Associate Professor Dr Tamas Kiss

Tamas Kiss

Associate Professor Dr Tamas Kiss

  • Associate Professor
English for Specific Academic Purposes
  • Centre for English Language Studies (CELS)
603-74918622 Extension: 3394

Biography

Dr Tamas Kiss works as an Associate Professor at ºìÐÓÊÓƵ University, Centre for English Language Studies. He has been involved with language teacher education programmes in Europe, the Middle East, South Asia, Latin America and South East Asia. He delivered one-off talks and directed longer, intensive workshops in more than 20 countries including Romania, Lithuania, Pakistan, Iraq, Hong Kong, Singapore, the Philippines, Germany, Mexico, etc. by invitation of universities, language teacher organizations, cultural institutions, or international publishing houses. His main research interests include language pedagogy, language teacher education, creativity, intercultural communication, the link between complex dynamic systems and education, and the role of culture in language teaching materials. One of his latest projects has been on creativity in language teaching which resulted in a co-authored book: Maley, A. & Kiss, T. (2018). Creativity and English Language Teaching: From inspiration to implementation. London: Palgrave Macmillan.

His research expertise lies primarily in the areas of English Language Teaching and Teacher Education, with a specific focus on the following three areas: 1) novice language teacher experiences 2) teacher education as a complex dynamic system, 3) (inter)cultural content in EL textbooks, and 4) creativity in language teaching. A/P Kiss' research generally follows an interdisciplinary approach by combining different research frameworks. 

Academic & Professional Qualifications

  • Ph.D. (Linguistics), University of Warsaw, Poland (2006)
  • M.Ed. (Teacher Training for ELT), University of Exeter, College of St Mark and St John, UK (1997)
  • B.Ed. (English Language Teaching), Kossuth Lajos University, Hungary (1994)

Research Interests

  • Teacher education as a complex dynamic system
  • Inter-cultural content in EL textbooks
  • Creativity in language teaching
  • Language teaching materials

Notable Publications

Books

  1. Kiss, T., Venkovits, B., & Higgs, C. (Eds). (2025). Xantus and/es Borneo: A Hungarian naturalist in 19th-century Sarawak. ºìÐÓÊÓƵ University Press
  2. Joseph Jeyaraj, J., Kiss, T. & Perrodin, D. D. (Eds). (2024). Critical Pedagogies in English Language Teaching and Learning in South East Asia. Penang: USM Press
  3. Mishan, F. & Kiss, T. (2024). Developing intercultural language materials. London: Routledge.
  4. Maley, A. & Kiss, T. (2018). Creativity in English language teaching: From inspiration to implementation. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan

Chapters in Scholarly Works (past 5 years)

  1. Joseph Jeyaraj, J., Kiss, T. & Perrodin, D. D. (2024). Situating ELT Critical Pedagogies in Southeast Asia: Challenges and Opportunities (pp. 182-205). In Joseph Jeyaraj, J., Kiss, T. & Perrodin, D. D. (Eds). Critical Pedagogies in English Language Teaching and Learning in South East Asia. USM Press
  2. Mizusawa, K. & Kiss, T. (2024) Multiliteracies and Student-led Materials Design: The struggle for Learner engagement and agency in the EFL classroom (pp. 41-58). In Tavares, V. (Ed) Social Justice through Pedagogies of Multiliteracies. Routledge
  3. Kiss, T. (2025) Intercultural communication. In Chapelle, C. A. (Ed.). The Encyclopaedia of Applied Linguistics (2nd Ed.). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  4. Kiss, T. & Rimbar, H. (2023). Using a multimodal text in Malaysian classrooms: Exploring lesson designs (pp. 73-94). In NBK Lee & J. L. Burkhardt (Eds)., English: Critical lessons for teachers by teachers. ºìÐÓÊÓƵ City: ºìÐÓÊÓƵ University Press.
  5. Kiss, T. & Ji, Li (2022). Using EAP teaching materials in a global university: Conflicting beliefs and expectations (pp. 66-100). In C. Fernández & A. Berwick (Eds.), Using language learning materials: Theory and practice (pp. 66-100). Newcastle upon Tyne: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
  6. Kiss T. (2021) Creativity and Language Teaching (pp. 35-39). In: Mohebbi H., Coombe C. (eds.) Research Questions in Language Education and Applied Linguistics. Springer Texts in Education. Springer, Cham.
  7. Medgyes, P. & Kiss, T. (2020). Quality assurance and the expatriate native speaker teacher (pp. 94-102). in Martinez, J. D. (Ed.), Quality in TESOL and teacher education: From a results culture towards a quality culture. London: Routledge.
  8. Medgyes, P. & Kiss, T. (2020). Quality assurance and the expatriate native speaker teacher (pp. 94-102). in Martinez, J. D. (Ed.), Quality in TESOL and teacher education: From a results culture towards a quality culture. London: Routledge.

