Special Event for International Women's Day: IAPS Gender Studies Group organized Gender Month on 8-29 March, 2023.

IAPS Gender Studies Group (GSG) organised Gender Month in March, with various events taking place from 8 March to 29 March. The events include talks and film screening by GSG members Dr Lily Yu, Dr Candace Veecock, Dr Ping Du, Dr Bjarke Liboriussen, and Dr Andrew Wortham (external member), two Gender and Health workshops organised by Dr Lily Lin who invited several doctors from Ningbo No.2 hospital for the workshops, and Performance Night organised by Dr Derek Irwin for which some staff and students performed monologues, Yue opera, poems, songs, and music instruments. The talk by Dr Bjarke Liboriussen and Dr Andrew Wortham was organised by Dr Corey Schultz. The talks by Dr Lily Yu, Dr Candace Veecock, Dr Ping Du on 8-10 March were also part of UNNC EDI week activities, and the talk delivered by Dr Lily Yu on 29 March was also part of the Diversity seminar series.

Dr Nancy Liu was invited to give a talk “Translation & Culture ---The case of Yuanmingyuan ruins”

On May 25 2023, Dr Nancy Liu was invited to give a talk at Xijiao Liverpool University. The talk, titled “Translation & Culture ---The case of Yuanmingyuan ruins”, builds on the framework of the translation of culture-specific items and focuses on how to tell Chinese stories by taking the translation of Yuanmingyuan or the Garden of Perfect Brightness as a case in point.

 

Professor Douglas Bell delivered a 1-hour plenary speech "Quo Vadis, EAP? Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats in Transformative Times"

On May 19 2023, Professor Douglas Bell delivered a 1-hour plenary speech to mark the opening of the first UNNC CELE International Conference on English for Academic and Specific Purposes, "Transformations in Context". The title of Prof Bell's talk was "Quo Vadis, EAP? Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities & Threats in Transformative Times". He focused on the ongoing trajectory of EAP as an academic discipline and highlighted several challenges which the discipline currently faces.

Dr Xiaojun Lu delivered a talk titled “Task repetition in second language writing: The role of written corrective feedback, working memory, and language aptitude”

The School of Education and English and Centre for Researching Education and Language hosted the talk on May 17 2023, delivered by Dr Xiaojun Lu. The talk focused on the extent to which task repetition, with or without comprehensive written corrective feedback, affects linguistic complexity and accuracy in young second language learners’ writing.

 

Dr Candace Veecock delivered a talk titled “China Daily Cartoons – Ideological clusters prior to and at the height of COVID-19”

The School of Education and English and Centre for Researching Education and Language hosted the talk on April 19 2023, delivered by Dr Candace Veecock. Cartoons emerging from China and designed for anglophone foreign publics are an understudied area. This talk discusses a study of ideological clusters in China Daily online cartoons over two full calendar years from 2019-2020. Cartoons from China Daily were selected as this news media outlet is operated under the umbrella of the State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China, and thus represents another resource for China’s external communications to the world and image building on the international stage. The period from January 2019 to December 2020 was chosen for this study in light of the significant impact of COVID-19 around the world and thereby enabled a comparative analysis of cartoon themes immediately prior to and at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. While this study has established explicit ideological clusters in China Daily cartoons across the years 2019–2020, cartoons emerging from China offer a promising area of study in terms of underlying implicit ideology, recurrent explicit ideological framing, and patterns of both across time. In particular, methodically examining the cross-cultural salience of signs and symbols, intertextuality, and visual/multimodal contribute to a greater understanding of ideology in general as well as legitimization and delegitimization strategies that might play out in political cartoons.

Dr Derek Irwin delivered a plenary speech entitled "On Multimodality, Hybridity and Tenor Relations: examples from lockdown theatre"

On April 15 2023, Dr. Derek Irwin delivered a plenary speech entitled "On Multimodality, Hybridity and Tenor Relations: examples from lockdown theatre" at the 2nd Sun Yat-Sen Forum for Discourse Analysis in Guangzhou.

Dr Derek Irwin was invited to give a talk “Expanding Our Semiotic Zones: developing a multimodal SFL approach to hybrid theatre production”

On 10 March 2023, Dr. Derek Irwin was invited by the Macau University of Science and Technology and the Beijing Institute of Technology, Zhuhai to give a talk “Expanding Our Semiotic Zones: developing a multimodal SFL approach to hybrid theatre production” to staff and students on approaches to theatre analysis using systemic functional linguistics as a framework. Dr. Irwin was invited as part of MUST's anniversary celebrations, and was the first in-person speaker in over 3 years at BIT.

