Ph.D., the Graduate Center, City University of New York, NY (Linguistics)
M.Phil., the Graduate Center, City University of New York, NY (Linguistics)
B.A., Temple University, Philadelphia, PA (Asian Studies and Religion)
Mieko Sperbeck is an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures. She earned her Ph.D. in Linguistics from the Graduate Center, City University of New York in 2010, with a dissertation focusing on the acquisition of consonant clusters by Japanese learners of English. Prior to this, she obtained an M. Phil. in Linguistics in 2007.
Her research interests include cross-linguistic speech perception and production, second language acquisition, and differentiated instruction in language classrooms. She is dedicated to incorporating technology into the classroom to improve student engagement and support diverse learning needs. Currently, her focus is on second language pedagogy, particularly text-based language instruction for late learners of second languages.
She also serves on the project planning committee for the Boston X New York Study Group for Japanese Teachers (BNYSG), a learning community that promotes professional growth, encourages the exchange of ideas for language teaching, emphasizes inclusivity, and embraces diversity among instructors.
Level 1 Japanese - Elementary Japanese 1
Level 2 Japanese - Elementary Japanese 2
Level 3 Japanese - Intermediate Japanese 1
Level 4 Japanese - Intermediate Japanese 2
Descriptive and Historical Linguistics
American Association of Teachers of Japanese (AATJ)
American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)
Northeast Council of Teachers of Japanese (NECTJ)
Northeast Modern Language Association (NEMLA)
Saito, K., Sperbeck, M., & Wallestad, C. (2024). Navigating the Realm of Bridging Language Education through Task-Based Virtual Exchange in Novice Japanese Language Course Design. Proceedings of the 30th Princeton Japanese Pedagogy Forum. p. 122-131. https://pjpf.princeton.edu/sites/g/files/toruqf1151/files/documents/PJPF24_Proceedings_24.pdf
Sperbeck, M. and Saito, K. (2023). Standard-based course design aimed at improving proficiency starting from beginners: A case study of using open educational resources ‘We Authors'. Proceedings of the 29th Princeton Japanese Pedagogy Forum. p. 66-76. https://pjpf.princeton.edu/sites/g/files/toruqf1151/files/documents/PJPF_23_Proceedings_final.pdf
Sperbeck, M. (2021). Practical report on using the movie ‘Sweet Bean’ in elementary Japanese class: discourse on social issues in Japan. Proceedings of the 27th Princeton Japanese Pedagogy Forum. p. 383-394. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1V_uX6Ptk5wCFDHfcuJAtUj6az76f4LX6/view
Nagano, T., Mizoguchi, A., Sperbeck, M., & Choi, J. (2017). Phonological Advantages of Heritage Learners of Japanese. The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Conference, Nashville, Tennessee. https://iletc.commons.gc.cuny.edu/phonological-advantages/
Sperbeck, M. (2011). The production and perception of English consonant sequences by Japanese-speaking learners of English. Proceedings of Meetings on Acoustics, Vol. 9, pp. 06005. https://doi.org/10.1121/1.3651080
Sperbeck, M. & Strange, W. (2010). The perception of complex onsets in English: universal markedness? University of Pennsylvania Working Papers in Linguistics, Vol. 16: Issues 1, Article 22. https://repository.upenn.edu/pwpl/vol16/iss1/22
Research Foundation CUNY Travel Grant (2024)
CUNY Adjunct Professional Development Grant (2023)
Institute for Language Education in Transcultural Context Grant (2016 - 2017)