Sunny Hyon, Ph.D.

English professor Sunny Hyon, who joined CSUSB in 1994, is a specialist in linguistics and in the teaching of English as a second language (ESL). Her research and teaching interests include genre theory and pedagogy, discourse analysis, grammar and style.

In August 2019, Hyon led a workshop entitled “Integrating Genre in College ESL Courses” for Grossmont College in San Diego. Grossmont College’s English as a Second Language Department was transforming their curriculum into a genre-oriented one, and Hyon facilitated a series of activities on how to make students rhetorically and grammatically flexible genre users.

In 2017, Hyon published her book “Introducing Genre and English for Specific Purposes” (Routledge). The book offers an overview of genre theory, analysis and teaching in the field of English for Specific Purposes. The hands-on tasks throughout the book give readers experience with completing various types of genre analyses and with designing their own genre-based courses and materials. Genre analysis has become a key approach within the field of English for Specific Purposes and helps students understand particular language use patterns in target contexts.

Among many other distinctions, Hyon has served as chair of the English department, as graduate coordinator for the M.A. in English composition, was awarded the university’s Golden Apple award for excellence in teaching in the 2006-07 academic year, and was named outstanding teacher for the CSUSB’s College of Arts and Letters in 2005. She also helped establish a certificate program in speech-language pathology at CSUSB, which launched in fall 2022. 

Hyon received her Ph.D. in linguistics from the University of Michigan and her bachelor’s in linguistics from UC San Diego.