E-mail : akunnan@gmail.com
Personal website: www.antonykunnan.com
Specialist in Applied Linguistics, Language Teaching, Learning and Assessment
APPOINTMENTS
Full time appointments
Honorary Professor, University of Hong Kong, August 2009-
Senior Research Fellow, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, 2020-2024
Principal Assessment Scientist, Duolingo, Inc., Pittsburgh, 2020-2024
Professor and Associate Dean, University of Macau, 2016-2020
Visiting appointments
English Language Specialist, U.S. State Dept., Natl. Research Univ., Moscow, 2020
Visiting Professor, Chulalongkorn University, Sum2015
Visiting Professor, University of Southern California, Sum2005, 2009
Visiting Professor, UCLA, Sp2003, F2008, W2009
EDITORSHIPS
Co-Editor, Series, New Perspectives in Language Assessment, Routledge, NY, 2011-present
Editor-in-Chief, Journal of Asia TEFL, 2017-2023
Founding Editor, Language Assessment Quarterly, Routledge, 2003-2013, 2020-2023
Founding Editor, Issues in Applied Linguistics (UCLA), 1988-90
AWARDS
Cambridge/ILTA Distinguished Achievement Award, 2024
Excellence in Research, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Macau, 2019
Yunshan Research Scholar, Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Fall 2015
Distinguished 40th Year Teacher Award, St. Germain High School, Bangalore, 2014
Apple Lecturer Award, Teachers College, Columbia University, 2010
Fulbright Professor-Researcher, Tunghai University, Taiwan, 2006-2007
Outstanding Ph.D. Dissertation Research Award for Language Testing, ETS, Princeton, 1994
TOEFL Student Grant for TESOL Convention, San Antonio, 1989
HONORS
Individual Expert, Association of Language Teachers in Europe, 2020-
Founding President and Past President, Asian Association for Language Assessment, 2014-16
President and Vice President, International Language Testing Association, 2002-04 (elected)
Treasurer, International Language Testing Association, 2000-02 (elected)
[More than 130 plenary and keynote speeches; see 8. Academic Talks]
PUBLICATIONS ORCID: 0000-0003-0756-3749
Google scholar citation indices: Total citations: 5214; h-index: 30; i10 index: 39
Authored books
[5] Kunnan, A. J. (2018). Evaluating Language Assessments. Routledge.
[4] Bachman, L. F. & Kunnan, A. J. (2005). Statistical Analysis for Language Assessment
Workbook and CD. CUP.
[3] Kunnan, A. J. (1995). Test Taker Characteristics and Test Performance. CUP.
[2] Kunnan, A. J. (1995). New Gul Mohur Practice Book 3, Orient Longman, Chennai.
[1] Kunnan, A. J. (1985). Gul Mohur Practice Book 3, Orient Longman, Madras.
Edited books
[7] Kunnan, A. J. (Ed., 2024). A Concise Companion to Language Assessment. Wiley.
[6] Purpura, J. & Kunnan, A. J. (Ed., 2024). The Writings of Lyle Bachman. Routledge.
[5] Kunnan, A. J. (Ed., 2016). Talking about Language Assessment. Routledge.
[4] Kunnan, A. J. (Ed., 2015). Language Testing and Assessment [4-vols]. Routledge.
[3] Kunnan, A. J. (Ed., 2014). The Companion to Language Assessment [4-vols]. Wiley.
[2] Kunnan, A. J. (Ed., 2000). Fairness and Validation in Language Assessment. CUP.
[1] Kunnan, A. J. (Ed., 1998) Validation in Language Assessment. Lawrence Erlbaum.
Guest editorships
[4] Kunnan, A. J., Mathew, R., & Maheshwari, D. (2025). Innovation in language
assessment. Languages [in preparation]
[3] Kunnan, A. J. (2007). Test fairness and DIF. LAQ, 4.
[2] Kunnan, A. J. & Lakshmanan, U. (2006). Language assessment-Language acquisition:
A cross-linguistics perspective. LAQ, 3.
