Rebekah Rast
Professor
- Department: Comparative Literature and English
- Complementary Department(s): French Studies and Modern Languages
- Office:G-109
- Office Hours:By appointment
Professor Rast received her泭Habilitation diriger des recherches泭from the Universit矇 Grenoble Alpes and her doctorate from the Universit矇 Paris 8 in linguistics with a specialization in adult second/third language acquisition. Her research focuses on the role that a learner's linguistic environment (foreign language input) plays in the acquisition process. She works with an interdisciplinary research team,泭泭comprised of university faculty and CNRS researchers. Current projects include泭泭硃紳餃泭. She also collaborates on a European project泭(VILLA).
Rast has taught English and linguistics at the American University of Paris since 1992. Courses include teacher training (Pedagogical Grammar and TESOL Methodologies), English (all levels of writing), and linguistics (Introduction to Linguistics; Psycholinguistics; Language and Migration; Language Acquisition and Social Policy; Languages of the World; Language Acquisition and Multilingualism).
Her current research interests include:
- second language acquisition/learning
- third and additional language acquisition/learning
- psycholinguistics
- the interface between language acquisition research and foreign language teaching
- language in education
- language learning during study abroad
- English as a second/foreign language
Education/Degrees
- HDR, Linguistics, Universit矇 Grenoble Alpes
- PhD, Linguistics, Universit矇 Paris 8
- DEA, Linguistics (Option: Second Language Acquisition), Universit矇 Paris 8
- MA, Applied Linguistics/TESOL, Indiana University, Bloomington
- BA, French and Music, Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville NY
News
Professor Rasts co-edited volume with Marzena Watorek and Arnaud Arslangul has been published by Inalco Press:泭Premi癡res 矇tapes dans lacquisition des langues 矇trang癡res: dialogue entre acquisition et didactique des langues. The online book can be found here:泭
Publications
ARTICLES IN PEER-REVIEWED JOURNALS
- Watorek, M., Tr矇visiol, P. and Rast, R. (2021) (2),73.
- Watorek, M., Rast, R., Durand, M., Dimroth, C. and Starren, M. (2017) Linfluence du type denseignement sur lappropriation de la morphologie au d矇but de lapprentissage dune langue 矇trang癡re. Le fran癟ais dans le monde, 61, 47-61.
- Dimroth, C., Rast, R., Starren, M. and Watorek, M. (2013) Methods for studying a new language under controlled input conditions: The VILLA project. EUROSLA Yearbook 13: 109-138.
- Hinz, J., Krause, C., Rast, R., Shoemaker, E. and Watorek, M. (2013) Initial processing of morphological marking in nonnative language acquisition: Evidence from French and German learners of Polish. EUROSLA Yearbook 13: 39-175.
- Shoemaker, E. and Rast, R. (2013) "Extracting words from the speech stream at first exposure". Second Language Research 29/2: 165-183.
- Rast, R. (2010) "The role of linguistic input in the first hours of adult language learning". Language Learning (Wiley-Blackwell).
- Rast, R. (2010) "The use of prior linguistic knowledge in the early stages of L3 acquisition". International Review of Applied Linguistics in Language Teaching (Mouton de Gruyter).
- Rast, R. and Ta簿eb, E. (2008) "Pr矇sentation". Acquisition et Interaction en Langue trang癡re : Savoirs et savoir-faire dans lapprentissage et lenseignement dune langue 矇trang癡re 27, 3-14.
- Rast, R. (2006) "Le premier contact avec une nouvelle langue 矇trang癡re : comment sacquitter dune t璽che de compr矇hension ?" Acquisition et Interaction en Langue trang癡re 24, 119-148.
- Tr矇visiol, P. and Rast, R. (2006) "Pr矇sentation". Acquisition et Interaction en Langue trang癡re 24, 3-11.
- Rast, R. and Dommergues, J-Y. (2003) "Towards a characterisation of saliency on first exposure to a second language". EUROSLA Yearbook 3, 131-156.
- Rast, R. (1999) "The first hours of second language acquisition", Acquisition et Interaction en Langue Etrang癡re, Special Issue, Vol. 2 From Word to Structure, 73-88.
- Perdue, C. and Rast, R. (1999) "Introduction". Acquisition et Interaction en Langue trang癡re Special Issue, Vol. 1 The Bilingual Person, 1-6.