Professor Douglas Bell delivered a presentation titled “Experiential Learning on an MA TESOL Programme

On 3 March 2023, Professor Douglas Bell delivered a presentation titled “Experiential Learning on an MA TESOL Programme. Raising Awareness of Language Teaching Pedagogy by Adding a 'Trading Places' Component” at the 5th Applied Linguistics & Language Teaching (ALLT) international conference in Dubai. Prof. Bell's talk dealt with the topic of experiential learning in teacher training and showcased a series of practical activities he used with his MA TESOL students at UNNC.

Dr Lily Yu gave a talk titled ‘Social Justice: Gender and Feminism in Language’ for the research seminar series run by the Chinese Culture Department for UNNC undergraduate students

On 23 November 2022, Dr Lily Yu gave a talk on for the research seminar series run by the Chinese Culture Department for UNNC undergraduate students. The talk entitled ‘Social Justice: Gender and Feminism in Language’ draws attention to gender issues in language, with examples from English and Chinese. It also introduces some feminist approaches to and activities on gender issues in language and the achievements that have been made. The talk was attended by around 100 students.

Dr Derek Irwin provided a keynote address for the International Association for Hallidayan Linguistics' annual conference

On Oct 22 2022, Dr. Derek Irwin provided a keynote address for the International Association for Hallidayan Linguistics' annual conference "New Ways of Meaning: Challenges to Linguistics in the 21st Century." The online talk was entitled "Modelling Theatre Semiotics from a Systemic-Functional Linguistic Perspective" and was attended by linguistic scholars from across China and the globe.

Dr Lily Yu was interviewed by South China Morning Post for an article published on September 18 2022

Dr Lily Yu was interviewed by South China Morning Post for an article published on September 18 2022. Dr. Yu was asked to give her thoughts on ‘Sisters Who Make Waves 乘风破浪的的姐姐’, a Mango TV reality show that features thirty established female celebrities from the Chinese entertainment industry in their thirties. Dr. Yu suggested that while the show intends to awaken and empower women, inspiring women to defy unfair ageism and chase their dreams, it still reveals the dominance of patriarchal world view, especially on the female body and age. The full article is available at this link.

Professor Douglas Bell delivered a presentation at the UNNC Professional Development Open Day

Professor Douglas Bell delivered a presentation at the UNNC Professional Development Open Day. Titled 'Good Teachers Are Thinking Teachers', Professor Bell's talk focused on the nexus between theory and practice and argued that teachers should be encouraged to theorize from their practice and practice what they theorize. The session (delivered online due to the Covid 19 restrictions) was well attended by both national and internationally- based participants.

Dr Ashley Yoon Mooi Ng was invited to speak at the 2nd Global Conference on International Education organized by Beijing Normal University

Dr Ashley Yoon Mooi Ng was invited to speak on a panel titled “International Innovative Talent Development: Shared Understanding and Challenges” at the 2nd Global Conference on International Education organized by Beijing Normal University, 9-10 July 2022. The panel was moderated by Professor Zhiyong Zhi from Beijing Normal University and also featured Youmin Xi (Xi’an Jiaotong-Livepool University), Ahmed Hussain (Harrow International AISL), Malcom McKenzie (formerly of Keystone Academy, Beijing), and Xiaoheng Xu (Tsinghua University). The panelists discussed the characteristics and models of international innovative talents with a focus on activities that support cultivation, as well as the practical challenges of talent cultivation in China. A recording of the conference is available at this link. 

Dr Ricky Jeffery organised a tri-campus online talk "Multilingualism in China: Essential Actualities for Language Educators and Researchers," delivered by Professor Anwei Feng and Professor Bob Adamson

On 27 April 2022, Dr Ricky Jeffery organised a tri-campus online talk "Multilingualism in China: Essential Actualities for Language Educators and Researchers," which was delivered by Professor Anwei Feng and Professor Bob Adamson. This was an initial attempt to develop a tri-campus research network on the broad theme of Multilingualism and China, supporting exchange among all Nottingham researchers with an interest in language and China (including topics such as English learning and use in China, Chinese minority languages, and learning Chinese as a foreign language). The talk was attended by 50 staff and PhD students from school across UoN.