[1] Kunnan, A. J. (1998). Structural Equation Modeling and language assessment.
LT, 15, 3.
Refereed journal articles, book chapters, encyclopedia entries, reviews
[81] Kunnan, A. J. & Sanyal, M. (2025). An analysis of three English language assessments
for high schools in India. Languages. [in preparation]
[80] Kunnan, A. J., Grabowski, K., & Lim, G. (2025). Language-scale second language
assessment. In Snow, A. M., & Brinton, D. The Apple Book. 5th Ed. (pp. xx-xx).
Cengage.
[79] Kunnan, A. J. (2024). Fairness and justice in assessment. In A. J. Kunnan (Ed.), The
Concise Companion to Language Assessment (pp. 80-92). Wiley.
[78] Kunnan, A. J. (2024). U.S. immigration, citizenship, and the Naturalization test:
Policies and practices. In A. J. Kunnan (Ed.), The Concise Companion to
Language Assessment (pp. 432-450). Wiley.
[77] Kunnan, A. J., Qin, C., & Zhao, C. (2022). Developing a Scenario-Based English
Language Assessment in an Asian University. Language Assessment Quarterly,
19, 1-26.
[76] Mathew, R. & Kunnan, A. J. (2021). Examining assessment literacy among language
teachers in Goa: Narratives and two scenarios. Journal of Asia TEFL, 18, 1370-
1384.
[75] Kunnan, A. J., Matthew, R., & Zhang, E. (2021). Examining assessment literacy among
language teachers in Goa: Analyses of a survey questionnaire and teacher-made
tests. Journal of Asia TEFL, 18, 904-922.
[74] Kunnan, A. J. (2021). Revisiting language assessment for Immigration and Citizenship:
The case of US citizenship and the naturalization test. In G. Fulcher & L. Harding
(Eds.), The Handbook of Language Testing (2nd Edition; pp. 96-116). Routledge.
[73] Kunnan, A. J. & Saville, N. (2021). Setting standards for language learning and
assessment in educational contexts: A multilingual perspective. In A-B Wendy &
J. Bellamy (Eds.), The Cambridge Handbook of Language Standardization (pp.
496-516). Cambridge University Press.
[72] Ho, A. O., Yao, D., & Kunnan, A. J. (2021). An analysis of Macao’s Joint Admission
Examination-English for Universities. Journal of Asia TEFL, 18, 208-222.
[71] Kunnan, A. J. (2020). A case for an ethics-based approach to evaluate language
assessments. In G. Ockey & B. Green (Eds.), Festschrift for Lyle Bachman (pp.
77-93). Springer.
[70] Kunnan, A. J. (2020). Evaluating language assessment from an ethics perspective:
Suggestions for a new agenda. Japanese Language Testing Association,
23, 3-13.
[69] Cai, Y. & Kunnan, A. J. (2020). Mapping the fluctuating effect of strategy use on
English reading performance for nursing students. Language Testing, 38, 1-25.
...
Technical, research, evaluation reports and conference proceedings
[26] Burstein, J., LaFlair, G., Kunnan, A. J., van Davier, A. (2021). A Theoretical
assessment Ecosystem for a Digital-First Assessment - The Duolingo English
Test. Duolingo.
[25] Kunnan, A. J. et al. (2018). Test of Academic English. University of Macau.
[24] Kunnan, A. J., Mathew, R., & Staniute, L. (2018). Assessment knowledge among
school teachers in Macau and Goa. University of Macau.
[23] Kunnan, A. J., Wu, J., Staniute, L., Jiamin, O., Chen, K., & Zhen, S. (2017). A survey of
English language proficiency among young learners in eight Chinese-speaking
cities. Final report. Language Training and Testing Center, Taipei.
[22] Kunnan, A. J. & Carr, N. (2015). A comparability study of the GEPT-Advanced and
iBT (TOEFL). Final report. Language Training and Testing Centre, Taipei.
https://www.lttc.ntu.edu.tw/lttc-gept-grants/RReport/RG06.pdf
[21] Slovacek, S., Kunnan, A. J. & Lee, T. (2015). An Ohio Schools Accountability Model:
An analysis using state academic testing. California State University, Los
Angeles.
