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 lab head 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. Sylvia Liu received her MA in Early Childhood Education from Nanyang Technological University and her 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.
Mr. Cao Hong Phat 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 nearly 10 years. Currently, Mr. Phat is a PhD candidate at the School of Education, University of Nottingham Malaysia where he is examining the predictive validity of the PTE Academic under the supervision of Dr. Csaba Szabo and Dr. Barry Lee Reynolds.
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.
Ms. Chang Si Wai (Cindy) is a Master of Philosophy student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. She also received her BEd in Secondary Education (English) at the University of Macau. She has been teaching English in a local school in Macau for five years. Her research will focus on English for Sports and Athletic Purposes.
Ms. Kiti Ho is a Master of Education student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. She received her BEd in Primary Education from the University of Macau. She has been teaching English in a local primary school in Macau for two years. Her future research direction will focus on vocabulary testing.
Ms. Ning Ren (Connie) is a Master of Philosophy 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. Xiaoke Bai (Sherlock) is a Master of Philosophy student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. He received his BEd in Secondary Education (English) from the University of Macau. His research interests are in vocabulary acquisition and cognitive linguistics.
Mr. Iok Kit Wong (Rocky) is a Master of Philosophy student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Macau. He received his BEd in Secondary Education (English) from the University of Macau. His research interests are in game-based English language learning.
Ms. Ji Qi (Joanna) is 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 L2 vocabulary acquisition.
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. Wai San U (Connie) 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 interests are in digital game-based and computer-assisted English language learning.
Ms. Jingyi Huang (Laura) is 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.
Mr. Chi Meng Lam (Calvin) 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 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 will focus on English teachers’ curriculum control.
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. Chio U Tai (Crystal) 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. She is also working as an English teacher in a local Macau secondary school. Ms. Tai’s research will focus on digital learning and teaching.
Ms. Ei Thazin Tun 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.’ Currently, she is a first-year post-graduate student specializing in CCI-ENE at the Faculty of Education. Her research interests encompass eye tracking, vocabulary teaching, second language learning, curriculum development, and teaching materials.
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.
Ms. Zhiyou Li (Janis) is an undergraduate student, majoring in English Education at the University of Macau. She is working as an undergraduate research intern in the Applied Linguistics, Language and Literacy (ALLL) lab.
Ms. Hioieng Fong (Ann) is an undergraduate student, majoring in English Education at the University of Macau. She is working as an undergraduate research intern in the Applied Linguistics, Language and Literacy (ALLL) lab.
Ms. Le Huyen Trang (Gwyneth) is an undergraduate student, majoring in Psychology at the University of Macau. She is working as an undergraduate research intern on the Research Experiences for Students of Honours College Programme in the Applied Linguistics, Language and Literacy (ALLL) lab.
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.
Affiliates
Alumni
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.
Ms. Ding Chen (Conan) was an English 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.
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.
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. Yuanhua Li (Amber) was a research assistant.
Ms. Qiting Zhong (Stella) 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.
Applied Linguistics, Language, and Literacy Lab
