​

Edited volume

Isaacs, T., & Trofimovich, P. (Eds.). (2017). Second language pronunciation assessment: Interdisciplinary perspectives. Multilingual Matters. [Open Access Link] [Press release] [Blog]

Refereed journal articles​​
Isaacs T., & Chalmers, H. (2023). Reducing “avoidable research waste” in applied linguistics research: Insights from healthcare research. Language Teaching. [Open access link]

Isaacs T., & Winke, P. M. (2024). Purposeful turns for more equitable and transparent publishing in language testing and assessment. Language Testing, 41(1), 3-8. [Open access link]

Chong, S. W., Isaacs, T. (2023). An ecological perspective on classroom-based assessment. TESOL Quarterly.[Open access link]

Chong, S. W., Isaacs, T., & McKinley, J. (2023). Research timeline: Ecological Systems Theory and L2 research. Language Teaching​, 56, 333–348. [Open access link]

Isaacs, T., Hu, R., Trenkic, D., & Varga, J. (2023). Examining the predictive validity of the Duolingo English Test: Evidence from a major UK university. Language Testing, 40(3), 748-770. [Open access link] [Accessible summary] [Press release]

Saito, K., Trofimovich, P., & Isaacs, T. (2016). Second language speech production: Investigating linguistic correlates of comprehensibility and accentedness for learners at different ability levels. Applied Psycholinguistics, 37, 217–240. [Download]

Trofimovich, P. & Isaacs, T. (2012). Disentangling L2 comprehensibility from accentedness. Bilingualism: Language and Cognition, 15, 905–916. [Download]

Isaacs, T., & Trofimovich, P. (2012). “Deconstructing” comprehensibility: Identifying the linguistic influences on listeners’ L2 comprehensibility ratings. Studies in Second Language Acquisition, 34, 475–505. [Download] [Accessible summary] [Press release]

Isaacs, T., Laurier, M. D., Turner, C. E., & Segalowitz, N. (2011). Identifying second language speech tasks and ability levels for successful nurse oral interaction with patients in a linguistic minority setting: An instrument development project. Health Communication, 26, 560–570. [Link] [Download]

Isaacs, T., & Trofimovich, P. (2011). Phonological memory, attention control, and musical ability: Effects of individual differences on rater judgments of second language speech. Applied Psycholinguistics, 32, 113–140. [Download]

Isaacs, T., & Trofimovich, P. (2010). Falling on sensitive ears? The influence of musical ability on extreme raters’ judgments of L2 pronunciation. TESOL Quarterly, 44, 375–386. [Download]

Isaacs, T. (2009). Integrating form and meaning in L2 pronunciation instruction. TESL Canada Journal, 27, 1–12. [Download]

Thomson, R. I., & Isaacs, T. (2009). Within-category variation in L2 English vowel learning. Canadian Acoustics, 37, 138–139. [Download]

Isaacs, T. (2008). Towards defining a valid assessment criterion of pronunciation proficiency in non-native English speaking graduate students. Canadian Modern Language Review, 64, 555–580. [Download]​

Isaacs, T. (2006). Never say never: The case for Iraqi Judeo-Arabic. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 10, 395–414. [Download]

​Refereed book chapters

Isaacs, T. (2023). Researching phonology: Mixed methods research. The Encyclopedia of applied linguistics (2nd ed.). John Wiley & Sons.

Zhang, S., & Isaacs, T. (2023). Can interactions happen across the screens? The use of videoconferencing technology in assessing second language pragmatic competence. In K. Sadeghi (Ed.), Language assessment at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic. Routledge.

Isaacs, T. & Thomson, R. I. (2022). Reactions to second language speech: Influences of discrete speech characteristics, rater experience, and speaker first language background. In J. M. Levis, T. M. Derwing, & M. J. Munro (Eds.), The evolution of pronunciation teaching and research: 25 years of intelligibility, comprehensibility, and accentedness (pp. 125-151). John Benjamins.

Thomson, R. I., & Isaacs, T. (2022). Evaluations of foreign accented speech: Listener bias and speech signal characteristics. In A. Jarosz, & V. Sardegna (Eds.), Theoretical and practical perspectives on English pronunciation teaching and research (pp. 24-44). Springer

Jones, J., & Isaacs, T. (2022). Assessing second language pronunciation. In H. Moehebbi, & C. Coombe (Eds.), Research questions in language education and applied linguistics (pp. 305-310). Springer.