[20] Kunnan, A. J. (2013). Responsibility in small scale language assessment. Proceedings
of the English Teaching Association Conference, Taipei.
[19] Kunnan, A. J. (2013). Fairness in language assessment: Public reasoning.
Proceedings of the CELC Conference, National University of Singapore.
[18] Kunnan, A. J. & Martin, J. (2012). Test accommodations for vocational and
professional tests. Final report. OfQual. Coventry.
[17] Kunnan, A. J. (2011). North American Mobility Program Evaluation report 2, Higher
Education Grant, GSU-Universidad Pedagogic Naçional, Mexico City.
[16] Kunnan, A. J. (2010). Structural Equation Modeling workshop and materials for
language assessment, University of Cambridge.
[15] Kunnan, A. J. (2009). Evaluation report 1, Higher Education Grant, GSU-Universidad
Pedagogic Naçional, Mexico City.
[11-14] Kunnan, A. J. (2005-2008). Evaluation report 1-4, North American Mobility Program.
GSU, Atlanta, GA.
[10] Kunnan, A. J. (2004). Data collection and design for the Accelerated School Phase 1
Report. Accelerated School, Los Angeles.
[9] Kunnan, A. J. (2003). TOEFL 2000 Research. In C. Chapelle, J. Jamieson & M. Enright
(Eds.), New TOEFL Documentation Project. Educational Testing
Service,Princeton, N.J.
[8] Kunnan, A. J. (2003). Evaluation of the effect of the Dance Program in two schools in
Los Angeles. Luckman Center for Performing Arts, CSULA.
[7] Kunnan, A. J. (2002). Language Assessment Ethics: Is it a r(R)ight turn? Proceedings of
the Language Assessment Ethics Conference. Pasadena, California.
[6] Kunnan, A. J. (2002). Test bias and its implications for EFL examinations. University of
Cambridge.
[5] Kunnan, A. J. & Dewidar, A. (2002). Pre-Service evaluation of IELP-II programs in
colleges and universities in Egypt, IELP-II, Cairo.
[4] Slovacek, S., Kunnan, A. J., & Kim, H-J. (2001). Charter schools in California: A report
on minority success. Los Angeles, CA: CSULA.
[3] Kunnan, A. J. (2001). Test accommodations for language testing. University of
Cambridge.
[2] Kunnan, A. J. (1994). Cultural fairness in two forms of the Test of English Language
Development: A study of DIF. Rancho Santiago College, Santa Ana, California.
[1] Kunnan, A. J., Lord, C. & Butler, F. (1993). The role of language in assessment of
content area knowledge: A first look. CRESST-UCLA.
Editorials, Forewords, Blogs, Notes
[19] Kunnan, A. J. (2024). Introduction. In A. J. Kunnan (Ed.), The Concise Companion to
Language Assessment (pp. 36-28). Wiley.
[18] Purpura, J. E. & Kunnan, A. J. (2004). Introducing Lyle Bachman’s milieu. In Purpura,
J. E. & Kunnan, A. J. (Ed.) The Writings of Lyle F. Bachman (pp. xx-xx). Routledge.
[17] Kunnan, A. J. (2023). Integrative language skills. Duolingo English Test Research.
[16] Kunnan, A. J. (2021). Foreword. In Lanteigne, B., Coombe, C. & Brown, J. D. (Eds.),
Challenges in Language Testing Around the World (pp. 1-3). Springer.
[15] Kunnan, A. J. (2021). CIEFL in the 1980s: My journey into language assessment.
CIEFL Notes.
[14] Kunnan, A. J. (2017). Editorial. Journal of Asia TEFL, 8, 3.
[13] Kunnan, A. J. (2014). Editorial: Looking back, looking ahead. LAQ, 11.
[12] Kunnan, A, J, (2008). In Memory: Sally Jacoby. IAL, 8.
