Prof. Meihua Liu

Tsinghua University, China

Dr. Meihua Liu is a tenured professor  of applied linguistics at the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures at Tsinghua University, consistently highly-cited in the field of "Social Sciences" in China from 2014 to 2022, and recognized as the second-ranked linguist globally in 2023. Her research interests mainly cover reticence and anxiety, L2 motivation, ESL writing and international education.
 
Title: Research on L2 learning emotions
 
Abstract: Emotions can have critical effects on students’ L2 learning and achievement by directing cognitive and attentional processes, decreasing or increasing interest and motivation, and enhancing the use of different learning strategies (Shao et al., 2019). This is why emotions have long become a focus of research in educational settings. Even so, many emotions still remain under-researched. Coupled with the complex nature of emotions, more research is called for. Consequently, this talk reviews theories and empirical research on L2 learning emotions. First, the talk briefly discusses theories on emotions, especially two major theories: the broaden-build theory of positive emotions and the control-value theory of achievement emotions. Then the talk provides a general overview of theoretical and empirical research on most often studied L2 learning emotions: foreign language anxiety, foreign language enjoyment and foreign language classroom boredom. Based on the review, the talk discusses suggestions for future research.

Prof. Bruce Marlowe
University of South Carolina Beaufort, USA

Over the course of the last 40 years, I have been fortunate to have a varied, and engaging career. I began as a special education teacher in Rockville, Md in 1983, and since that time I have held a range of positions including psychology associate, high school English teacher, special education consultant, and university professor of educational psychology and special education. Before assuming my current role as chair of the Education Department, I served in a variety of administrative capacities, including as the Interim Dean of the School of Education at Roger Williams University, and as the Coordinator of Graduate Education at Johnson State College.

Throughout my career, I have also been actively involved in research, writing, and public speaking. I am the co-author of Creating and Sustaining the Constructivist Classroom (2005), and the co-editor of three additional books: Educational Psychology in Context (2006); The Wiley International Handbook of Educational Foundations (2019); and Educational Foundations: An Anthology of Critical Readings (2021). I am also the author of 11 book chapters or forewords, twenty periodicals in academic publications, and the co-author of a six-part video series titled Creating the Constructivist Classroom. I have presented my work at conferences throughout the United States, as well as internationally at academic conclaves in Finland, Turkey, Germany, Japan, Malta, Italy, and France.

In addition to my work as department chair, I currently teach Observation and Analysis, Foundations of American Education, Classroom Organization and Management, and Introduction to the Exceptional Learner.