Dr Ashley Ng Yoon Mooi gave a keynote speech titled: “Leadership for Leaning in the 21st Century”

On 24 April 2022, Dr Ashley Ng Yoon Mooi gave a keynote speech titled: “Leadership for Leaning in the 21st Century” at the ‘First International Conference on Education’ organized by Wenzhou-Kean University, China. Dr Ng spoke about the persistence of a learning crisis despite the universal expanding of Schooling. Drawing a distinction between Schooling and Learning, she stressed the need for educational leadership at all levels to ensure that learning occurs. She argued that good leadership ensures synergy between all aspects of learning. 

Dr Ng gave a talk titled: “The Malaysian Education Blueprint: The Gaps between Practice and Policy”

On 22 April 2022, Dr Ng gave a talk titled: “The Malaysian Education Blueprint: The Gaps between Practice and Policy” for the Alternative Research Lounge at the University of Nottingham Malaysia. Dr Ng discussed Shift 5 in the Malaysian Education Blueprint 2013-2025, suggesting that principals need to practice instructional leadership and not administrative leadership. In practice, this is difficult as the Malaysian education system is highly centralized and hierarchical and administrative leadership is the norm at all levels, a phenomenon also seen in Thailand. Dr Ng drew upon her own research to show that despite the aspirations stated in the MEB, and the mandatory accreditation principals undergo, there are huge gaps that exist between practice and policy.

Dr Ricky Jeffrey gave an invited online talk titled "'Open science' reforms to improve credibility and transparency of academic publishing, in education and applied linguistics"

On 9 April 2022, Dr Ricky Jeffrey gave an invited online talk titled "'Open science' reforms to improve credibility and transparency of academic publishing, in education and applied linguistics" for the Jiangsu Provincial Training Base for Early Career Scholars in Foreign Language Education (江苏省高校青年外语教师培训基地). The talk was attended by around 350 online participants. This was the first talk at this institution to be given by a foreign national. The slides of the talk are available at this link.

Dr Ashley Ng Yoon Mooi delivered talk on ‘Gender and Leadership’ for the Education Leadership and Management webinar Series

On 14 April 2022, Dr Ashley Ng Yoon Mooi from the School of Education and English was invited to deliver a talk on ‘Gender and Leadership’ for the Education Leadership and Management webinar Series at University Malaya. The talk discussed issues including factors deterring the rise of women in leadership, including family responsibilities, prejudice and discrimination, and the role of organisational structure and culture. The audience were reminded to be mindful of the different contours that this intersectionality imposes on women in leadership.

 

Professor Anwei Feng delivered a public lecture titled “Multilingualism and its Significance for Societies and Individuals”

On 19 March 2022, Professor Anwei Feng from the School of Education and English gave a public lecture titled “Multilingualism and its Significance for Societies and Individuals” at the Ningbo Library’s Online Platform. The lecture attracted more than 20,000 audience views on the day with more views in the following days. During the lecture, Professor Feng highlighted how multilingualism is increasingly becoming the norm in contemporary societies. Its significance and benefits for communities and individuals are proven through growing research evidence throughout the world. Furthermore, he presented a detailed account of the multilingual phenomena in China, the implications of becoming multilingual for preserving and developing national language resources, and the key cognitive, affective and economic benefits of multilingualism for individuals today.

A recording of the lecture is available at this link.

Dr Lily Yu delivered a public talk entitled “From Women’s Writing to Women’s Translation”

On 27 February 2022, Dr Lily Yu from School of Education and English delivered an online talk entitled “From Women’s Writing to Women’s Translation”, which is part of the feminist curating project ‘The Dwelling Place of the Other in Me’, funded by the Emerging Curators Programme 2021. Drawing on the French feminist writer Hélène Cixous’s concept of écriture féminine [women’s writing], by translating the semiotics within language into the exhibitory dimension, the project seeks to nurture a féminine narrative which is inseparable from individualities. Although taking place on a sunny Sunday afternoon in early spring, the talk attracted a total of 59 audience members and run overtime, showing unexpected interest in the abstract feminist literary theory which led to feminist translation practices.

Dr Lucy Hamilton delivered a conference presentation entitled ‘De-colonial Psychogeography: A stylistic approach to countering narrative authority’

On 9 February 2022, Dr Lucy Hamilton from the School of Education and English presented on her practice-based research at The London Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies' International Conference: Spatiality and Temporality. This paper discusses the stylistic methodology of her new novel, “The Widening of Tolo Highway” (Penguin SEA), an experiment in de-colonial narrative. The book offers a layered interrogation of discursive authority, which is created through the use of a 'dual-perspective', as the protagonist interrogates her own memories. It is the protagonist and writer’s inability to ‘map’ the city’s complex spatial, temporal and political landscape that drives the novel, inspiring the reader's introspection and critique.