Trofimovich, P., Isaacs, T. Kennedy, S., & Tsunemoto, A. (in press). Speech comprehensibility. In T. M. Derwing, M. J. Munro, & R. I. Thomson, The Routledge handbook of second language acquisition and L2 speaking. Routledge.

Isaacs, T. (2018). Fully automated speaking assessment: Changes to proficiency testing and the role of pronunciation. In O. Kang, R. I. Thomson, & J. Murphy (Eds.), The Routledge handbook of contemporary English pronunciation (pp. 570–584). Routledge. [Download]

Kim, H., & Isaacs, T. (2018). Teachers’ voices in the decision to discontinue a public examination reform: Washback effects and implications for utilizing tests as levers for change. In D. Xerri & P. Vella Briffa (Eds.), Teacher involvement in high stakes language testing (pp. 263–282). Springer. [Download] ​

​Isaacs, T. & Trofimovich, P. (2017). Key themes, constructs, and interdisciplinary perspectives in second language pronunciation assessment. In T. Isaacs & P. Trofimovich (Eds.), Second language pronunciation assessment: Interdisciplinary perspectives (pp. 3–11). Multilingual Matters. [Download]

Saito, K., Trofimovich, P., Isaacs, T., & Webb, S. (2017). Re-examining phonological and lexical correlates of second language comprehensibility: The role of rater experience. In T. Isaacs & P. Trofimovich (Eds.), Second language pronunciation assessment: Interdisciplinary perspectives (pp. 131–146). Multilingual Matters. [Download]

Trofimovich, P. & Isaacs, T. (2017). L2 pronunciation assessment: A look at the present and the future. In T. Isaacs & P. Trofimovich (Eds.), Second language pronunciation assessment: Interdisciplinary perspectives (pp. 259–271). Multilingual Matters. [Download]

Isaacs, T. (2016). Assessing speaking. In D. Tsagari & J. Banerjee (Eds.), Handbook of second language assessment (pp. 131–146). DeGruyter Mouton. [Download]
​
Isaacs, T. (2014). Assessing pronunciation. In A. J. Kunnan (Ed.), The companion to language assessment (Vol. 1, pp.140–155). Wiley-Blackwell. [Download]

Isaacs, T. (2013). International engineering graduate students’ interactional patterns on a paired speaking test: Interlocutors’ perspectives. In K. McDonough, & A. Mackey (Eds.), Interaction in diverse educational settings (pp. 227–246). John Benjamins. [Download]
​
Isaacs, T. (2013). Phonology: Mixed methods. In C. A. Chapelle (Ed.), The encyclopedia of applied linguistics (Vol. 7, pp. 4427–4434). Wiley-Blackwell. [Download]

Research reports

Isaacs, T. (2018). BHRUT (Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals) clinical communication project. Unpublished internal report for BHRUT National Health Service (NHS) Trust. 

Yu, G., He, L., & Isaacs, T. (2017). The cognitive processes of taking IELTS Academic writing task one: An eye-tracking study. IELTS research reports online series, 2. [Download]

​

Isaacs, T. (2016). Automated assessment of speaking: Literature review on automated rating technology for speaking tests. Unpublished internal report for the British Council. 

Isaacs, T., Trofimovich, P., Yu, G., & Chereau, B. M. (2015). Examining the linguistic aspects of speech that most efficiently discriminate between upper levels of the revised IELTS pronunciation scale. IELTS research reports online series, 4. [Download]

Baird, J.-A., Isaacs, T., Johnson, S., Stobart, G., Yu, G., Sprague, T., & Daugherty, R. (2011). Policy effects of PISA. Pearson UK. [Download]

Book reviews

Isaacs, T. (2016). Review of [Pronunciation fundamentals: Evidence-based perspectives for L2 teaching and research] by T. M. Derwing & M. J. Munro. Speak Out!54, 52–56. [Download]

Isaacs, T. (2012). Review of [Teaching and learning second language listening: Metacognition in action] by L. Vandergrift & C. M. Goh. Canadian Modern Language Review, 68, 349–351. [Download]

Isaacs, T. (2012). Review of [English phonology and pronunciation teaching] by P. Rogerson-Revell. BAAL News, 102, 15–17. [Download]​

