Yen-Lin Chou
Ph.D. Student
Department of Education
Email: ychou1@uci.edu
Biography
Based on my learning experiences in Taiwan and the United States, my research work concentrates on investigating the use of language learning strategies (LLS) among English learners (ESL and EFL learners). Particularly, I have studied how the use of language learning strategies has effects on the speaking skill of international students from Asia in the ESL environment. I have discovered that language learners tend to use limited language learning strategies. This situation has caused me to think about whether language learning strategies that learners seldom use positively affect their language proficiency and the usefulness of the learning process, touching upon an issue such as the motivation toward learning a language. If so, what applications can language teachers utilize to help learners pay particular attention to the language learning strategies that are overlooked? At the University of California, Irvine, I would like to conduct research that will help students identify the power of language learning strategies and prepare educators with better instructions and approaches to teach a language.
Aside from exploring the use of LLS among language learners, the non-native English speaking (NNES) teachers’ identity also intrigues me because I am personally a NNES student in the United States. I would like to focus on examining the effects of cultural, linguistic, personal factors on NNES teachers’ identity construction. In addition, I desire to investigate (a) the relationship between NNES teachers’ beliefs and students’ attitudes towards language learning (b) the influence of NNES teachers’ beliefs on their teaching approaches and methodology choice in the language classroom (c) the effects of NNES teachers’ pedagogical knowledge and sociolinguistic competence on learners’ language achievement.
UCI’s Ph.D program offers several useful courses, such as social and cultural foundations of education, language, literacy, and discourse, and research epistemologies and methodologies that best satisfy my needs. I am extremely impressed by UCI’s wide range of faculty whose research interests perfectly align with mine.
My career objective is to be a professor at the university level after I receive my doctoral degree. My long-term goal is to enhance the practice of language education and ultimately to contribute my expertise not only in the United States, but also in my home country, Taiwan.
Aside from my academic interest, I love cooking, reading, and swimming.