Dr Isobel Kai-Hui Wang
Programme Director: MSc TESOL / Lecturer in Language Education

- Moray House School of Education and Sport, ILE
- University of Edinburgh
Contact details
- Tel: +44 (0)131 651 6232
- Email: isobel.wang@ed.ac.uk
Address
- Street
-
Moray House School of Education and Sport, CH 505
- City
- University of Edinburgh (Holyrood Campus)
- Post code
- EH8 8AQ
Background
My research and teaching expertise lies in the areas of language learner strategies, second language vocabulary learning and teaching, intercultural communication, and language learner/teacher psychology.
I joined the University of Edinburgh in August 2021. Previously, I was Senior Research Fellow at the University of Graz (Austria) and undertook teacher training. I had also lectured in Applied Linguistics at the University of Nankai (China). Regarding my experience in English language teaching, I have taught English as a foreign or second language in China and Canada.
I have a longstanding interest in international students’ intercultural experiences and strategy use for building vocabulary. My book (2018), Learning Vocabulary Strategically in a Study Abroad Context (published by Palgrave Macmillan) applies a close-up lens to the process of strategic vocabulary learning in study abroad contexts and offers novel insights into the flexibility and adaptability of strategy use within and across situations. I work with my colleague Andrew Cohen on a series of projects on the functions of language learner strategies, strategies for vocabulary fine-tuning, and vocabulary strategy instruction for academic writing.
I am currently developing new interests in the psychological dimension of language learning and teaching, especially learner engagement, self-regulation, and teacher wellbeing. Additionally, working with my colleagues at the University of Graz and partners in the UK, Netherlands, Italy and Germany, I was involved in an Erasmus+-funded project about the integration of global citizenship and plurilingual pedagogies. I have been invited to review book proposals for Routledge and Springer and articles for journals, such as System, Language and Intercultural Communication, and Teaching and Teacher Education.
Qualifications
- Ph.D in Applied Linguistics (2010-2013), University of Warwick.
- MA in English Language Teaching (2009-2010), University of Warwick.
- BA in History, Heritage and Education (2006-2009), University of Birmingham.
Postgraduate teaching
- TESOL Methodology (Course Organiser)
- Language and the Learner
- Sources of Knowledge: Understanding and analysing research literature
- Investigating Individual Learner Differences
- Online Language Learning
- Conceptualising Research: Foundations, Assumptions and Praxis
Open to PhD supervision enquiries?
Yes
Areas of interest for supervision
Topics of interest: vocabulary learning strategies, language learner strategies, strategy-based instruction, vocabulary learning and teaching.
Current PhD students supervised
Yurou Wei: Using storytelling for EFL learners to develop writing skills
Huixin Wang: L2 teacher motivation & direct motivational currents.
Research summary
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Language learner strategies
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Second language vocabulary learning and teaching
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Intercultural adjustment
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Study abroad
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Learner engagement
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Teacher wellbeing
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ELT materials adaptation
Current research interests
I am currently exploring a) learner engagement in vocabulary strategy instruction for academic writing and b) language teachers' intercultural adjustment and professional wellbeing.Project activity
Current research projects
- Self-access strategy instruction for vocabulary learning
- EFL Teachers’ actions regarding coursebook use
Current project grants
RKEI Innovation Fund, 2023. Project title: Strategy Instruction from the Providers’ and the Recipients’ Perspective (£3,203) - Principal investigator
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Tangible insights on the strategizing of language learners and users
(20 pages)
In:
Language Teaching: Surveys and Studies, pp. 1-20
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261444823000046
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (E-pub ahead of print) -
Self-access strategy instruction for academic writing vocabulary: What learners actually do
(35 pages)
In:
Applied Linguistics, pp. 1
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/applin/amac056
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (E-pub ahead of print) -
Toward an ecological understanding of transnational Chinese language teachers’ professional wellbeing in the United Kingdom
(16 pages)
In:
Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 13
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2022.877289
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Self-regulation in psychology
(13 pages)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429321498
Research output: › Chapter (peer-reviewed) (Published) -
Investigating learner engagement in strategy instruction focused on vocabulary for academic writing: A case study
(17 pages)
In:
System, vol. 99
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2021.102501
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Conceptualizing willingness to engage in L2 learning beyond the classroom
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21832/9781788923613-017
Research output: › Chapter (peer-reviewed) (Published) -
Fake or real engagement–looks can be deceiving
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21832/9781788923613-011
Research output: › Chapter (peer-reviewed) (Published) -
Fine-tuning word meanings through mobile app and online resources: A case study of strategy use by a hyperpolyglot
(16 pages)
In:
System, vol. 85
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2019.102106
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Fluctuation in the functions of language learner strategies
In:
System, vol. 74, pp. 169-182
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2018.03.011
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Long-term Chinese students' transitional experiences in UK higher education: A particular focus on their academic adjustment
(14 pages)
In:
International Journal of Teaching and Learning in Higher Education, vol. 30, pp. 12-25
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published) -
Learning Vocabulary Strategically in a Study Abroad Context
(294 pages)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-65963-3
Research output: › Book (Published) -
The use of dialogic strategy clusters for vocabulary learning by Chinese students in the UK
(14 pages)
In:
System, vol. 51, pp. 51-64
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.system.2015.04.004
Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article (Published)
Conference details
Tangible insights from current and future research in the strategizing of language learners and users; Meta-reflections on the development of the field (together with Prof. Andrew Cohen) | A Symposium for the 4th Conference on the Situating Strategy Use: Strategic Learning in an Uncertain World | 23-24 November, 2022
Strategizing – Investigating the Dynamic Use of Strategies (together with Prof. Andrew Cohen) | A Symposium for the 4th Conference on the Psychology of Language Learning | 23-25 June 2022
How strategies actually combine in the performance of language tasks (together with Prof. Andrew Cohen) | A Symposium for the AILA virtual conference | 15-21 August, 2021
How learners actually process strategy instruction (together with Prof. Andrew Cohen) | Poster presentation| AAAL virtual conference | 20-23 March, 2021
Training teachers for global citizenship education and plurilingual pedagogies: Teacher educators' insights (together with Prof. Sarah Mercer, Sonja Babic, and Johanna Gruber) | Presentation | Multilingualism on My Mind | University of Bergen| 18-19 March, 2021
Fine-tuning word meanings through online and mobile app technologies (together with Prof. Andrew Cohen) | Presentation | 3rd SSU conference |Osaka, Japan | 14 October, 2019
Research by teachers for teachers | Workshop| Doctoral School | Strobl, Austria | 09 June, 2019
Fluctuation in the functions of vocabulary strategies (together with Prof. Andrew Cohen) | Presentation | AAAL conference |Chicago | 24-27 March, 2018
International Chinese students’ cross-cultural experiences in UK higher education
Presentation | 15th IALIC Conference | University of Peking, China |28 December, 2015
Dialogic strategy clusters for vocabulary learning
Presentation | SSU conference | Alpen-Adria University, Austria | 16 October, 2015
Invited speaker
Tangible insights from current and future research in the strategizing of language learners and users; Meta-reflections on the development of the field (together with Prof. Andrew Cohen) | A Symposium for the 4th Conference on the Situating Strategy Use: Strategic Learning in an Uncertain World | 23-24 November, 2022
Strategizing – Investigating the Dynamic Use of Strategies (together with Prof. Andrew Cohen) | A Symposium for the 4th Conference on the Psychology of Language Learning | 23-25 June 2022
How strategies actually combine in the performance of language tasks (together with Prof. Andrew Cohen) | A Symposium for the AILA virtual conference | 15-21 August, 2021