Isaacs, T. (2008). Review of [The defence of French: A language in crisis?] by R. Adamson. Canadian Modern Language Review, 64, 526–528. [Download]

ope

​Research protocols, proceedings, published abstracts, open access research instruments and datasets

Isaacs, T., Vaughan, A., Shiely, F., Finucane, E., Gillies, K., Nurr, N., Sydes, M., Durand, M.-A., Khunti, K., Demjén, Z., & Burnett, E., Sood, H., Rooshenas, L., Biggs, K., & Treweek, S. (2021). Systematic review of the prevalence and assessment of language-related eligibility criteria in patient recruitment to type 2 diabetes and depression trials. PROSPERO CRD 42021267905. [Download]

​​Ward, A., Durand, M.-A., Yen, R. W., Schubbe, D., Isaacs, T., Crocker, J., & (2020). Enrollment, retention, and effective strategies for including disadvantaged populations in controlled trials. PROSPERO CRD 42020152814. [Download]

Isaacs, T., Murdoch, J., Demjén, Z., & Stevenson, F. (2019). Corpora of patient information sheets and consent forms for UK cancer trials 2007-2017. [Dataset]. UK Data Service. [Link]

Isaacs, T., Hunt, D., Ward, D., Rooshenas, L., & Edwards, L. (2017). Optimising the recruitment of underrepresented ethnic minority patients to telehealth diabetes trials: Examining the role of language and research reporting practices. Trials, 18(Suppl 1):1902, 117–118. [Download]

Isaacs, T., Trofimovich, P., & Foote, J. A. (2017). Second Language English comprehensibility global and analytic scales (Version 1.0) and instructions. Available on IRIS Digital Repository, Open Science Framework, and TESOL Resource Center. [Link]

Edwards, L., Hunt, D., Rooshenas, L., Ward, D., & Isaacs, T. (2015). Inclusion of ethnic minorities in telehealth trials for Type 2 diabetes: A systematic review examining prevalence and language issues. PROSPERO CRD 42015024899. [Download]

Isaacs, T. (2013). Pronunciation. Cambridge English centenary symposium on speaking assessment (pp. 13–15). Cambridge English Language Assessment. [Download]

Thomson, R. I., & Isaacs, T. (2009). Lexical frequency, orthographic information, and first-language effects on second-language pronunciation. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 125, 2752. [Download]

Isaacs, T. (2008). IELTS award news. In University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate (Ed.), Research Notes, 31 (pp. 35–36). Cambridge: University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations. [Download]

Media articles, research briefings, blogs, podcasts, and video clips

Isaacs, T. (2023). Journal peer review in academia [podcast]. Scholarly Peers Podcast. Episode 19. [Link]

Isaacs, T., Winke, P., & Burton, D. (2023). CRediT author contribution statements [video][. Language Testing YouTube channel. [Link]

Hu., R., Isaacs, T., Trenkic, D., & Varga, J. (2023). Do Duolingo English Test scores predict academic success? Evidence from a large UK university during the COVID-19 pandemic. OASIS Summary of Isaacs, Hu, Trenkic, & Varga (2023) in Language Testing. [Download]

Tsang, C. L., & Isaacs, T. (2021). Students’ attitudes, reported behaviours, and learning opportunities linked to choosing which difficulty level to take for a high-stakes test: What are the explanations? OASIS Summary of Tsang, C. L., & Isaacs, T. (2021) in Language Testing. [Download]

Borges, L. O., & Isaacs, T. (2018a). Developing a second language comprehensibility scale to measure academic speaking. OASIS Summary of Isaacs, T., Trofimovich, P. & Foote, J. A. (2018) in Language Testing. [Link] 

Borges, L. O., & Isaacs, T. (2018b). Which linguistic aspects influence listeners’ comprehensibility of non-native speech. OASIS Summary of Isaacs, T. & Trofimovich, P. (2012) in Studies in Second Language Acquisition. [Link] 

Isaacs, T. (2018). Comprehensibility in assessing pronunciation [podcast]. Language Testing Bytes, 28. Produced for the journal, Language Testing. [Link]

Isaacs, T. (2017). Assessing pronunciation [video]. In Fulcher, G., & Thrasher, R. (Eds.), Language testing videos. Produced in association with ILTA. [Video]

Isaacs, T. & Trofimovich, P. (2016). Publication of Multilingual Matters’ first open access book: A milestone for pronunciation assessment. Channel View Publications/Multilingual Matters blog. [Link]

