Fumiko Nazikian is currently the director of Japanese language program at Columbia University, NY, where she teaches Japanese language and pedagogy. She has taught Japanese language in various institutions including Australian National University, University of Sydney and Princeton University. Her research interests center on the discourse analysis of interaction in institutional talks such as T.V. interview. She has written articles and given presentations on topics such as Japanese sentence final particles, speech-style shifting, Japanese conditionals, the linkage of culture and language teaching, etc.