AL
Applied Linguistics
Applied Linguistics is the study of language and linguistics in relation to practical problems. Applied Linguistics uses information from sociology, psychology, anthropology, information theory, linguistics, and related areas to develop theoretical models of language use to be practically applied in syllabus design, language planning, language learning, and related areas.
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Language
Language is the system of human communication which consists of the structured arrangement of sounds or their written representation into larger units such as morphemes, words, sentences, and utterances. Language also refers to any particular system of human communication such as the English language or the Chinese language.
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Literacy
Literacy can refer to the ability to use reading and writing skills sufficiently well for the purposes and activities which normally require literacy in adult life or in a person’s social position. A person who is able to read and write in two languages is sometimes called biliterate.
Get to Know Us
Current Members
Dr. Barry Lee Reynolds is Associate Professor of English Language Education in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau, Macau SAR, China and the leader of ALLL. He serves the Faculty of Education as the programme coordinator of the master’s programme. His extensive list of publications includes journal articles, book chapters, book reviews, editorials, conference papers, and edited books/journal special issues. He has taught EGP, EAP, ESP and trained language teachers in the USA, Taiwan, and Macau. While his research interests are far reaching, the most prominent areas are vocabulary acquisition, informal language learning, L2 reading and writing (including written corrective feedback), computer-assisted language learning, and language teacher education.
Dr. Brian Rusk is a research assistant professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. His main research area is child second language (L2) development. He uses psycholinguistic methods including eye-tracking to research both community majority language contexts as well as foreign language immersion settings. His overarching research goal is to provide a better foundational understanding of L2 acquisition as an emergent phenomenon by studying Chinese speakers as they acquire English as an L2.
Ms. Xiaofang Zhang (Jessie) is currently a PhD candidate in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. She received a MEd in Curriculum and Instruction (English Language Education) from the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. Her research interests include self-regulated learning, language learning strategies, second language acquisition, and language teaching and learning.
Ms. Xinrong He is currently a PhD student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. She received her MA in Applied Linguistics from Newcastle University and her BA in English Literature from Harbin Institute of Technology. Her future research will focus on using eye-tracking techniques to explore some issues in the field of incidental vocabulary learning via video viewing.
Mr. Xiaoke Bai (Sherlock) is a PhD student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. He received his MPhil in Curriculum and Instruction (English Language Education) and BEd in Secondary Education (English) from the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. His research interests include second language acquisition and eye-tracking methodology.
Mr. Joshua Lee is a PhD student in the Faculty of Education and also a Senior Instructor in the English Language Centre, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, University of Macau. He received his M.A. in English with concentration in TESOL from San Francisco State University. He is interested in extramural language learning.
Mr. Yunfei Du is a PhD student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. With over 15 years of experience in EFL teaching in higher education, he possesses exceptional skills in designing, organizing, delivering, and evaluating courses. His research focuses on AI-assisted language learning, with the goal of enhancing teachers’ competencies and improving learners’ language proficiency through the use of chatbots, automated scoring systems, and intelligent tutoring systems. He has published extensively in SSCI, EI, and Chinese Core Journals and serves as an anonymous reviewer for several prestigious academic journals in educational technology.
Mr. Ivo de Noronha Vital is currently a PhD student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. He is the Vice-President of the Portuguese Translator’s Association. He received a MA in Chinese-Portuguese Translation and Interpreting at the Macau Polytechnic University and a BA in Chinese-Portuguese Translation and Interpreting at the Instituto Politécnico de Leiria. His research interests include third language acquisition, vocabulary acquisition, eye tracking and cognitive linguistics.
Ms. Yuxi Wang earned her MA in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hong Kong and her BA in Business English from Wuhan Business University. Her research focuses on using generative AI to enhance second language writing pedagogy. She is currently engaged in her doctoral studies under the mentorship of Dr Edsoulla Chung and Dr Barry Lee Reynolds.
Ms. Wei Xu (Norah) is a Master of Philosophy student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. She received her BA in English Translation from Minzu University of China. Her research interest is in eye-tracking.
Mr. Nok Hang Chan (Nicholas) is a Master of Philosophy student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. He is currently studying Curriculum and Instruction (English Language Education). He completed his B.A. (English Education) at Shanghai International Studies University. He is keen on teaching English to speakers of other languages and his research interest is also in English education.
Ms. Sut Cheng Leong (Zita) is a Master of Philosophy student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. She received her MA in Translation Studies from the Faculty of Arts and Humanities at the University of Macau and BA in Translation and Interpretation (Chinese-English) from the Macao Polytechnic University. Her research interests include cognitive linguistics, gender studies, children’s literature, digital game-based learning, and interpreting studies.