Isaacs, T., Crowther, D., Trofimovich, P., & Saito, K. (2014). Learning to speak English? Making yourself understood isn’t all about the accent. The Conversation. [Link]​

Isaacs, T., Crowther, D., Trofimovich, P., & Saito, K. (2014). Effects of international students' first language backgrounds on their speech
productions. Graduate School of Education Research Briefing, 28. [Download]​

​

​

Conference dissemination and invited talks (since 2014)

​​

Isaacs, T. (2024, June). Reducing language barriers and improving diversity and inclusion in participant recruitment to randomized trials: A role for language assessment. Language Testing Research Colloquium (LTRC), Innsbruck, Austria.

Isaacs, T., & Chalmers, H. (2024, March). Reducing “avoidable research waste” in applied linguistics research: Insights from healthcare research. American Association for Applied Linguistics (AAAL), Houston, TX, USA.

Isaacs, T. & Hu, R. (2024, January). Predictive validity of the Duolingo English Test and comparisons with more established proficiency tests used for university admissions: Insights from the pandemic. Centre for Research in English Language Learning and Assessment (CRELLA) Annual Lecture, University of Bedfordshire, UK [remote delivery]. 

re

Isaacs, T. (2023, October). Open science & technology in applied linguistics and language assessment: Charting a changing landscape. International Conference on Language Development & Assessment, Hangzhou, China.

Yen, R. W., Durand, M. A., Leyenaar, J., O’Malley, A. J., Rego, E., Forcino, R., Saunders, C. H., Isaacs, T., & Elwyn. G. (2023, October). Preliminary development of the Clinician Spoken Plain Language Measure using a secondary analysis of clinical encounters. International Conference on Communication in Healthcare (ICCH), Rio Mar, Puerto Rico.

Isaacs, T. (2023, June). Publishing in language assessment: Meeting with journal editors. Invited panel session convened by J. Fan. Language Testing Research Colloquium (LTRC), New York, NY.

Kang, O., Yan, X., Thomson, R., & Isaacs, T. (2023, March). Shared-L1 effects in listening tasks of the Duolingo English Test: Test-takers’ attitudes and score variance. Annual Meeting of the American Association for Applied Linguistics (AAAL). Portland, OR.

Isaacs, T. (2023, March). Language, communication, including ethnic (+linguistic) minorities in health intervention research & reducing inequalities. Wellcome Trust funded Leicestershire Healthcare Inequalities Improvement Doctoral Training Programme, University of Leicester.[webinar]

Zhang, S., & Isaacs, T. (2022, November). Can interactions happen across the screens? The use of videoconferencing technology to assess pragmatic and interactional competence. EALTA Assessing Speaking SIG. [webinar]

Isaacs, T. (2022, November). Shoot for the stars but pie in the sky? Reflecting on standards, standard language, and the native speaker in assessing speaking. Keynote presentation for the European Association for Language Testing and Assessment. [webinar]

Isaacs, T. (2022, October). Letting go of baggage? Reconceptualising pronunciation and assessment for pedagogical practice. Keynote presentation for the International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (IATEFL) PronSIG (Pronunciation Special Interest Group) & TEASIG (Testing, Evaluation and Assessment Special Interest Group). [webinar]

Isaacs, T., Vaughan, A., Burnett, E., Demjen, Z., Durand, M-A., Gillies, K., Khunti, K., Noor, N., Rooshenas, L., Shiely, F., Sood, H., Sydes, M. D., Treweek, S., & Biggs, K. (2022, October). Beyond “must speak English”: Systematic review of language-related eligibility criteria in patient recruitment to trials. International Clinical Trials Methodology Conference (ICTMC). Harrogate, UK.

Shiely, F., Willis, A., Sohanpal, R., Russell, V., South, A., & Isaacs, T. (2022, October). The Trials Communication Wheel: stakeholders to consider in the lifecycle of the trial. ICTMC. Harrogate, UK.

South, A., Isaacs, T., Snowdon, C., Bierer, B. E., Gillies, K., Cragg, W., Burnett, E., Sydes, M. R. (2022, October). What influences participant satisfaction with how trial results are shared with them? Patient and site staff views from the Show RESPECT study. ICTMC. Harrogate, UK.

