. (Co-Directed with Professor R. Donato.)
  • 2001.Jenifer Larson-Hall. The critical period and second language acquisition: Evidence from phonology. Assistant Professor, University of North Texas.
  • 2000. Patrick Andre Mather.. The role of L1 transfer in contact-induced language change. Assistant Professor, University of Puerto Rico.

Recent and forthcoming Conference Presentations

  • Juffs, A. and Rodriguez, G. Second language sentence processing and working memory in college-educated and low-educated learners of English as a second language. EuroSLA, Antalya, Turkey. September, 2006.
  • Juffs, A., Eskenazi, M., Callan, J., Wilson, L., Heilman, M., Collins-Thompson, K and Pelletreau, T. Promoting robust learning of vocabulary through computer assisted language learning. June, 2006, AAAL Montreal.
  • Pharmakis, P. and A. Juffs. It's all Greek to me: L1 lemma mediated access in Greek/English bilinguals. Poster at GASLA 8, Banff, April, 2006.
  • Spinner, P. & A. Juffs. Case in the acquisition of L2 German. GASLA VII. Indiana University, April 2004.
  • Jelliffe, J.D. & Juffs, A. (Poster). The Parsing of Sentences with Full Relative Clauses by L2 Learners. GASLA VII. Indiana University, IN. April. 2004.
  • Juffs, A. (2003, October 18 2003). Working memory: understanding issues inb mainstream psychology. Paper presented at the Second Language Research Forum, Tucson, Arizona.
  • 2002. Working memory as a variable in accounting for individual differences in second language performance. American Association of Applied Linguistics Annual Meeting. April 6-9. 2002. Salt Lake City, UT
  • 2000a. Working memory and L1 influences in ambiguity resolution in L2 English sentence processing. American Association of Applied Linguistics Annual Meeting. March 11-14. 2000. Vancouver, BC.
  • 2000b. Creating and implementing an achievable annual marketing plan. University and College Intensive English Program/National Association of Foreign Student Advisors Annual Meeting. Workshop #18. San Diego, CA: May 29, 2000. With M. Louise Krumm (Georgetown University); A Clive Roberts (San Diego State University); Rafael Robles (University of Miami); Sam Lee (University of Southern California.)

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