Linguistics Seminar
Seminars typically take place each Monday from 4-5 PM, either in-person or over Zoom. In-person seminars are normally held in the Lucy Ellis Lounge (LCLB 1080).
Contact Isela Silvera for Zoom links and details and if you’d like to be added to the mailing list and receive announcements of new talks every week.
Fall 2025 Schedule
- 8 Sept: Workshop - Digital Accessibility Workshop for Grad students and Faculty (Amber Dunse)
- 15 Sept: Grad Student Workshop - Faculty Job Search Essentials (Derek Attig)
- 22 Sept: TBA
- 29 Sept: Elaine Francis (Purdue)
- 6 Oct: Hans Henrich Hock (Illinois - LING)
- 29 Oct: Kendra Calhoun (Illinois - ANTH)
- 3 Nov: Veneeta Dayal (Yale)
- 17 Nov: Kristopher Kyle (Oregon)
- 1 Dec: TBA
Spring 2025 Schedule
- 3 March: Geoff LaFlair (Duolingo)
- Talk Title: Accelerating Item Development and Di3iculty Estimation with NLP and Responsible AI
- Abstract: A key challenge of high stakes language assessment is introducing new test items rapidly while minimizing the amount of response data required for accurate item parameter estimation. This is especially true for computer adaptive tests (CATs), such as the Duolingo English Test, which require the creation and maintenance of large item pools. With advances in automated item generation (Attali et al., 2023), it is possible to create large numbers of items with relatively little e3ort. However, these items need parameter estimates if they are to be used operationally. Traditional methods of parameter estimation rely on extensive pilot testing, which is time-consuming, costly, and poses security risks, a limitation that can be overcome with machine-learning (ML) driven feature-based parameter estimation.
- 10 March: Grad Student Workshop - Applying for Internships in Industry (Mingyue Huo)
- 31 March: Cynthia Gordon (Georgetown)
- 7 April: Grad Student Workshop - Project Management & Organizational Tools (Amy Atiles & Britni Moore)
For a list of seminars held in previous semesters, please see Past Seminars.