[11] Kunnan, A, J, (2007). Obituary: Sally Jacoby. LAQ, 4, 367-69.
[10] Kunnan, A. J. (2007). Test fairness, test bias & DIF. LAQ, 4,109-112.
[9] Saville, N., & Kunnan, A. J. (2006). History and language tests: An interview with
Bernard Spolsky. LAQ, 3, 200-235.
[8] Kunnan, A. J. & Lakshmanan, U. (2006). Language acquisition and assessment: A
cross-linguistic perspective. LAQ, 3, 90-94.
[7] Kunnan, A. J. (2005). 40 years in Applied Linguistics: An interview with Alan Davies.
LAQ, 2, 35-50.
[6] Kunnan, A. J. (2004). Editorial. LAQ, 1, 4, 205.
[5] Kunnan, A. J. (2004). Editorial: Regarding language assessment. LAQ, 1, 1-4.
[4] Kunnan, A. J. (1998). Editorial. [SEM for language assessment research]. LT, 15, 1.
[3] Kunnan, A. J. (1990). Political challenges. IAL, 2, 1-6.
[2] Kunnan, A. J. (1990). Applied linguistics. IAL, 1, 142-148.
[1] Kunnan, A. J. (1989). The unsung melodies. IAL, 1, 2-7.
Interviews/Media
[8] Kunnan, A. J. (2024). 20 years of LAQ. Interviewed by Elvis Wagner. LAQ, 20.
[7] Kunnan, A. J. (2018). Interviewed by Karim Sadeghi. IJLTR, 6, 3, 103-107.
[6] Kunnan, A. J. (2016). Interviewed by Jinlin Jiang. Language Assessment Quarterly, 13,
75-88. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15434303.2016.1269770
[5] Kunnan, A. J. (2016). Interview by Rongchan Lin. AALA Newsletter. [available on
www.aalawebsite.com]
[4] Kunnan, A. J. (2015). Interviewed by Vahid Nimehchisalem. International Journal of
Education & Literacy Studies, 3, 2015.
http://www.journals.aiac.org.au/index.php/IJELS/article/view/2034/1831
[3] Kunnan, A. J. (2013). Interviewed by Sam Harnett. National Public Radio (USA). Aired
on October 15. How citizenship tests differ in Korea, the UK and Australia (pri.org)
[2] Kunnan, A. J. (2010) Interviewed by students at Teachers College, Columbia
University. http://journals.tc-library.org/index.php/tesol/article/viewArticle/526/350
[1] Kunnan, A. J. (2004). McGraw-Hill Teleconference on Testing in the SL classroom.
(with S. Savignon, E. Bernhardt, R. Davis and A. Farley).http://www.amp.csulb.edu/mh
As Series Co-Editor, New Perspectives in Language Assessment [with J. Purpura, Routledge, NY; 5 in all]
[1] The Diagnosis of Reading in a Second or Foreign Language. J. Charles Alderson, Eeva-
Leena Haapakangas, Ari Huhta, Lea Nieminen, Riikka Ullakonoja (2014)
[2] Talking about Language Assessment. Ed. by Antony John Kunnan (2014)
[3] Evaluating Language Assessment. Antony John Kunnan (2018)
[4] The Diagnosis of Writing in a Second or Foreign Language. Ari Huhta, Claudia Harsch
and Lea Nieminen (2023)
[5] The Bachman Collection of Papers. Ed. By J. Purpura and A J Kunnan (2024)
[6] Learning-oriented language assessment. James Purpura and Carolyn Turner. (2025)
ACADEMIC TALKS, WORKSHOPS & PRESENTATIONS (177 total)
Plenary talks, invited talks and workshops, 1994-2023 (143 in 37 countries)
2024
[143] AI and language assessment. Mindanao State University.
[142] Scenario-based language assessment. Vietnam Military Colleges, Ho Chi Minh City.
[141] The role of AI in language assessment. Vietnam Military Colleges, Ho Chi Minh City.
[140] Integrating language teaching, learning, and assessment.
Vietnam National Univ., Hanoi.
[139] Reforming language assessment, LTRC, Innsbruck.
[136-38] A case for a scenario-based language assessment. LTTC, Taipei;
Chulalongkorn University Language Inst.; Chiang Mai Rajabhat Univ.
[135] Publishing in the field of language education. Bangkok
[134] Ethics in language assessment with Asian case studies, Chulalongkorn University
[133] Immigrant attainment of English: Impressions from the field, LARC, Utah.
2023
[132] Innovations in language assessment. Workshop, AALA, Tokyo.
[131] Voices of minority researchers, Special session, LTRC, New York.
[130] Language assessment for immigration and citizenship. Workshop, LTRC, New York.
[129] Authenticity in the age of AI: Using GPT-4. Education Univ of HK.
[128] What is the future of digital language assessment? AAAL Conference, Portland.
[127] Integrated language skills in teaching and assessment. TESOL Arabia, Dubai.
[126] Scenario-based language assessment. University of Southern California.
2022
[125] Innovation in language assessment. AFELTA/CULI Conference, Bangkok.
[124] Scenario-based language assessment. AFELTA-CULI Conference, Bangkok.
[123] Considering language assessment scenarios. AALA Conference, Chennai.
[122] Applying a fairness and justice framework in the Indian Context, AALA Conf., Chennai.
[121] Integrating language skills, UECA Conference, Gold Coast, Australia (v)
[120] What is the future of language assessment? Asia TEFL Conference, Malang.
[118-119] Scenario-based language assessment: Promise and trepidation. AAAL
Conference, Pittsburgh; LTRC, Tokyo (v)
2021
[116-117] On the historiography of U.S. immigration, citizenship, and language policies.
Teachers College, Columbia University (v); California State University, LA (v)
[112-115] Innovative language assessment: Scenario-based approach.
AALA Conference. Seoul, South Korea. (v); UK ALTA, Queens University
Belfast, Northern Ireland. (v); Sultan Qaboos University, Oman, UAE. (v)
[111] Scenario-based language assessment. Workshop for English-Australia, Australia. (v)
[110] Standards and Ethics. King Sejong Institute of Korea, South Korea. (v)
[109] Teaching English Abroad. California State University, Fullerton, USA. (v)
[108] Language assessment for citizenship: The USNT. Duolingo, Pittsburgh, USA. (v)
2020
[107] Evaluating language assessments: Fairness and Justice.
Duolingo, Pittsburgh, USA. (v)
[106] Assessment for Language for Specific Purposes, Moscow, Russia. (v)
[105] Publishing in language assessment. ILTA Webinar. (v=virtual)
2019
[104] TEPS 20th anniversary Conference, Seoul, South Korea.
[103] Multilingualism and assessment. AALA Conference, Hanoi, Vietnam.
[102] Evaluating fairness and justice in language assessments.
JLTA Conference, Niigata, Japan.
[101] Individual and institutional responsibility in language assessment. Melakka. Malaysia.
[100] Institutional responsibility in justifying language assessments. HK Institute of Linguists.
[99] Panel discussion on technology in language assessment. HK, British Council.
...
Refereed papers read at Conferences (34)
2021-
[33-34] English language attainment among immigrants in the U.S.
LTRC, Innsbruck, Austria; LARC, Provo, Utah
[32] The future of language assessments. Asia TEFL Conference, Malang, Indonesia.
[31] A survey of English proficiency among young learners in eight cities.
AALA, South Korea.
...
INTERNATIONAL SERVICE
External Examiner, Universiti Putra Malaysia; Universiti Teknologi Mara, Malaysia, 2023-
Reviewer, ILTA/Duolingo Workshops, 2021-
Honorary Advisor, HK PolyUniv. -Tsinghua Univ. Centre for Language Sciences, 2013-15.
Member, Technical Advisory Committee, Assessments for ELLs, ETS, Princeton, 2012-13.
Member, Fulbright National Review Panel for TEFL/Applied Linguistics, 2010-13.