Ms. Chi Ieng Lei (Rita) is a Master of Philosophy student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. She received her BEd in Primary Education at the University of Macau. Her research interest is computer-assisted English language learning.
Mr. Tin Iao Lao (Antonio) is a Master of Philosophy student in the Curriculum and Instruction – English Language Education Programme in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. He earned his B.A. (English Language and Literature) at Shanghai International Studies University and Postgraduate Certificate of Education (Secondary Education) at South China Normal University. He is currently teaching English in a local school in Macau and his research interest is in game-based learning.
Mr. Kuan In Ung (Jeff) is a Master of Philosophy student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. He received his BEd in Secondary Education (English) at the University of Macau. His research interests are in curriculum development and game-based English language learning.
Ms. Chan Laiioi (Naomi) is a Master of Philosophy student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. She received her BA in English from Central China Normal University. Her research interest is in second language writing.
Ms. Hioieng Fong (Ann) is a Master’s student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. She received her BEd in English in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. Her research interests are second language writing and corrective feedback.
Ms. Li Xiaozhe is a Master of Philosophy student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. She received her BA in English from East China Normal University. Her research interests are in language learning and processing, especially using eye-tracking technology.
Mr. Li Fuqing (Gondor) is a Master of Science in Data Science (Analytics in Teaching and Learning) student in the Institute of Collaborative Innovation at the University of Macau. He received his BSc at the Sun Yat-Sen University. His research interests are in digital game-based learning.
Ms. Weng Lam Lai (Amber) is a Master of Philosophy student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. She received her BEd in Secondary Education (English) from the University of Macau. Her research interest is in incidental/informal vocabulary learning.
Mr. Yinhui Gao (Jeffery) is a Master of Philosophy student in the Curriculum and Instruction – English Language Education Programme in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. He received his BA in English (Teaching Profession) from Tianjin Normal University. His research interests are in eye tracking and computer-assisted English language learning.
Mr. Man Tek Yung (Cyrus) is a Master of Philosophy student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. He received his BA in English Studies at the University of Macau. His research interests are game-based English language learning and ethnography.
Ms. Yang Chen (Chaya) is a Master of Philosophy student in the Curriculum and Instruction – English Language Education Programme in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. She received her BA in English Language and Literature Studies (TESOL) from BNU-HKBU United International College. Her research interests are in Willingness to Communicate, Productive Vocabulary Size, and AI Use.
Mr. Alexandre Gaspar Mendes Alves is a Master of Philosophy student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. He received his BA in Translation and Interpretation of Chinese-Portuguese at the Polytechnic of Leiria, Portugal. His research interests are in eye-tracking and neuroplasticity.
Ms. Ka Man Hong (Mandy) is a Master of Philosophy student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. She received her BEd in Secondary Education (English) at the University of Macau. Her research interest is English curriculum formation in Macau.
Mr. Hanwen Hu (Leo) is a Master of Science in Data Science (Analytics in Teaching and Learning) student in the Institute of Collaborative Innovation at the University of Macau. He received his BSc at the Guangdong University of Finance and Economics. His research interests are in Eye Tracking.
Ms. Luxian Xin (Lucia) is an undergraduate student, majoring in Secondary Education – English at the University of Macau. She is working as an undergraduate research intern in the Applied Linguistics, Language and Literacy (ALLL) Lab.
Ms. Siying He (Swing) is an undergraduate student, majoring in Bachelor of Education in English at the University of Macau. She is working as an undergraduate research intern in the Applied Linguistics, Language and Literacy (ALLL) lab.
Ms. Kailin Zhang (Katherine) is an undergraduate student, majoring in Communication – Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Macau. She is working as an undergraduate research intern in the Applied Linguistics, Language and Literacy (ALLL) lab.
Current Collaborators
Previous Collaborators
Alumni
Ali was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Macau. His research focus lies in the field of Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL), specifically exploring the integration of video games and examining the principles of cognitive, linguistic, and affective language learning. He has a keen interest in employing mixed methods research to enhance the reliability of his findings. Additionally, he serves as an external reviewer for esteemed journals globally, including but not limited to Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL), Computers and Education, Language, Learning & Technology (LLT), and Education and Information Technologies, among others.
Dr. Melissa H. Yu was a part-time lecturer at Newcastle University, UK (2016-2017) and a postdoctoral research fellow in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau (2019-2020). Her research interests include English as a lingua franca (ELF), TESOL, language policy and curriculum, teaching materials, and ethnography.
