Research interests

Pragmatics

SLA

Technology-assisted learning

Intercultural competence

English-medium education

My primary research area is pragmatics in SLA. Pragmatic competence – ability to use language appropriately in social context – plays a key role in the development of second language ability. Learning a language involves more than learning grammar and vocabulary. Knowledge of social conventions and rules of communication (e.g., how to peak politely; how to understand someone’s intention) is critical in order to become a competent speaker in the target language. Lack of this knowledge may lead to not saying the right thing or not acting properly, leading to a cross-cultural miscommunication or cultural stereotyping. The goal of my research program is to investigate the development of pragmatic competence from a number of perspectives, including the role of learning contexts (e.g., study abroad settings), technology-assisted learning (e.g., virtual reality, digital games), task-based language teaching (TBLT), individual characteristics (e.g., personality, motivation), and intercultural education.