Isaacs, T. (2022, September). Revisiting second language pronunciation teaching and assessment: Constructs, compatibilities, contradictions, cross-fertilization. Plenary presentation for the 4th International Symposium on Applied Phonetics (ISAPh), Lund, Sweden.

Kang, O., Yan, X., Thomson, R., & Isaacs, T. (2022, September). Fairness of using different English accents in listening tasks of the Duolingo English Test. Language Assessment Research Colloquium (LARC), Chicago, IL, US.

Trenkic, D., Isaacs, T., Hu, R., & Varga, J. (2022, August). Examining the predictive validity of the Duolingo English Test (DET): Can measures of implicit linguistic knowledge predict academic performance in a second language? European Association of Second Language Acquisition (EuroSLA), Fribourg, Switzerland.

Kang, O., Yan, X., Thomson, R., & Isaacs, T. (2022, June). Listeners’ attitudes towards different English accents in high-stakes listening tests. Pronunciation in Second Language Learning and Teaching (PSLLT), Niagara, ON, Canada.​

South, A., Tweed, C., Sydes, M. R., Cragg, W. J., Burnett, E., Isaacs, T., Gillies, K., Snowdon, K., Bierer, B. E., & Copas, A. J. (2022, May). Communicating overall results to trial participants: The perspective of site staff from the Show RESPECT study. Society for Clinical Trials (SCT), San Diego, CA.

Isaacs, T. (2022, September). Revisiting second language pronunciation teaching and assessment: Constructs, compatibilities, contradictions, cross-fertilization. Plenary presentation. 4th International Symposium on Applied Phonetics (ISAPh) conference, Lund, Sweden.

Isaacs, T. (2022, May). Giving conference presentations. UK Association for Language Testing and Assessment (UKALTA) postgraduate research network event. [webinar]​

Isaacs, T. (2022, May). Assessing speaking: Considerations for the revised GCSEs. National Centre for Excellence for Language Pedagogy [internal webinar/workshop]

Isaacs, T. (2022, April). The challenges that English language testing presents when recruiting students. London Higher Academic Integrity Series. [webinar]

Isaacs, T., Hu, R., Trenkic, D., & Varga, J. (2022, March). Examining the predictive validity of the Duolingo English Test: Evidence from a major UK university. American Association for Applied Linguistics (AAAL), Pittsburgh, PA, US.  

Isaacs, T., Murdoch, J., Demjén, Z., & Stevenson, F. (2021, November). Extrapolating language constructs from data mining tools: Applications for analysing informed consent documents. Language Testing Forum. Invited panel session on The future of language constructs with discussant L. Taylor. [presented remotely].

​

Isaacs, T. (2021, October). Reach for the top? Assessment standards, standard language, and the native speaker. Duolingo internal Assessment Research Speaker Series [presented remotely].  

Isaacs, T. (2021, August). A primer on second language pronunciation assessment. Language Education Research Centre, Queen's University Belfast [presented remotely]. [Abstract & video]

Isaacs, T. (2021, July). Language, literacy, and informed consent in clinical trials. International Consortium for Communication in Healthcare (IC4CH). Invited panelist. Supported by IoE International Funding [presented remotely]. [Abstract]

Isaacs, T. & Hu, R. (2021, July). MA and PhD opportunities in language assessment at the UCL. Institute of Education, University College London: A hub of applied linguistics activity. Exhibitor on behalf of UCL at New Directions Colombia. [presented remotely]

Isaacs, T. (2021, June). Using systematic review methodology in health intervention research: Applications for applied linguists. Keynote for British Association for Applied Linguistics (BAAL)/Cambridge University Press Seminar on "Research synthesis in applied linguistics: Facilitating research-pedagogy dialogue." Belfast, UK [presented remotely]. [Abstract]

Treweek, S. & Isaacs, T. (2021, March). INCLUDE Ethnicity Framework: Recruiting everyone to our trials. Invited talk, Institute of Clinical Trials and Methodology, MRC Clinical Trials Unit, UCL, London. [presented remotely]. [Abstract]

Isaacs, T. (2020, December). Investigating global pronunciation and fluency constructs: Measures derived from second language speech samples and raters’ perspectives. Speech Science Forum webinar, Speech and Hearing Phonetic Sciences, UCL, London [presented remotely]. [Abstract] 

Isaacs, T. (2020, July). Proficiency self-assessment; Age versus grade/use of English in the classroom. Rapporteur. PISA 2025 optional foreign language assessment context questionnaire webinar, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) [presented remotely].