Dr. Ding Chen (Conan) was an Education PhD student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. She received a PhD in Education from the University of Macau, an MA in Applied English Linguistics from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and a BA in English Studies from Anhui University. Before coming to the University of Macau, she taught English Language in Hefei University of Technology for almost two years where she began to notice patterns in her learners’ lexical errors and vocabulary usage. From these firsthand classroom observations, her research interests developed including formulaic language teaching, learning, processing and assessment and incidental vocabulary acquisition. Her PhD research looked at a number of previously overlooked factors influencing L1-Chinese learners’ incidental acquisition of vocabulary through reading graded readers.
Dr. Cao Hong Phat obtained a PhD from the School of Education, University of Nottingham Malaysia in 2025 where he examined the predictive validity of the PTE Academic under the supervision of Dr. Csaba Szabo and Dr. Barry Lee Reynolds. He also obtained an MA in TESOL from the University College Dublin (UCD) in 2016 and a BA in TEFL from Ho Chi Minh University of Education (HCMUE) in 2012 where he has been teaching English for over 10 years.
Ms. Tianjiao Song (Tina) received her Ph.D. in Education from the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau in 2023. She received her MA (with Distinction) in TESOL from the Hong Kong University of Education. In 2019, she worked as a visiting faculty at the University of North Carolina, U.S. Her research focuses on incidental vocabulary acquisition, particularly making use of eye-tacking devices to explore some of the issues that have not been fully addressed in L2 contextual word learning.
Dr. Sylvia Liu received her PhD in Education from the University of Macau, MA in Early Childhood Education from Nanyang Technological University, and BA in Biology Science from Tianjin Normal University. She has more than ten years of experience with young children, having held various early childhood related positions including classroom teacher, management trainee, child development professional, and curriculum consultant. Her research areas of interest include child language acquisition and growth (both L1 and L2), vocabulary learning processes, and ICT use in early childhood education (ECE). She has given talks for parents, workshops for teachers, and presentations at several well-known international conferences about these and other topics.
Ms. Luo Jingjing (Sophia) was a Master of Philosophy student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. She received her BA in Applied Psychology from Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai. Her research interest was in game-based learning.
Ms. Ei Thazin Tun was a post-graduate student specializing in CCI-ENE at the Faculty of Education. Her research examined adaptive professionalism in English language teaching through duoethnography. She successfully completed the Cambridge CELTA course with a Pass B and the CYLT course at International House, Bangkok, in 2017 and 2018, respectively. In 2019, she earned a Master of Arts in English from Mandalay University of Foreign Languages. With over six years of teaching experience, she has effectively prepared Myanmar students for Cambridge English Qualifications ranging from Pre A1 to C1 Advanced levels. Ms. Thazin Tun is the co-founder of ‘Thazin & Cherry English Training Centre’ and the founder of ‘EDU Bridge International School in Myanmar.’
Mr. Chi Meng Lam (Calvin) was a Master of Philosophy student in the Curriculum and Instruction – English Language Education Programme in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. He also earned his BEd degree in Secondary Education (English) at the University of Macau, and he has been teaching English in a local school in Macau for nearly ten years. Mr. Lam’s research focused on English teachers’ curriculum constraints.
Ms. Jingyi Huang (Laura) was a Master of Philosophy student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. She received her BA in English Education from Minnan Normal University. Her research interest is in second language writing.
Ms. Wai San U (Connie) was a Master of Philosophy student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. She received her BEd in Secondary Education (English) from the University of Macau. Her MPhil research focused on the pedagogical convictions of English educators and humanistic education.
Ms. Chio U Tai (Crystal) was a Master of Philosophy student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. She received her BEd in Secondary Education (English) and MPhil in Curriculum and Instruction (English Language Education) from the University of Macau. She is also working as an English teacher in a local Macau secondary school. Ms. Tai’s MPhil research focused on colleague conflict.
Ms. Maja Milosavljevic received an MEd in Early Childhood Education and Child Development from the University of Macau and also holds an MA in Philology. Her research interests include second language acquisition of very young learners and task-based second language teaching. She is currently the International Department Manager at an international kindergarten in China.
Ms. Jennifer Ann McDonald received an MEd in Early Childhood Education and Child Development from the University of Macau. Her research interests include vocabulary acquisition in EFL and ESL for young learners. More specifically, her MEd thesis explored the differences between vocabulary learning through semantic and thematic sets in an early years setting.
