Nick Zhiwei Bi
|
GradCert(HRM)(Monash), GradDipManagement(CQU), MAppling(Sydney), BA(MIS)MPAcc(Monash) PhD candidate |
Email: Phone: 9351 2640 Fax: +61 2 9351 5027 Building.Room: A35.515 |
Keywords
Assessing Grammatical Ability, L2 Strategy Learning and Use, Strategic Processing, Grammar Strategy
Research project description
The notion of strategic processing in second language (L2) use is highly complex and L2 grammar strategy use in a language test is even more complex as it involves both cognitive and metacognitive strategies and grammatical knowledge. The present research aims to examine the impact of cognitive and metacognitive grammatical strategy use on students’ grammar test performances over time by means of state and trait strategy use questionnaires. In addition, the research addresses the importance of exploring strategy use in response to specific assessment tasks as well as assessing the stability of trait and state strategy use in language testing research. Multitrait-multimethod (MTMM) approach is therefore employed to deal with the effect of context change over time. Eventually, the study is achieved by testing a hypothesized structural equation model (SEM) which consists of two different data sets with multiple variables of grammar strategy use and grammar test performance over a period of 2 months.
Issues discussed in this study have implications not only for grammar testing research, but also for understanding the importance of strategy use in grammar acquisition and instruction in a Chinese English as a foreign language (EFL) context. Furthermore, MTMM approach, which is based on a more holistic, process-oriented approach to investigate learner’s grammar test performance rather than conventionally product-oriented language testing (LT) strategy research, allows researchers to collect multiple data of strategy use and L2 grammar test performance to enable reliable measurement of the cognitive processing across situations and occasions.
Nick earned his Master Degree in Applied Linguistics from Sydney University and he also holds a Master of Professional Accounting from Monash University. Even though Nick has been pursuing his studies and career in business and finance related areas most of the time, he is always passionate about language teaching and learning. He was an EFL teacher in China and was tutoring on the Linguistics Department’s online English project at Sydney University. After much consideration, he has decided to transfer his career to further studies and research on second language learning, teaching and testing, which he believes can be a life-long passion in his future career. Nick’s current research interests include second language acquisition, grammar assessment and language learning and use strategies.
Conference presentations
- Bi, N. Z. (2011). State and trait grammatical strategy and EFL grammar test performance: A model of their interactive relationships from a longitudinal perspective. In The 16th World Congress of Applied Linguistics (AILA2011). Organized by International Association of Applied Linguistics. Beijing Foreign Studies University, Beijing, August 23-28, 2011.
- Bi, N. Z. (2011). The ‘invasion’ of English to Chinese Internet discourse. In Applied Linguistics as a meeting Place, 2nd combined conference of the Applied Linguistics Association of Australia (ALAA) and Applied Linguistics Association of New Zealand (ALANZ). The University of Canberra and Australian National University, 29th Nov-2nd Dec, 2011.
- Bi, N. Z. (2011). Code-mixing by using English words in Chinese website. In 17th Conference of the International Association for World Englishes (IAWE). Monash University, 23th-25th November 2011.
- Bi, Z. W. (2010). A Multitrait-multimethod approach to assessing Chinese EFL learners' strategic processing over time. In 35th Annual Congress of the Applied Linguistics Association of Australia (ALAA). The University of Queensland, 4th-7th July, 2010.
- Bi, Z. W. (2009). A framework for examining cognitive and metacognitive L2 grammar strategies over time. In 3rd International Free Linguistics Conference (FLC). The University of Sydney, 10th-11th October, 2009
- Bi, Z. W. (2009). Assessing L2 grammar strategies in English grammar test: A multitrait-multimethod approach. In Fouth University of Sydney TESOL Research Network. Sydney. September 5, 2009.
Awards
Awarded the ALTAANZ Best Student Paper Presentation Award by the Association for Language Testing and Assessment of Australia and New Zealand and sponsored by PEARSON for a paper presented at the Inaugural ALTAANZ Conference in 2012
- ILTA Student Travel Award 2013, International Language Testing Association
Professional and community roles
Member of International Association for World Englishes (IAWE)
Associate membership of Certified Practising Accountant (CPA) Australia
Member of Association of Language Testing and Assessment of Australia and New Zealand (ALTAANZ)
Member of Applied Linguistics Association of Australia (ALAA)
Committee Member - Post-graduate Student Officer - Association for Language Testing and Assessment of Australia and New Zealand (ALTAANZ)
Current projects
- A structural equation model of the impact of cognitive and metacognitive grammatical strategy use on Chinese University-level EFL students’ grammar test performances over time: A multitrait-multimethod approach
Thesis work
| Project title | Degree | Supervisor |
|---|---|---|
| A structural equation model of the impact of cognitive and metacognitive grammatical strategy use on Chinese University-level EFL students' grammar test performance over time: a multitrait-multimethod approach. | PhD | Dr Aek Phakiti |
Selected publications
Journal articles
- Bi, N. Z. (2012). The impact of national factors on personnel management: A cross-national examination of HRM practices in Singapore and Thailand. International Journal of Business and Management, 7(13), 21–27.
- Bi, N. Z. (2011). A comparative study of HRM in China and Australia: An Asia-Pacific context. Science Times, (15), 11–14.
- Bi, N. Z. (2011). How can operations managers make operations efficient and effective: A lesson from successful organizations. Management Observer, (22), 13–15.
- Bi, N. Z. (2011). How to write academically as a postgraduate student from Non-English speaking background: A study from teachers’ perspective. International Journal of English Linguistics , 1(2), 58–63.
- Bi, N. Z. (2011). An investigation into English mixing in Chinese internet language. World Journal of English Language, 1(2), 60–67.
- Bi, N. Z. (2011). An investigation into English pronunciation of three different language groups. Overseas English, (11), 299–302.
- Yuan, W.; Xiong, J. & Bi, Z. W. (2010). The mixing of English in Chinese newspapers . Keyuan Monthly Publication, (4), 78–80.