Dr. Joy Maa

Biography

Joy Maa is an Assistant Professor in the School of Modern Languages, specializing in the fields of Applied Linguistics and language acquisition. With a Ph.D. in Language Acquisition from Carnegie Mellon University, she also holds an M.A. in Linguistics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a B.A. in Japanese and Spanish from the University of Washington. Her research focuses on how language learners develop pragmatic competence, particularly in L2 Japanese, and how they can effectively communicate in culturally nuanced contexts, both in classroom settings and through digital communication. Joy is dedicated to designing data-driven, pedagogically relevant instruction that bridges the gap between classroom teaching and authentic language use. Her teaching interests include helping students build practical language skills with culturally informed perspectives, and fostering self-directed learning. She aims to equip students with the tools to use language confidently, think critically about culture, and connect their learning to real-world contexts.

Research Interests

Courses