BOOKS AND CHAPTERS
泭
- Watorek, M., Yu, X.C., Guan, Q., Tr矇visiol, P., H. Majdoub, H. and泭Rast, R.泭(2020) A replication study: Measuring the influence of typologically diverse target language properties on input processing at the initial stages of acquisition. In A. Edmonds, P. Leclercq and A. Gudmestad (Eds.),泭Interpreting Language-Learning Data. Berlin, Language Science Press, 71-110.
- Arslangul, A., Watorek, M. and Rast, R. (2021) Dialogue entre acquisition et didactique des langues: introduction generale. In M. Watorek, A. Arslangul and R. Rast (Eds.),泭Premi癡res 矇tapes dans lacquisition des langues 矇trang癡res : dialogue entre acquisition et didactique des langues, Paris, Presses dInalco.
- Watorek, M., Durand, M. and R. Rast (2021) Les premieres etapes dans lacquisition dune langue etrangere: dialogue entre Acquisition et Didactique des langues. In M. Watorek, A. Arslangul and R. Rast (Eds.),泭Premi癡res 矇tapes dans lacquisition des langues 矇trang癡res : dialogue entre acquisition et didactique des langues, Paris, Presses dInalco.
- Watorek, M., Yu, X.C., Guan, Q., Tr矇visiol, P., H. Majdoub, H. and泭Rast, R.泭(2020) A replication study: Measuring the influence of typologically diverse target language properties on input processing at the initial stages of acquisition. In A. Edmonds, P. Leclercq and A. Gudmestad (Eds.),泭Interpreting Language-Learning Data. Berlin, Language Science Press, 71-110.
- Rast, R.泭(2019) What first exposure studies of input can contribute to Study Abroad research. In M. Howard (Ed.),泭Study Abroad, Second Language Acquisition and Interculturality. Bristol, Multilingual Matters, 179-206.
- Rast, R. (in press 2018) "The significance of composition symbols for the development of writing in a foreign language". In A. Lopes & R. Ruiz Cecilia (Eds.),泭New Trends in Foreign Language Teaching. Newcastle upon Tyne, Cambridge Scholars, 198-211.
- Latos, A., Watorek M., Rast, R. et Durand, M. (2016) "Badanie procesu akwizycji jzyka drugiego od podstaw: projekt VILLA i jego praktyczne implikacje w nauczaniu jzyka obcego w systemie klasowo-lekcyjnym". In J. Klimek-Grdzka & A. Majewska-W籀jcik (Eds.), Nauczanie jzyka polskiego. Tradycje i innowacje,Vol. 2, 67-94. Lublin, Wydawnictwo KUL.
- Rast, R. (2015) "Primi passi in un nuovo sistema linguistico". In M.E. Favilla & E. Nuzzo (Eds.), Grammatica Applicata: Apprendimento, Patologie, Insegnamento, 111-124. Milan, Associazione Italiana di Linguistica Applicata.
- Han, Z-H. and Rast, R. (Eds.) (2014) First Exposure to a Second Language: Learners Initial Input Processing. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Rast, R., Watorek, M., Hilton, H. and Shoemaker, E. (2014) "Initial processing and use of inflectional markers: Evidence from French adult learners of Polish". In Z-H. Han and R. Rast (Eds.), First Exposure to a Second Language: Learners Initial Input Processing, 64-106. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Rast, R. (2012) "L2 input and the L2 initial state: The writings of Clive Perdue". In M. Watorek, S. Benazzo & M. Hickmann (Eds.), Comparative Perspectives to Language Acquisition: A Tribute to Clive Perdue, 37-53. Bristol, Multilingual Matters.
- Rast, R., Dimroth, C. and Watorek, M. (2011) "Language teaching and acquisition: What can we learn from ab initio learners?". In P. Tr矇visiol-Okamura & G. Komur-Thilloy (Eds.), Discours, acquisition et didactique des langues: Les termes d'un dialogue, 71-86. Paris, Orizons.
- Rast, R. (2011) "Input processing principles: A contribution from first exposure data". In C. Sanz & R. Leow (Eds.), Implicit and Explicit Conditions, Processes and Knowledge in SLA and Bilingualism, 129-141. Washington, DC, Georgetown University Press.
- Rast, R. (2010) "First exposure: Converting target language input to intake". In M. P羹tz & L. Sicola (Eds.), Cognitive Processing in Second Language Acquisition, 99-115. Amsterdam, John Benjamins.
- Rast, R. (2008) Foreign Language Input: Initial Processing. Clevedon, Multilingual Matters.
TOEFL PUBLICATIONS
- Martz, L. and Rast, R. (2006) 8 jours pour r矇ussir le TOEFL. Paris, Ellipses.