Dr Ricky Jeffrey made an invited keynote presentation titled ‘English in China in the 2020s-2030s: Potential changes in attitudes and practices?’

On 27 November 2021, Dr Ricky Jeffrey from the School of Education and English delivered an invited keynote presentation titled: "English in China in the 2020s-2030s: Potential changes in attitudes and practices?" at the ‘Belt and Road International Symposium on Foreign Language Education’ hosted by Quzhou University. Dr. Jeffrey welcomes collaboration from colleagues interested in researching the changing place of the English language in China from perspectives including: policy, education, business practice.

Dr Derek Irwin delivered a plenary talk for the inaugural Online Systemic Functional Linguistics Interest Group Conference

On 16 November 2021, Dr Derek Irwin from the School of Education and English delivered a plenary talk for the inaugural Online Systemic Functional Linguistics Interest Group Conference held virtually from hosts in Australia and North America. The paper was entitled "Building a holistic model for theatre semiotics" and illustrated ways to approach the analysis of theatrical texts from an SFL perspective using the 2017 Tri-Campus Arts production of “The Monkey King Gala” as data. 

Dr Ricky Jeffrey delivered a conference presentation entitled “Use less language; use more figures, tables, colour, highlighting, and multimedia”

On 16 November 2021, Dr Ricky Jeffrey from the School of Education and English delivered a presentation at the Metascience 2021 conference, the world’s largest conference on research about research, held online. The presentation was titled “Use less language; use more figures, tables, colour, highlighting, and multimedia”. Dr. Jeffrey’s research focuses on how the use and teaching of English among academics can be better aligned with recent reforms across scientific education and publishing, in order to improve transparency and reproducibility.

The presentation is available at this link.

Dr Derek Irwin spoke at a Roundtable Discussion titled “COP26: The story of Climate Change and “blah blah blah”

On 3 November 2021, FHSS hosted a roundtable discussion titled “COP26: The story of Climate Change and “blah blah blah”, to coincide with the COP26 Summit in Glasgow. Panellist included Dr Derek Irwin (Head of School of Education an English), Dr Celia Lam (School of International Communications), Dr Stuart McDonald (School of Economics) and Dr Maria Julia Trombetta (School of International Studies), and 8 student respondents from the four Schools. The roundtable was moderated by Dr David Kiwuwa and explored topics such as the discourses around climate change, levels of responsibility, and action on climate change. The roundtable was well attended by approximately 100 staff and students across the faculty, with 75 joining in person and 25 online. Both staff and students participated in lively discussions that carried on long after the official proceedings ended.

Dr Lily Yu talked for ‘Translation and Transcultural Studies Research’ seminars of the School of Modern Languages and Cultures at the University of Warwick

On 27 October 2021, Dr Lily Yu from School of Education and English was invited to give an online talk around her research area of translating feminism in China for the Translation and Transcultural Studies Research seminars of the School of Modern Languages and Cultures at the University of Warwick. Around 160 people signed up for the talk. The audience members are not only from the University of Warwick, but also from other universities, such as the University of Glasgow. Her talk was well received by the audience. An audience member from Spain even emailed her after the talk to express her appreciation of the talk, saying she will benefit from Dr Yu’s insight in Chinese feminism for her future teaching in China.

Dr Lily Yu was interviewed by Sixth Tone on the recently coined Chinese terms about women

On 12 October 2021, Dr Lily Yu from School of Education and English was interviewed in early October by Sixth Tone, an online publication in English that provides information and insights on contemporary China for international readers. Dr Yu was asked to comment from gender perspective on the recently coined Chinese terms of ‘x媛’ that went viral on Chinese social media. The Chinese word ‘媛yuan’ used to refer to ‘beautiful women’. But when paired with another word, such as ‘佛媛’ [female Buddhist socialite], ‘病媛’ [bedridden beauty], ‘医媛’ [pretty doctor], and ‘离媛’[socialite divorcee(s)], its usage, especially on social media platforms, is anything but complimentary, which stigmatizes women as a group. Dr Yu points out that the coined terms used by some netizens and media reflect misogyny in language, which is not difficult to find in Chinese language, especially in the words with female radical, such as ‘奸’ (adultery)，’妖’ (demon)，’嫉妒’ (jealousy), and ‘娼妓’ (prostitute). More details are in the article ‘A Chinese Word Describing ‘Beautiful Women’ Is Taking an Ugly Turn’, https://www.sixthtone.com/news/1008675