Member, Fulbright National Screening Committee for East Asia, ETAs, 2010-13.
Strand Coordinator, Assessment & Evaluation, AAAL Conference, 2002, 2008, 2011.
Chair and Member, TOEFL Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Committee, 2001, 2002, 2010
Member, Fulbright Screening Committee for Junior & Senior Scholars, Taiwan, 2006.
Member, Best article in language testing, ILTA, 2005-06.
Member, Best published paper in TESOL, 2005-2006.
President and Vice President, International Language Testing Association, 2003-05.
Treasurer, International Language Testing Service, 1999-2002.
Chair, ILTA Lifetime Achievement Award Committee, 2002-04.
Member, NAEP Spanish Language Assessment, CAL, Washington, 1999-2000.
Member, TOEFL 2000 Research and Development Committee, 1998-2001.
Member, TOEFL Committee of Examiners, 1995-2001.
Editorial Board membership
Language Assessment Quarterly, Pedagogies, Research in Language and Education
Professional Consultancies
Language Training and Testing Center, Taipei, Taiwan, 2009, 2024.
U.S. National Academy of Arts and Sciences, Department of State, 2018.
U.S. Board of Nursing, Healthcare curriculum. 2017
Eiken, Japan, 2015.
Language Accessibility Project. OfQual, U.K., 2010-11.
Test structure, bias, accommodations. University of Cambridge, U.K., 1996-2011.
Higher Education Grant in Mexico. Georgia State Univ. & Univ. of Puebla, Mexico, 2009-12.
North American Mobility Program. Georgia State Univ. & Univ. of Puebla, Mexico, 2004-08.
Assessment Institute Workshops, USAID, Cairo, 2001-02.
NAEP Language Assessment. Center for Applied Linguistics, Washington, D.C., 1999-2000.
Academy for Educational Development. Washington, D.C., 1996-2000.
Services to other Universities
Faculty tenure and promotion evaluation
New York University, UCLA, Teachers College, Columbia University, University of Minnesota
University of Hawai’i, Manoa, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Iowa State University, University of Surrey, University of Sydney, University of Hong Kong, National Tsinghua University, Taiwan, San Francisco State University, University of Bedfordshire
PhD External examinations
University Putri Malaysia, University of Malay, University of Melbourne, University of Sydney, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, University of Hong Kong, Macquarie University,
University of Nottingham, Ningbo.
Manuscript and abstract reviewer
Conferences: LTRC, AAAL, TESOL, AILA, GURT, AALA.
Journals: Applied Linguistics, Asian Journal of English Language Teaching, Educational
Assessment, Issues in Applied Linguistics, Language Learning, Language Testing,
TESOL Quarterly, Language Awareness, Language Assessment Quarterly,
Language Policy, Asia TEFL, The Modern Language Journal.
Publishers: Sage, Lawrence Erlbaum, Pearson-Longman, Cambridge University Press,
Yale University Press, Routledge, Addison Wiley, Wiley-Blackwell, Cambria Press.
Agencies: U.S. State Department, Canadian Language & Literature Research Network,
Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada, ETS, Princeton,
HK Research Grants Council.
Conferences organized
Co-Chair, LARC, Fullerton, California, 2025
Co-Chair, Assessing World Languages 1, 2, 3. Macau, 2017, 2018, 2019.
Co-Chair (with D. Qian), AALA Bangkok and Bali, Indonesia, 2015, 2016
Co-Chair (with L. Bachman & N. Carr), LTRC, Temecula, CA, USA, 2004
Co-Chair (with L. Bachman & N. Carr), LTRC, Hangzhou, China, 2008
Chair, Language Assessment Code of Ethics Conference, Pasadena, CA, USA, 2002
Chair, (with CSULA students), SCALAR, CSULA, USA, 1997-2011
Co-Chair, (with M. Spaan), LTRC Orlando, Florida, USA, 1997
Professional memberships
International Language Testing Association (ILTA)
American Association of Applied Linguistics (AAAL)
Asian Association for Language Assessment Association (AALA)