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Associate Professor

• Ph.D. in Linguistics, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
• M.A. in Linguistics, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
• B.A. in English, University Ibn Tofail, Kenitra, Morocco

Email:  abdellatif.oulhaj@mso.umt.edu

Interests include implementing dialectal variation in curricula, authenticity in language instruction, and following national standards in designing courses. He has developed new courses at DCLCP following ACTFL Standards and got certified by ACTFL as a full OPI tester. His primary research interests are in the field of pedagogy. Specifically, he is interested in how to assist learners achieve the advanced levels, and how to boost their exposure to more input via technology. Abdellatif resides with his family in the beautiful city of Missoula. In his free time, he explores the city for good vegetarian cuisine and spends quality time with his family.

Lead Professor

• Ph.D., Education, ÁÔÆæÖØ¿Ú
• M.S., Business Analytics, ÁÔÆæÖØ¿Ú
• B.A., English, South-West University

Email: xin.bu@mso.umt.edu
Phone: (406) 243-3629

Dr. Xin Bu is a lead Chinese-Mandarin professor. Prior to her arrival to the U.S., she was a tenured faculty member of linguistics in China with years of experience. She has been a full-time faculty member since 2021 and is currently a lead professor. She works closely with Chinese department faculty members from three locations: Tacoma, WA; Fort Bragg, NC; and Missoula, MT. In addition to her teaching at DCLCP, Dr. Bu taught several graduate-level courses in the department of Educational Leadership at the ÁÔÆæÖØ¿Ú from 2016 to 2019. She is proud to have been invited to present at peer-reviewed regional, national, and international conferences. Her research interest focuses on cultural influences on leadership, and natural language processing.

Adjunct Professor

• M.A. in Applied Linguistics and TESOL, The University of Mississippi (2022)
• M.Ed. in Teaching Chinese Language as a Second Language, The University of Hong Kong (2014)
• B.A. in Foreign Language Instruction, Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages (2007)

Email: hanhsin.sung@mso.umt.edu

Mr. Sung Han-Hsin just earned his Master in applied linguistics and TESOL at the University of Mississippi. He also earned his M.Ed in Teaching Chinese Language as a Second Language from the University of Hong Kong back in 2014. Since 2017, Sung has taught and mentored Mandarin Chinese courses at all levels at institutions including Mississippi State University, and South Island International School, Hong Kong. He was also a teaching assistant in the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures at Hamilton College in 2019. In two summers, he was the instructor of Chinese classes in Project GO (2020) and StarTalk (2021) program at the University of Mississippi.

Mr. Sung brings his unique experience teaching Mandarin Chinese as part of airline service training. He is especially skilled in helping professionals refine their Mandarin for use in service delivery contexts.

Assistant Professor

• Ph.D. in Chinese Literature, Nankai University, China 2003
• M.A. in Chinese Literature, Hunan Normal University, China 2000
• B.A. in Education of Chinese Language and Literature, Hunan Normal University, China 1997

Email: huiqing.qu@mso.umt.edu

Huiqing's teaching career started as a language instructor at Fort. Bragg (Fort Liberty) in 2012. She also volunteered for local Chinese school and Chinese program at Cumberland County Schools and Fayetteville State University. She was an adjunct language instructor at Fayetteville State University before joining the DCLCP team. She enjoys teaching Chinese language and sharing Chinese culture with her students.

Alyona Speelman
Ukrainian Academic Specialist/ Russian & Ukrainian Lead /Adjunct Professor

• M.A. in Science of Linguistics, Russian Language and Literature, Kiev Slavonic University (2006)
• B.A. in Science of Linguistics, Russian Language and Literature, Kiev Slavonic University (2006)

Email: alyona.speelman@mso.umt.edu

Alyona is very passionate about teaching languages, and has a native fluency in Russian, Ukrainian, and English. She has worked for 12 + years with the U.S. government’s most challenging language schools, including USAJFKSWCS(A), MISOC, Civil Affairs, and National Guard personnel. This has given her a profound understanding of the missions and linguistic requirements for Army Special Operation Forces training and operations. In addition to her years of experience instructing Special Operations soldiers in Russian and Ukrainian, she integrates the customs and nuances of Slavic culture as a means of gaining proficiency in these languages. 

Alyona teaches students of all levels (Novice - Superior). She is also certified by ACTFL as a full OPI tester. Her research/language interests include Communicative Language Teaching, Second Language Acquisition, Foreign Language Pedagogy and Intensive Methods of Foreign Language Teaching. Alyona loves outdoors and teaching is her passion.