- Martz, L., Rast, R. and Fichaux, F. (2005) TOEFL: Epreuves dentra簾nement, Paris, Ellipses.
- Fichaux, F., Guillard, D., Martz, L. and Rast, R. (2004) R矇ussir le TOEFL. Paris, Ellipses.
EDITED VOLUMES
- In Watorek, M., Arslangul, A. and Rast, R. (Eds.) (2021)泭Premi癡res 矇tapes dans lacquisition des langues 矇trang癡res : dialogue entre acquisition et didactique des langues.泭Paris: Presses dInalco.
- Han, Z-H. and Rast, R. (Eds.) (2014) First Exposure to a Second Language: Learners Initial Input Processing. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
- Rast, R. and Ta簿eb, E. (2008) Acquisition et Interaction en Langue trang癡re Savoirs et savoir-faire dans lapprentissage et lenseignement dune langue 矇trang癡re (N簞 27), Association Aile-Encrages, Universit矇 Paris 8, Saint-Denis.
- Rast, R. and Tr矇visiol, P. (2006) Acquisition et Interaction en Langue trang癡re : LAcquisition dune Langue 3 (N簞 24), Association Aile-Encrages, Universit矇 Paris 8.
- Perdue, C. and Rast, R. (1999) Acquisition et Interaction en Langue trang癡re, Vol 1 : The Bilingual Person et Vol 2 : From Word to Structure, Association Aile-Encrages, Universit矇 Paris 8.
Conferences & Lectures
- "From processing to production in Japanese Ln at the initial stages of acquisition", with P. Tr矇visiol and M. Watorek,泭The 20th International Conference of the Japan Second Language Association, Shizuoka University, Japan (online), 27 March 2021.
- "Measuring the language input, uptake and intake of learners abroad", with M. Starren and M. Watorek,泭Study Abroad Research in European Perspective: Input in Study Abroad and Views from Acquisition. Focus on Constructs, Operationalisation and Measurement Issues,泭COST Action Workshop, Barcelona, Spain, 24 January 2019.
- "Saliency revisited: What helps absolute beginners learn L2/L3 inflectional morphology?" with M. Watorek, K. Starosciak and M. Durand,泭European Second Language Association Conference 26, M羹nster, Germany, 7 September 2018.
- "Etude comparative de limpact des caract矇ristiques des langues cibles sur le traitement泭de linput en d矇but dacquisition. R矇plique du projet VILLA, with M. Watorek, X. C. Yu, Q. Guan, P. Tr矇visiol and H. Majdoub.泭Colloque International Research methodology in the field of second language acquisition and learning, Montpellier, France, 31 May 2018.
- "Replicating input-based studies, contextual factors, and ecological validity", with C. Dimroth, M. Starren and M. Watorek. Invited panel "Consolidating and Sustaining a Principled Replication Effort in SLA Research", European Second Language Association Conference 26, Reading, UK, 31 August 2017.
- Lacquisition de la morphologie nominale en polonais langue 矇trang癡re par des apprenants fran癟ais d矇butants: difficult矇s sp矇cifiques des locuteurs francophones, with M. Watorek. Colloque international de linguistique, Analyse des erreurs commises par des francophones apprenant une langue 矇loign矇e, Centre d矇tudes japonaises de lINALCO, Paris, 5 February 2016.
- "Les premi癡res 矇tapes dans lacquisition dune langue 矇trang癡re : dialogue entre Acquisition et Didactique des langues", with M. Watorek and M. Durand. Journ矇e d矇tude Acquisition-Didactique 2, INALCO, Paris, 19 March, 2016.
- "The significance of composition symbols for the development of writing in a foreign language". Trends in Foreign Language Teaching, PETALL, Universit矇 de Grenade, Espagne, 28 April, 2016.
- "Construction du discours en polonais langue cible par des apprenants d矇butants : linteraction des propri矇t矇s des langues sources et de linput en classe de langue", with M. Watorek, P. Tr矇visiol and A.-C. Demagny. International conference, Connaissances et usages en langue seconde/Knowledge and Usage in Second Language, Nantes, France, 30 June, 2016.
- "Measuring foreign language exposure and its effects on language development: Applications for study abroad. Invited speaker. Study Abroad Research in European Perspective: Methods and measures of input and language development, COST Action Conference,Vilnius, Lithuania, 14 October, 2016.
- What can adult learners do at first exposure to a novel language? Second Language Studies Seminar, Michigan State University, 12 November 2015.
- How do absolute beginners learn inflectional morphology?, with M. Watorek and A. Latos. Classroom Oriented Research: Toward Effective Learning and Teaching, Konin, Poland, 14 October 2015.
- Individual differences in a beginning language classroom: young adult learners in five European countries, with H. Hilton and M. Starren. European Second Language Association Conference 25, Aix-en-Provence, France, 29 August 2015.
- To what extent does structured and practiced input neutralize L1 and L2 effects on an L3 at the initial stages of acquisition?, with M. Watorek, P. Tr矇visiol and A.-C. Demagny. European Second Language Association Conference 25, Aix-en-Provence, France, 28 August 2015.
- Lapprentissage dune nouvelle langue: comment d矇marrer ? Invited speaker, LGIDF conference Journ矇e P矇dagogique: Acquisition et enseignment du fran癟ais en context multilingue, Paris, 17 June 2015.
- Instructed third language acquisition: The first moments of input processing. Invited speaker, Applied Linguistics 3rd Postgraduate Conference, University of Greenwich, UK, 27 May 2015.
- Language learner performance at first exposure and implications for teaching. Applied Linguistics and TESOL Program Seminar, Teachers College, Columbia University, NYC, 16 December 2014.
- The development of phonemic categories at first exposure, with E. Shoemaker. ERP: Experimental Psycholinguistics Conference, Madrid, Spain, 3 October 2014.
- Recognizing lexical forms in the speech stream at first exposure, with G. van Bergen and E. Shoemaker. European Second Language Association Conference 24, York, UK, 4 September 2014.
- Cracking the code of a new linguistic system: First exposure studies. Second Language Studies Colloquium, Indiana University, 11 April 2014.
- The development of phonemic categories at first exposure, with E. Shoemaker. ERP: Experimental Psycholinguistics Conference, Madrid, Spain, 3 October 2014.
- Recognizing lexical forms in the speech stream at first exposure, with G. van Bergen and E. Shoemaker. European Second Language Association Conference 24, York, UK, 4 September 2014.
- Breaking into a novel linguistic system. Invited plenary speaker, Associazione Italiana di Linguistica Applicata (AltLA), Verona, Italy, 6 February 2014.
- Comment observer la saisie de lapprenant d矇butant ? Invited speaker, De l'importance du corpus en didactique et en acquisition des langues, student organized conference, Universit矇 Paris VIII, St. Denis, France, 14 January 2014.
- Cze! The development of perceptual sensitivity to Polish sibilants at first exposure, with E. Shoemaker. European Second Language Association Conference 23, Amsterdam, NL, 31 August 2013.
- Processing morpho-syntax at first exposure: The role of source language, input and learner variability, with M. Starren, M. Watorek, H. Hilton and A. Latos. European Second Language Association Conference 23, Amsterdam, NL, 29 August 2013.
- "Word recognition strategies at first exposure", with E. Shoemaker. European Second Language Association Conference 22, Pozna, Poland, 7 September 2012.
- "Perception and production of nominal morphology: The early stages of the acquisition of Polish by child and adult native speakers of German", with J. Hinz, C. Dimroth and M. Watorek. European Second Language Association Conference 22, Pozna, Poland, 7 September 2012.
- "Instructional treatment types and their effects on the processing of nominal morphology by beginning learners of Polish", with M. Watorek and H. Hilton, Annual European Second Language Acquisition Conference 21, Stockholm University, Sweden, 8 September 2011.
- Extracting words from the L2 speech stream: a first exposure study, with E. Shoemaker, for the panel First exposure studies: Implications for an applied research agenda. Canadian Association of Applied Linguistics, University of New Brunswick & St. Thomas University, Fredericton, Canada, 1 June 2011.
- "Linguistic input and foreign language teaching: What do learners take in during beginning language instruction?" The Department of Education, University of York, 24 March 2011.
- Extracting words from the L2 speech stream: preliminary data from a first exposure study of L2 Polish, The Department of Applied Linguistics and Communication, Birkbeck College, University of London, 25 March 2011.
- Initial processing of morphological marking in second language acquisition, with M. Watorek and H. Hilton. Annual European Second Language Association Conference 20, Reggio Emilia, Italy, 2 September 2010.
- "The first hours of second language acquisition: How do French native speakers perceive, comprehend and parse the Polish speech stream?" Research Centre for Applied Linguistics and English, University of Cambridge, UK, 9 February 2010.
- "Modeling responses to the first few hours of exposure to new languages". Poster presented with Claudia Roda and Georgi Stojanov at the conference Computational Linguistics in the Netherlands (CLIN), Utrecht, The Netherlands, 5 February 2010.
- "The role of linguistic input in the early stages of adult language learning". Third A. Guiora Roundtable Conference in Cognitive Neuroscience of Language, sponsored by the journal Language Learning and the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, Nijmegen, The Netherlands, 8-9 October 2009.
- "Initial representations at first exposure to a target language, for the panel First exposure studies: new methods, new results. The International Symposium on Bilingualism 7, Utrecht University, The Netherlands, 9 July 2009.
- "Initial processing of target language input", for the panel Learner spontaneous processing of input, Georgetown University Round Table on Languages and Linguistics, Washington, D.C., 13 March 2009.
- "The use of prior linguistic knowledge in the early stages of L2+ acquisition. The Role of the Background Languages in Third Language Acquisition: Romance languages as L1, L2 or L3", Stockholm University, Sweden, 5 February 2009.
- "Linput et l矇tat initial L2 : les 矇crits de Clive Perdue". Acquisition des langues : perspectives comparatives : Hommage Clive Perdue, Universit矇 Paris 8, 5 December 2008.
- "The multilinguals ability to discriminate accent in a non-native language", International Conference on Multilingualism: Cross-cultural communication and language acquisition, Universitat Jaume 1, Castell籀, Espagne, 18 December 2008.
- "The effects of linguistic experience on the perception of English accent variation by non-native speakers", Annual European Second Language Acquisition Conference 18: Second Language Acquisition Research in Context, Universit矇 de Provence, Aix-en-Provence, 12 September 2008.
- "Characterizing the Multilinguals Linguistic Profile". Poster presented at the 17th Sociolinguistics Symposium, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, 5 April 2008.
- "Learners taking in target language input". 33rd LAUD Linguistic Agency Symposium: Cognitive Approaches to Second/Foreign Language Processing, Theory and Pedagogy, Landau, Germany, 11 March 2008.
- "What do adult learners do with the target language input they get?" Language Acquisition Seminar, The University of London Institute in Paris, 7 February 2007.
- "Theoretical implications of first exposure studies in SLA (Second Language Acquisition)". Poster presented at the Annual European Second Language Association Conference 16, Boazi癟i University, Antalya, Turkey, 15 September 2006.
- "Different from the beginning: Two case studies of early adult L2 acquisition", international conference Recherche sur lacquisition et lenseignement dune langue seconde ou 矇trang癡re, La Sorbonne Nouvelle, Paris, 7 September 2006.
- "Activating previously acquired language(s) upon first contact with a foreign language". Annual European Second Language Association Conference 15, University of Zagreb, Dubrovnik, Croatia, 14-17 September 2005.
- "Cross-linguistic influence upon first contact with L3 input". Fourth International Conference on Third Language Acquisition and Multilingualism, Universities of Fribourg/Freiburg and Biel/Bienne, 9 September 2005.
- "Information processing upon first exposure to a second language". Seminar on Bi- and Multilingualism and Cognition, Mitteleuropa Foundation, Bolzano, Italy, 20 May 2005.
Affiliations
- Member of the editorial board, Acquisition et Interaction en Langue trang癡re: Langage, Interaction et Acquisition, Amsterdam, John Benjamins.
- Member of the editorial board, EUROSLA Yearbook, the journal of the European Second Language Association, John Benjamins, Amsterdam.
- Country coordinator with M. Watorek (Paris VIII) for the project Varieties of Initial Learners in Language Acquisition (VILLA): Controlled classroom input and elementary forms of linguistic organisation, grant received from the Open Research Area in Europe for the Social Sciences across three countries: France, Germany, and The Netherlands.
- Coordinator with M. Watorek of CNRS-GDRI grant (Paris VIII) Second Language Acquisition and Teaching: First stages and input processing.
- Member of French research network, R矇seau Fran癟ais d'Acquisition des Langues Secondes (ReAL2).
- Member of the French research team UMR 7023 Structures Formelles du Langage: Langage, Cognition et Acquisition, CNRS and Universit矇 Paris VIII.
- Member of the French Research Group (GDR ADYLOC) Langues, langage oral, cognition : Acquisition et dysfonctionnements - nouvelles approches.
Research Areas
* Second language acquisition/learning泭
* Third and additional language acquisition/learning泭
* Psycholinguistics泭
* Foreign language teaching泭
* The interface between language acquisition research and language teaching泭
* Language in education泭
* Language learning during study abroad泭
* English as a second/foreign language