Isaacs, T. (2020, March). Operationalizing key constructs in research instruments. OECD, Boulogne-Billancourt, France [presented remotely].

Isaacs, T. (2019, December). Paradigm wars no more? Mixed methods in applied linguistics research. Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan.

Isaacs, T. (2019, December). Assessing “ear and tongue skills": Standards, washback effects, and policy implications. Plenary presentation at the British Council New Directions in Language Assessment Conference. Yokohama, Japan.

Isaacs, T. (2019, December). Technology and consequences. Invited symposium, New Directions in Language Assessment, Yokohama. 

Isaacs, T. (2019, October). Developing and validating language assessment tools for low- and high-stakes purposes. UCL, London, UK.

Isaacs, T. (2019, October). Extrapolating the widening participation agenda to the recruitment of underserved groups in medical research: Language, ethnicity, and assessment. Bristol Conversations in Education, Bristol, UK.

Tsang, C. L., & Isaacs, T. (2019, October). Uncovering the inner-workings of the washback on learning construct: A study of Hong Kong learners’ reactions to a graded approach to English language testing. Asian Association for Language Assessment (AALA) conference, Hanoi, Vietnam.  

Isaacs, T. (2019, September). Assessment and testing. Pronunciation in Second Language Learning and Teaching (PSLLT) conference roundtable sponsored by Language Learning, Flagstaff, US.

​

Tsunemoto, A., Isaacs, T., & McDonough, K. (2019, August). Examining the acoustic and temporal measures underlying self- and other-assessment of accentedness. New Sounds, Tokyo, Japan.

Isaacs, T. (2019, June). Perspectives on validity in educational measurement, applied linguistics, and language testing. Keynote symposium on Validity models in transition, European Association for Language Testing and Assessment (EALTA) conference, Dublin, Ireland.

Tsunemoto, A., Uludag, P., McDonough, K., & Isaacs, T.  (2019, June). Exploring the relationship between L2 English speakers' fluency and accentedness ratings and linguistic measures of phonological accuracy and fluency. International Symposium on Bilingualism (ISB), Edmonton, Canada. 

Isaacs, T. (2019, May). Transitions in language assessment: Topics en vogue, in the doghouse, inert despite lip service, and back from the dead. Keynote presentation at EALTA, Dublin.

O’Sullivan, B., & Isaacs, T. (2019, May). Writing an abstract. Workshop, EALTA, Dublin. 

Isaacs, T. (2019, April). The elusive top rung of the language proficiency ladder: Why pro-/ anti-/ post- and a-native-speakerist views fail to measure up. Applied Linguistics Lunchtime Seminar, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.

Tsunemoto, A. & Isaacs, T. (2018, October). Task effects in L2 Japanese speakers’ self-assessments of accentedness and comprehensibility and native English teachers’ ratings. Second Language Research Forum (SLRF), Montreal, Canada.

Isaacs, T. (2017, October). Contemporary debates in language testing: Standards, the native speaker, and the role of our professional association​. Lancaster University, UK.

Crowther, D., Trofimovich, P., Saito, K., & Isaacs, T. (2017, September). Linguistic dimensions of L2 accentedness and comprehensibility vary across speaking tasks. Poster presentation at PSLLT, Salt Lake City, US.

Isaacs, T., Demjen, Z., Stevenson, F., & Murdoch, J. (2017, June). What does it take to understand? A text-based analysis of the language demands of English-medium ethical materials provided to patients in randomized controlled trials. International Conference on Communication,
Medicine and Ethics (COMET), Indianapolis, US.

Isaacs, T., Hunt, D., Ward, D., Rooshenas, L., & Edwards, L. (2017, May). Optimising the recruitment of underrepresented ethnic minority patients to telehealth diabetes trials: Examining the role of language and research reporting practices. Poster presentation at the joint Society for Clinical Trials and International Clinical Trials Methodology Conference (SCT/ICTMC), Liverpool, UK. [Abstract]

Isaacs, T. (2017, January). Invited roundtable on language, culture, and mental health. Inaugural meeting of the Linguistic and cultural strategies (LINCS) for effective mental healthcare International Research Consortium, Montreal, Canada. 

