SUNY Canton Author Publishes New Book on Innovative Approaches to English Education in the U.S.

A published faculty member from the School of Business and Liberal Arts has released her first solo book.

Noting the growing influence of artificial intelligence (AI), Professor Eunjyu Yu, who teaches English in the college’s School of Business and Liberal Arts, recently published the Korean text “Revolutions in English classrooms in the AI Era” through Hankook Publishing House.

“My book unveils the definitive success strategies for English proficiency,” she said, “From disruptive innovations to the secret techniques of native speakers, I go inside the U.S. education system to show readers how to outpace AI and command English with absolute confidence.”

Her text is designed for English language learners and educators and focuses on improving real-world communication with native speakers. The Korean edition of her newest publication is designed to be a transformative guide that elevates how readers connect and communicate globally in English in a rapidly evolving AI-driven environment. She defined “communication as a process of negotiation guided by effective strategies aligning with an impactful message for a targeted audience to achieve a desired purpose” in her book.

Yu asserts that speaking English is no longer just a skill; it has become a competitive edge in the age of widespread Internet use and AI. She noted that there are approximately 7,159 languages worldwide. “Right now, American English is having a huge impact worldwide due to the easy access to and distribution of information,” she said, “English becomes a global language positioning as a language of opportunity and success.”

The author and educator experienced English education in three distinct ways and uses those experiences to guide readers. She first learned English as a native Korean, then learned English as a Second Language when she moved to the United States. Later, she became an educator who teaches English to native English speakers. 

“All three represent different approaches to American English education,” she said. “Experiences across all three contexts are described in the book.”

Some differences in how language is taught to non-native speakers include an emphasis on practical use rather than memorization and a focus on real-life communication skills rather than knowledge alone. “It’s not about what to know about the language,” she said. “It’s more about 'what can I do' with the language.”

Yu is one of the most prolific researchers at the college, specializing in the application of emerging technologies to language education and inclusive educational practices. She has previously published research on AI assistants for online learners, inclusive teaching practices in multicultural urban American classrooms, and the integration of American culture into creative writing for non-native speakers.