Ms. Xiaochen Tan (Nichole) was a Master of Philosophy student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. She received her BA in English from Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine. She has more than 6 years teaching experience in English Language training institutions in mainland China. Her research focused on oral corrective feedback and vocabulary learning.
Ms. Yanwen Cui (Wendy) received a Master of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction (English Language Education) from the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau and a BA in English and Education from Guangdong University of Foreign Studies. Her MPhil research examined the effects of viewing subtitled videos on vocabulary acquisition through the use of a systematic review and meta analysis.
Ms. Xiaoyan Ma (Crystal) received a Master of Philosophy (Curriculum and Instruction – English Language Education) from the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau and a BEd in Secondary Education (English) from the University of Macau. She worked as a research intern and research assistant in the Applied Linguistics, Language and Literacy (ALLL) lab from June 2019 to June 2022. Her MPhil research focused on how motivation (operationalised as reading purpose) affects the incidental acquisition of unknown vocabulary encountered while reading.
Ms. Lei Yuanying (Katy) received a Master of Philosophy (Curriculum and Instruction – English Language Education) from the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau and a BBA in Marketing from the University of Macau. Her MPhil research investigated the learning of English vocabulary from word cards through the use of a research synthesis.
Ms. Jiaxuan Shi received an MPhil in Curriculum and Instruction (English Language Education) from the Faculty of Education at the University of Maca, an MA in Linguistics from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and a BA in English from China University of Geosciences (Wuhan, China). Her research interest is in using eye-tracking data collection techniques to investigate vocabulary acquisition.
Ms. Kiti Ho was a Master of Education student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. She also received her BEd in Primary Education from the University of Macau. She is also an English teacher in a local primary school in Macau. Her MEd research project focused on vocabulary learning in early primary schools in Macau.
Ms. Ji Qi (Joanna) was a Master of Philosophy student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. She received her BA in English Language and Literature from Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai. Her research interest is in bilingual reading.
Ms. Aotong Li (Allie) was a Master of Science student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. She received her BEd in Primary Education from the University of Macau. Her research interests are in the neural basis of orthographic processing and the neurobiology of learning and memory.
Ms. Ning Ren (Connie) was a Master of Philosophy in Educational Psychology student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. She received her BA in English Studies from the University of Macau. Her research interests are in the neurobiology of learning and memory, and sociolinguistics.
Mr. Iok Kit Wong (Rocky) was a Master of Philosophy student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. He received his BEd in Secondary Education (English) and his MPhil in Curriculum and Instruction (English Language Education) from the University of Macau. His research interests are in game-based English language learning.
Ms. Qiting Zhong (Stella) was a research assistant.
Ms. Yuanhua Li (Amber) was a research assistant.
Mr. Yuntao Zeng (Joseph) was a research assistant.
Mr. Haichuan Liu (Chauncy) is an undergraduate student, majoring in Portuguese Studies at the University of Macau. He worked as an undergraduate research intern in the Applied Linguistics, Language and Literacy (ALLL) lab.
Ms. Ho I (Anna) Tam was a Research Experiences for Students of Honours College Programme Intern.
Mr. Xuancu Hong (Fortuno) was a research intern.
Mr. Chon Hou Leong (Chris) was a Research Experiences for Students of Honours College Programme Intern.
Cheok I Lei (Astor) was a Research Experiences for Students of Honours College Programme Intern.
Ms. Yixuan Jia (Ellen) was a research intern.
Ms. Xinyu Yuan (Sally) was a research intern.
Ms. Yining Yang (Bridget) received a BA in English Studies from the University of Macau. She worked as an undergraduate research intern in the Applied Linguistics, Language and Literacy (ALLL) lab.
Ms. Le Huyen Trang (Gwyneth) was an undergraduate student, majoring in Psychology at the University of Macau. She was working as an undergraduate research intern in the Research Experiences for Students of Honours College Programme in the Applied Linguistics, Language and Literacy (ALLL) lab.
Ms. Zhiyou Li (Janis) was an undergraduate student, majoring in English Education at the University of Macau. She worked as an undergraduate research intern in the Applied Linguistics, Language and Literacy (ALLL) lab.
Ms. Zhiqing Li (Joyce) was an undergraduate student, majoring in English Education at the University of Macau. She worked as an undergraduate research intern in the Applied Linguistics, Language and Literacy (ALLL) lab.
Mr. Chao Kai Chon (Kevin) was an undergraduate student, majoring in English Education at the University of Macau. He was working as an undergraduate research intern in the Applied Linguistics, Language and Literacy (ALLL) lab under the Research Experiences for Students of Honours College Programme.
Applied Linguistics, Language, and Literacy