Isaacs, T. (2016, December). Redressing the balance in the native speaker debate: Assessment standards, standard language, and exposing double standards. Tel Aviv University, Israel. 

Isaacs, T. (2016, August). Why using the term “native speaker” should not be demonized: Reflections on assessment standards and political correctness run amok. Symposium presentation on uses of the term ‘native speaker’ in second language research. European second Language Acquisition (EuroSLA) conference, Jyväskylä, Finland. [Abstract]

​​

Isaacs, T. (2016, August). On the limitations of a universal framework for L2 pronunciation: Evidence from rating scale validation research. University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland.
​

Isaacs, T. (2016, June). Changes to the panorama of second language speaking proficiency assessment and practical considerations. St. Mary’s University, Twickenham, London, UK. 

Isaacs, T. (2016, June). Why modelling pronunciation descriptors in an empirically-based universal framework (or even just sticking to one target language) is such a challenge. UCL Institute of Education, University College London, UK. [Abstract]

Appel, R., Trofimovich, P., Saito, K. Webb, S., & Isaacs. T. (2016, May). Comprehensibility and nativelikeness from the perspective of naïve L1 English raters. /ssociation Canadienne de Linguistique Appliquée/Canadian Association of Applied Linguistics (ACLA/CAAL), Calgary, AB, Canada.

Isaacs, T. (2015, November). Consulting “expert” teachers to develop and validate pronunciation-relevant rating scales in high- and low-stakes settings. Invited talk at the Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.

Isaacs, T. (2015, November). Rating learners’ oral performance: Understanding sources of variation and principles of best practice. Invited workshop at the Université Catholique de Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.

Crowther, D., Trofimovich, P., & Isaacs, T. (2015, October). The perception of second language English speech by nonnative listeners: The effect of first language background. PSLLT, Dallas, Texas, USA.

Isaacs, T. (2015, May). Principles and practice in assessing speaking: Beyond reticence to target “ear and tongue skills.” Invited workshop at the Asian Association for Language Assessment (AALA) conference, Bangkok, Thailand. [Abstract]

Isaacs, T. (2015, May). Perceptions and ratings of lay listeners, teachers, and examiners in L2 pronunciation scale development and validation. Invited keynote at AALA, Bangkok, Thailand. [Abstract]

Isaacs, T., & Turner, C. E. (2015, March). Aligning teaching, learning, and assessment in EAP instruction? Stakeholders’ views, external influences, and researchers’ perspectives. Language Testing Research Colloquium (LTRC), Toronto, ON, Canada.

Isaacs, T., Trofimovich, P., Yu, G., & Chereau, B. M. (2015, March). Examining the linguistic aspects of speech that most efficiently discriminate between upper levels of the revised IELTS pronunciation scale. Joint conference of the American Association for Applied Linguistics (AAAL) and ACLA/CAAL, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Isaacs, T., Trofimovich, P., Crowther, D., Saito, K., & Foote, J. (2014, June). Modelling comprehensibility in an oral production scale for L2 learners of English: Which linguistic factors generalize across L1s? Plenary presented at LTRC, Amsterdam, Netherlands.[Abstract]

Crowther, D., Trofimovich, P., Isaacs, T., & Saito, K. (2014, May). Differentiating accent from comprehensibility: The importance of learner background. Paper presented at ACLA/CAAL, St. Catharines, Canada.

Crowther, D., Trofimovich, P., Saito, K., & Isaacs, T. (2014, March). L2 comprehensibility revisited: Investigating the effects of learner background and speaking task. Paper presented at AAAL, Portland, USA.

Trofimovich, P., Saito, K., & Isaacs, T. (2014, March). Comprehensibility versus accent: Using global listener ratings to investigate phonological, lexical, and grammatical influences on L2 speech. Paper presented at AAAL, Portland, USA.

Kang, O., Yan, X., Thomson, R., & Isaacs, T. (2022, September). Fairness of using different English accents in listening tasks of the Duolingo English Test. Language Assessment Research Colloquium (LARC), Chicago, US.

Kang, O., Yan, X., Thomson, R., & Isaacs, T. (2022, June). Listeners’ attitudes towards different English accents in high-stakes listening tests. Pronunciation in Second Language Learning and Teaching (PSLLT), Niagara, ON, Canada.

Publications

Plenary, New Directions conference, Yokohama, Japan, 2019. Photo credit: Dylan Burton

Talia Isaacs, PhD​