Meifang Zhuo

Profile

Hello! I am currently doing my PhD (2021-) at the Department of Applied Linguistics at the University of Warwick. My main research interests include teacher research, teacher development, teacher psychology and wellbeing, innovation in English language teaching and learning as well as language management. My PhD research project is supervised by Professor Annamaria PinterLink opens in a new window and Professor Neil MurrayLink opens in a new window.

I have worked in English language teaching since 2010, teaching in a variety of contexts in China, including public high schools, language training centres and a college. In addition to this, I have worked as a freelance interpreter and translator (English-Chinese) for conferences, publications, and various business settings.

Currently, I am contributing to the teaching of the MA TESOL programme (including dissertation supervision), PhD Research Method module, and short courses in Applied linguistics at the University of Warwick. Recently, I also joined the team of dissertation supervisors for the MA TESOL and TESOL Studies programmes in School of Education, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of LeedsLink opens in a new window.

I have obtained the status of Associate Fellow of the HEA (AFHEA) and have been offered the role of PGR Teacher Champion in the Warwick Organisational Development department.

Current Research

For my PhD study, it aims to explore the impacts and implications of a proposed teacher research project (a combination of workshops and mentoring sessions) for teacher development for research literate experienced high school English teachers in China. The goal of such a proposal is to guide and support teachers to do research in their own classrooms, to promote their professional development and to ultimately enhance the quality of life in the classroom and teacher wellbeing.

Academic Background

2021- PhD in Applied Linguistics and English Language Teaching (expected to finish in 2025), University of Warwick, UK
- With China Scholarship Council- University of Warwick Scholarships
2019-2020 MA TESOL- Masters in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (Distinction), University of Warwick, UK
- With MA TESOL Bursary, Applied Linguistics, University of Warwick, UK
2012-2014 MTI (Master of Translation and Interpreting) (Distinction), Fujian Normal University, China
- Recommended for admission exempt from Graduate Entrance Examination, with full scholarship, Fujian Normal University, China
2008-2012 BA- English Language Teaching and Business English (Distinction), Fujian Normal University, China

Publications

Articles

Zhuo, M., & Tang, H. (2024). [forthcoming]. Understanding students’ English-speaking difficulties: An Exploratory Practice approach with Web 2.0. RELC Journal.

Zhuo, M. (2024). Language choices in post-observation conferences: L1 or L2, that's the question. TESOL Journal, e816. https://doi.org/10.1002/tesj.816.

Zhuo, M. (2024). IATEFL 2023 ReSIG Pre-Conference Event: a reflective reportLink opens in a new window. ELT Research: IATEFL Research SIG Newsletter. 39, 1-3.

Zhuo, M., & Huang, J. (2024). Using exploratory practice to teach: An innovative way to explore students' speaking difficulties. TESOL Journal, 15(1). https://doi.org/10.1002/tesj.746

Zhuo, M. (2023). How to communicate as a mentorLink opens in a new window. Modern English Teacher, 32(3), 79-81.

Zhuo, M. (2023). Literature circlesLink opens in a new window. Modern English Teacher, 32(5), 79-81.

Zhuo, M. (2013). A theoretical perspective: the application of advertising principles in foreign language education. Journal of Jixi University, 13(8), 94-95. https://doi.org/10.16792/j.cnki.1672-6758.2013.08.040

Book chapters

Zhuo, M. (2023). Mentoring experienced in-service high school English teachers' action research: case studies from ChinaLink opens in a new window. In M.N. Güngör (ed.), Action research in language teaching and teacher education: voices from diverse contexts (pp. 41-66). Blackswan.

Zhuo, M. (2024). [forthcoming]. How I sustained teachers’ motivation and engagement in a long-term teacher research program. In Stories of Mentoring Teacher-Research. IATEFL ReSIG.

Book Reviews

Zhuo, M. (2023). Decentring ELT: practices and possibilities. ELTED Journal, 26. http://www.elted.net/uploads/7/3/1/6/7316005/002_meifang__final.pdfLink opens in a new window

Zhuo, M. (2022). A language management approach to language problems. Current Issues in Language Planning, 23(3), 343-345. https://doi.org/10.1080/14664208.2022.2055935Link opens in a new window

Commissioned reports

Liddicoat, Anthony J., Neil Murray, Penny Mosavian, Steve Mann, Annamaria Pinter, Meifang Zhuo, Yvette Yitong Wang, Xiaofang Lu (2023) The construction of a professional learning community (PLC) for English teachers development under the Rural Revitalisation StrategyLink opens in a new window. Report to the British Council. Department of Applied Linguistics, University of Warwick.
Liddicoat, Anthony J., Neil Murray, Penny Mosavian, Steve Mann, Annamaria Pinter, Meifang Zhuo, Yvette Yitong Wang, Xiaofang Lu (2023) The construction of a professional learning community (PLC) for English teachers development under the Rural Revitalisation Strategy: Summary of recommendations for developing professional learning communities (PLC)Link opens in a new window. Report to the British Council. Department of Applied Linguistics, University of Warwick.
Liddicoat, Anthony J., Steve Mann, Annamaria Pinter, Neil Murray, Penny Mosavian, Meifang Zhuo, Yvette Yitong Wang, Xiaofang Lu (2023) Developing cross-regional English teaching and research communities in bordering minority areas in Yunnan through support for expert teacher workshopsLink opens in a new window. Report to the British Council. Department of Applied Linguistics, University of Warwick.
Liddicoat, Anthony J., Steve Mann, Penny Mosavian, Neil Murray, Annamaria Pinter, Meifang Zhuo, Yvette Yitong Wang, Xiaofang Lu (2023) Research into core curriculum design of postgraduate core courses for prospective English teachers in Southwest ChinaLink opens in a new window. Report to the British Council. Department of Applied Linguistics, University of Warwick.

Professional development materials

Wang, Yvette Yitong, Meifang Zhuo, Maricarmen Gamero Mujica, Xiaofang Lu, Annamaria Pinter and Steve Mann (2023) PLC guideLink opens in a new window. Report to the British Council (Companion volume). Department of Applied Linguistics, University of Warwick.
Zhuo, Meifang, Zheng Chen, Sundeep Dhillon, Fei Ji, Ana Sepulveda Poblete, Anthony J. Liddicoat, Neil Murray, Penny Mosavian, Steve Mann, Anna Maria Pinter (2023) Teachers guide: Foundations in teaching EnglishLink opens in a new window. Report to the British Council (Companion volume). Department of Applied Linguistics, University of Warwick.

Research projects

Research assistant for 'Supporting Sustainable English Teacher Professional Development in Yunnan Province', funded by British Council (China). Hired by Warwick Centre for Applied Linguistics, April 2022- April 2023 (completed)
Project Officer for ‘Peer Learning: recognising, training and rewarding peer-to-peer mentors at WarwickLink opens in a new window’ project funded by WIHEA. Hired by Warwick Philosophy, 30 May 2022- 31 July 2022. (completed)

Conference Presentations

International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (IATEFL) International Conference, 18 April 2024, Brighton, the UK
- Mentoring experienced in-service high school English teachers’ action research
the IATEFL online event: Stories of Mentoring Teacher-Research, 17th June 2023
- How to sustain teachers’ motivation and engagement in a long-term teacher-research program?
- Three minutes of fame?: Should teachers be introduced to international publications and conferences before the completion of a long term teacher-research program?
International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (IATEFL) International Conference, Research SIG Showcase Day, 20 April 2023, Harrogate, the UK
- Veteran Teachers’ research engagement: perspectives from China
International Conference on Language Teacher Psychology, 1st Language Teacher Psychology Conference on Teachers Matter (LTPC2022), 6-7 October 2022, Çağ University, Mersin, Turkey (abstract accepted for presentation)
- Towards resilience? Exploring Chinese high school English teachers’ perceptions and reflections on the impact of COVID-19
Second Language Teacher Education: Challenges and New Horizons, 15-17 September 2022, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Getting everyone involved and everyone entertained: a literature journey with Literature Circles for students and teachers in senior high schools in China
24th Warwick International Conference in Applied Linguistics (WICAL 2022), 28-30 June, University of Warwick, UK (online)
- A teacher research project for research literate high school English teachers in China: impacts and implications
Linguistics and English Language Postgraduate Conference 2022(LELPGC22), 6-8 June, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- The efficacy of the Single Point Rubric on teaching and learning continuation writing skills in senior high schools in China: an experimental study

Conference Attendance

The IATEFL Research Special Interest Group Teachers Research!(online)(as a mentor), 9-10 March, 2024
The IATEFL Research Special Interest Group Teachers Research!(online)(as a mentor), 17-18 March, 2023
Cumberland Lodge International PGR Christmas Conference, 19-21 December 2022
Oxford Postgraduate Conference in Linguistics: Language and Society(online), 24th June 2022
The 7th Future of English Language Teaching Conference(online), 11th June 2022, Trinity College London
Trends in teacher training and education, a pre-conference event organized by IATEFL Teacher Training& Education SIG, 16 May 2022, IATEFL Belfast
ReSIG: Teacher Research and/for the Global South Online Conference, an IATEFL Research Special Interest Group online event, 30 April 2022, IATEFL ReSIG

Teaching and teaching related activities

Guest Lecturer for PhD Research Methods Seminar on Classroom Research, Applied Linguistics (2023-2024)
Tutor for English Immersion Programme for Hong Kong University PGCE 2023 students (Warwick Short Courses, Applied Linguistics)
Tutor for English for Global Communication (EGC) Summer School 2023 (Warwick Short Courses, Applied Linguistics)
Research Supervision for Master dissertation(MA TESOL, Applied Linguistics) (2022-2023)(2023-2024)
Senior GTA for MA TESOL core module ET9B6 Research methods in TESOL(2022-2023)(2023-2024)
Senior GTA for MA TESOL core module ET9B7 SLA Insights for TESOL Practice(2022-2023) (2023-2024)
Senior GTA for MA TESOL Practice Assignment (2022-2023)
Tutor for the Research Methods Workshop delivered to the PGT students of the department (MA TESOL, 2021-2022); (Msc in Intercultural Communication for Business and Professionals, 2022-2023)

Professional Activities

Reviewer for TESOL Journal (2023- ongoing)
Invited Co-presenter on Workshop titled How to get published for PhD students and early career researchers (2024)
Session Chair for IATEFL Re-SIG International Festival of Teacher-Research in ELT: (Teachers Research! Online 2023) (Teachers Research! Online 2024)
Teacher-research mentor for experienced English teachers in China(2022- ongoing)
Blogger for PhD Life Blog for University of Warwick Library (2022- 2024)
Secretary/Member of the Applied Linguistics PhD Student-Staff Liaison Committee (SSLC), University of Warwick (2021-2022) /(2022-2023)
Committee member& Research Clinics Co-ordinator Link opens in a new windowof the 24th Warwick International Conference in Applied Linguistics (WICALLink opens in a new window) (2021-2022)

Professional association

Member of the International Association of Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (IATEFLLink opens in a new window)
Member of British Association for Applied Linguistics (BAALLink opens in a new window)
Member of Language Learning Psychology PhD CommunityLink opens in a new window

Award

Productivity & Futures of Work GRP Small Grants Scheme 2022/2023Link opens in a new window awarded by the Productivity & Futures of Work GRP at the University of Warwick( Team leader for a team project titled ‘Conference on Language, Wellbeing, and Productivity: International students'' PhD journey in the UK’ , successfully completed on 22nd June at Warwick)
The 3rd LITHME Training schoolLink opens in a new window, 5-9th June 2023, University of Pristina, Kosovo(fully funded by the COST Association )
Winner of the IATEFL ReSIG PCE 2023 scholarshipLink opens in a new window, IATEFL Research SIG
the Award of MUN COACH for my student's excellent performance in 2022 World Model United Nations(Age 10-18) High Level Conference(online), China Center for International People-to-People Exchange, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Foreign Languages Teaching and Research Press and Waiyan Center Beijing Foreign Studies University
Cumberland Lodge International PGR Christmas ConferenceLink opens in a new window, 19-21 December 2022(fully funded by Doctoral College, University of Warwick)

Non-academic activities

Actress for Reminiscence of Love信物Link opens in a new window by ChiSoc Drama, University of Warwick( live performance at Albany Theatre, Coventry, the UK, on March 4th, 2022)
Lantern workshop volunteer for Leamington Lantern ParadeLink opens in a new window(November, 2019)
Volunteer for Acorns Children's Hospice Link opens in a new window(2020)