Brian Strong

Biography

Brian Strong is an Assistant Professor in the School of Linguistics and Language Studies at Carleton University. His research has focused on second language vocabulary learning from cognitive linguistics and cognitive psychology perspectives. Recently, his research has concentrated on the effects of retrieval practice on the learning of idiomatic expressions such as phrasal verbs by non-native speakers.

Dr. Strong received his Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics from Victoria University of Wellington, and M.A. in TESOL from the University of Birmingham. He has over twenty years of experience teaching English as another language in secondary schools and higher education institutions in countries such as Japan and New Zealand. During his teaching career, he has also taught English for Academic Purposes (EAP) and English for Specific Purposes (ESP), as well as Advanced Oral Communication (AOC) and English Language Training Officials (ELTO) courses.

Research interests

• Second and foreign language teaching (including TESL)
• Curriculum and methodology in second and foreign language teaching
• Second language acquisition
• Formulaic language and phraseology

Recent Publications

Strong, B., & Leeming, P. (2024). Comparing the effectiveness of verb-focused and particle-focused exercise formats on the recall and recognition of phrasal verbs. Language Teaching Research, 0(0).

Strong, B., & Leeming, P. (2023). Evaluating the application of a gap‐fill exercise on the learning of phrasal verbs: Do errors help or hinder learning? TESOL Quarterly, 0(0).

Strong, B. (2023). The impact of guessing and retrieval strategies for learning phrasal verbs. International Review of Applied Linguistics in Language Teaching, 0(0).

Strong, B. (2023). Retrieval, repetition, and retention: Unveiling vocabulary acquisition strategies for ESL learners. Arts & Humanities Open Access Journal, 5(3), 185–190.

Strong, B. & Boers, F. (2019). Weighing up exercises on phrasal verbs: Retrieval vs. trial-and-error practices. The Modern Language Journal, 103(3), 562-579.

Strong, B. & Boers, F. (2019). The error in trial and error: The case of exercises on phrasal verbs. TESOL Quarterly, 53, 289–319.

Boers, F., Dang, T., & Strong, B. (2017). Comparing the effectiveness of phrase-focused exercises: A partial replication of Boers, Demecheleer, Coxhead, and Webb (2014). Language Teaching Research, 21(3), 362-380.

Boers, F. & Strong, B. (2017). An evaluation of textbook exercises on collocations. In B. Tomlinson (Ed.), SLA Research and Materials Development for Language Learning (pp. 139-152). New York: Routledge

Strong, B. (2013). A cognitive semantics approach to learning of English phrasal verbs. The Language Teacher, 37(5), 28-31.

Strong, B. (2013). A cognitive linguistics approach to learning of English phrasal verbs. VERB, 2(1), 4-6.

Papers Presented

Strong, B. & Leeming, P. (2024, March). Enhancing phrasal verb learning: Evaluating learning strategies, restudy sessions, and the role of error recollection. Paper presented at AAAL, Texas, USA.

Strong, B. (2023, December). The benefit of guessing as a strategy for learning phrasal verbs. Paper presented at Vocab@Vic, Wellington, New Zealand.

Strong, B. & Leeming, P. (2023, December). Comparing exercise formats on learning phrasal verbs: Should learners recollect their errors when studying corrective feedback. Paper presented at Vocab@Vic, New Zealand.

Strong, B. (2023, May). Helping students learn phrasal verbs: A comparison of exercise formats. Paper presented at ACLA/CAAL, Toronto, Canada.

Strong, B. (2022, February). The effects of exercise formats on the learning of phrasal verbs. Virtual paper presented at CamTESOL, Cambodia.

Strong, B. (2022, January). Enhancing the learning of phrasal verbs through trial and error. Virtual paper presented at Thailand TESOL International Virtual Conference.

Strong, B (2019, June). How effective are exercises on phrasal verbs? Paper presented at Asia TEFL & FLLT International Conference, Bangkok, Thailand.

Strong, B. & Boers, F. (2019, July). Weighing up exercise on phrasal verbs: Retrieval versus trial-and-error implementations. Paper presented at Vocab@Leuven, Leuven, Brussels.

Wang, A., Strong, B., & Toomer, M. (2018, December). Teaching idioms with etymology notes: Does etymological semantic transparency matter for memorizing the meaning. Paper presented at ALANZ Symposium, Hamilton, New Zealand.

Strong, B. (2016, September). The effects of error-free and trial-and-error techniques on learning phrasal verbs. Poster presented at Vocab@Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.

Strong. B. (2015, June). An investigation into the effects of exemplar-based and feedback-based procedures on learning phrasal verbs. Paper presented at CULI International Conference, Bangkok, Thailand.

Strong. B. (2014, August). Examining input material, corrective feedback and exercises on learning multiword units. Paper presented at ThaiTESOL, Bangkok, Thailand.

Strong, B. (2013, December). Methods of learning phrasal verbs: A cognitive linguistics approach. Paper presented at Vocab@Vic, Wellington, New Zealand.

Strong, B. (2013, March). Methods of learning phrasal verbs. Paper presented at the 3rd International Conference on Foreign Language Learning and Teaching, Bangkok, Thailand.

Strong, B. (2012, October). Creating a specialized keyword list. Poster presented at JALT Conference, Hamamatsu, Japan.

Strong, B. (2012, March). Incidental vocabulary acquisition through extensive reading. Paper presented at the International Conference of Academic Disciplines, Las Vegas, USA.

Strong, B. (2012, March). Learning vocabulary incidentally through reading. Paper presented at JALT Vocabulary Symposium, Kyushu, Japan.

Strong, B. (2012, January). Vocabulary acquisition through extensive reading. Paper presented at the 32nd Thailand TESOL International Conference, Bangkok, Thailand.

Strong, B. (2011, December). Acquisition of three aspects of word knowledge through reading. Paper presented at the 8th JACET Vocabulary Acquisition Research Group Conference, Tokyo, Japan.

Strong, B. & Boutorwick, TJ. (2011, February). Incidental vocabulary acquisition from pleasure reading. Paper presented at the First Extensive Reading World Congress, Kyoto, Japan.

Strong, B. & Boutorwick, TJ. (2011, March). Incidental vocabulary acquisition through extensive reading. Paper presented at International Conference and Workshop on TEFL & Applied Linguistics, Taipei, Taiwan.

Strong, B. (2011, February). Building a specialized word list. Paper presented at the 13th Annual Temple University Japan Campus Applied Linguistics Colloquium, Osaka, Japan.