Mengying Liu
My research explores the sociolinguistic and sociocultural dimensions of second language acquisition, with a particular focus on how young learners construct and negotiate linguistic meaning in immersion and bilingual learning environments. I am especially interested in how language use emerges through interaction, and how it is shaped by learners’ identities, classroom dynamics, and institutional structures. Specifically, I examine how children’s voices are expressed or constrained within the everyday discourse of educational settings, and how these contexts support or limit their multilingual development. A central aim of my scholarship is to deepen our understanding of how early bilingualism unfolds not only as an individual cognitive process, but also as a socially and culturally embedded practice. By highlighting the complexity of children’s language use and the role of context in shaping linguistic trajectories, I seek to contribute to more nuanced understandings of child second language development, and to advocate for educational spaces that recognize, value, and build upon the full linguistic repertoires of all learners. TITLE/POSITION: Lecturer
EMAIL: mengyliu@bfsu.edu.cn
DEGREES • PhD, Curriculum and Instruction, Second Language Education, University of Minnesota
ACADEMIC POSITIONS • Graduate Student Instructor, University of Minnesota, 2016-2019 • Lecturer, Beijing Foreign Studies University, 2022 till now
TEACHING • Intercultural Communication • English Public Speaking • Narrative Writing
RESEARCH INTERESTS • second language acquisition • interlanguage analysis • bilingual education • classroom discourse • second/foreign language teaching and learning
RESEARCH PROJECTS • Chairing project Interlanguage Development for Young Learners in Chinese Immersion Programs in the U.S., supported by the Research Start-up Funding Project for New Faculty Members at Beijing Foreign Studies University (Project No. 259500123002) (Under research)
ACADEMIC SERVICES • Reviewer: the Modern Language Journal • Assistant Conference Chair, American Association of Applied Linguistics (AAAL) (2018-2020) • Co-chair, American Association of Applied Linguistics (AAAL) Graduate Student Council Steering Committee (2016-2018)
SCHOLARLY WORKS • Publications: - Liu, M. & Tarone, E. (2024). First and second language use in an early total one-way Chinese immersion classroom, the Modern Language Journal, 108(4), 888-909. - Liu, M. (2024). Han yu zhong jie yu fen xi dan wei – yu fa dao xiang yu yu yi dao xiang zhi bian. [Unit of analysis of Chinese interlanguage: syntactically-oriented vs. semantically-oriented]. Wai yu yu wai yu jiao xue [Foreign Languages and Their Teaching], 5, 114-121+149-150. - Liu, M. & Tarone, E. (2024). Voice, stance and role in Chinese immersion second graders’ language use. In D. LaScotte, & E. Tarone. (Eds.), Heteroglossia and language play in second language speech (pp. 43-65). De Gruyter Mouton. - Hui, T. & Liu, M. (2020). Mei guo zhong wen xue xi zhe di ling hua xian xiang de cheng yin ji dui ce jian yi. [The causes and countermeasures on the younger-age trend of Chinese learners in the United States]. Yu yan wen zi ying yong [Applied Linguistics], 114(2), 99-108. • Translated Work: - Herz, D., Schattenmann, M., Dortants, S., Linke K., & Steuber, S. (2023). Professional Education for International Organizations (W. Jia, M. Liu, & X. Dong, Trans). Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press. (Original Work Published 2008). • Textbook: - Liu, F., Liu, M., & Gao, L. (2025). Zhi yong ying yu zong he jiao cheng 1 [Zhiyong English integrated course 1]. Dalian University of Technology Press.
AWARDS & HONOURS • Best Coach Award, North and Northeast China Division, 13th National Legal English Competition • Best Coach Award, North and Northeast China Division, 12th National Legal English Competition • Graduate Student Fellowship, University of Minnesota • Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA) Summer Graduate Research Assistance Award, University of Minnesota • Professional Growth Grant, University of Minnesota • Merit Scholarship, University of Pennsylvania
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