Journal Articles (past 5 years)

  1. Kiss, T. & Pack, A. (2023). A network analysis of L2 motivational factors: Structure, connectivity, and central relational links. TESOL Quarterly, 57(2), 537-565. doi: 10.1002/tesq.3166
  2. Kiss, T. & Pack, A. (2023). A dynamic network analysis of an L2 motivation system: The role of central relational links. The Journal for the Psychology in Language Learning. 5(1), 1-20.
  3. Pack, A. & Kiss, T. (2023). A visual model of L2 motivation as a complex dynamic system. ELT Journal, 77(4), 458-469.
  4. Pack, A., Kiss, T., Barrett, A., & Chen, C. (2022). Towards a non-dichotomous view of motivators and demotivators in language learning. International Journal of Applied Linguistics. 32(1), 94-107.
  5. Kiss, T. & Rimbar, H. (2021) English Language Teacher Agency in Rural Sarawak: Exploiting Teaching Materials. The English Teacher, 50(2), 142-156.
  6. Kiss, T. (2020). Language use and novice teacher identity in an online Community of Practice. Indonesian Journal of English Language Teaching. 15(2). 104-124.
  7. Mizusawa, K. & Kiss, T. (2020). Connecting multiliteracies and writing pedagogy for 21st century English language classrooms: Key considerations for teacher education in Singapore and beyond. Jonus, 5(2). 192-214.
  8. Mizusawa, K. & Kiss, T. (2020). Connecting multiliteracies and writing pedagogy for 21st century English language classrooms: Key considerations for teacher education in Singapore and beyond. Jonus, 5(2). 192-214.

Plenary/Keynote Talks at Conferences (past 5 years)

  1. Kiss, T. (2024, NOV). Order or chaos? Research through a complexity lens. 2nd International Conference on Educational Research and Innovation 2024 (iCERl2024), Kuching, Malaysia.
  2. Kiss, T. (2024, SEPT). EAP and creativity: Is 'creative academic writing' an oxymoron? 13th Language for Specific Purposes International Seminar (LSP 2024), Johor Bahru, Malaysia
  3. Kiss, T. (2024, SEPT). Simply complex: Language teaching and motivation. 32nd MELTA International Conference, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
  4. Kiss, T. (2024, MAR). Language, literature, and culture: A 21st century pedagogy in ELT. Keynote, Navigating the tri-juncture: ELT, Literature, and Culture. SSN College, Chennai, India.
  5. Kiss, T. (2023, JUN). Linked: Exploring the depth of language learning. Plenary talk, The first DELTA International Conference on English Language Teaching, 2023, Sungai Petani, Malaysia.
  6. Kiss, T. (2022, OCT). Identity and creativity in the EFL classroom. Plenary talk, 10th International Conference on English Language Teaching (ICOELT-10), Online conference, Indonesia, Padang.
  7. Kiss, T. (2022, OCT). Reinventing language learning/teaching in the new normal. Keynote address, 2nd International Conference on Applied Linguistics and Language Education (ICALLE), Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
  8. Kiss, T. (2021, FEB). Teacher agency and textbooks: How teachers exploit materials. Keynote address, International Conference on Education, Language, Humanities and Social Sciences (i-LEdHS2021), Online conference, Malaysia.
  9. Kiss, T. (2020, NOV). Technology in language teaching: A way forward? Plenary talk, ELT in the 21st century: Meeting challenges, exploring opportunities. 36th SPELT International Conference. Pakistan, virtual.

 

Professional Associations

  1. Penang English Language :earning and Teaching Association (PELLTA)
  2. Malaysian English Language Teaching Association (MELTA)
  3. TESOL - Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages