I was born in a small village in Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture in Jilin Province, China, where both Mandarin Chinese and Korean are official languages. This multilingual environment sparked my passion for languages. I recently completed my PhD at the University of Cambridge, where I researched the acquisition of Chinese grammatical constructions using a corpus linguistics approach. I also hold an MPhil in Research in Second Language Education from Cambridge and an MA in Chinese Studies from SOAS, University of London. My previous teaching experience includes positions at Cambridge, Imperial College London, and the UK Government Foreign Office.

After living in the UK for 15 years, I relocated to Turku in August 2024 to join the university as a lecturer in Chinese, bringing my expertise in language acquisition and education to a new academic environment.

Research Overview 

My research focuses on applying corpus-based methods to investigate Chinese language acquisition and use. It comprises three main strands:

1. Native Chinese Language Use and Construction Grammar
I examine how native speakers of Chinese use key grammatical constructions, particularly prepositional verb-argument constructions. Through statistical analysis of large-scale natural language data, I aim to identify salient patterns of frequency and association. This work contributes to linguistic theory (e.g., statistical learning, usage-based construction grammar) and has practical implications for pedagogy. For example, my findings offer an empirical basis for enhancing teaching materials by incorporating the most frequent and meaningful patterns found in native usage.

2.  L2 Chinese Usage and Development
I study how learners of Chinese acquire and use grammatical constructions across different proficiency levels. Using both cross-sectional and longitudinal learner corpus data, I analyse typical usage patterns and errors. I also track learners’ development in terms of accuracy, complexity, and pragmatic competence. This research both advances second language acquisition theory and also supports more effective and realistic teaching approaches.

3. Discourse and Social Change in Contemporary China
In collaboration with colleagues from the fields of sociology and political science, I explore how shifting linguistic patterns reflect and shape social change in China. My contribution focuses on corpus construction and data analysis. Recent projects include a study of online discourse surrounding household over-indebtedness and an investigation into changing representations of the Chinese countryside in state media over the past three decades. This interdisciplinary strand bridges applied linguistics with sociology and political science.

I teach various Chinese language and linguistics courses, focusing on developing students' proficiency and understanding of Chinese language and culture. My teaching philosophy emphasises active learning through discovery, and engagement with real-world language use. This academic year, I teach the following courses:

• CHIN0007-3005: Kiinan kielen jatkokurssi I (Intermediate Chinese I)
• CHIN0008-3005: Kiinan kielen jatkokurssi II (Intermediate Chinese II)
• CHIN0009-3003: Kiinan kielen rakenne (Chinese Syntax and Grammar)
• CHIN0011-3003: Kielellinen vaihtelu (kv) (Linguistic Variation)
• CHIN0012-3003: Kielellinen vuorovaikutus ja viestintä (Linguistic Interaction and Communication)
• CHIN0030-3001: Kielipolitiikka ja kiinan kielen reformit (Chinese Language Policy and Reforms)
• CHIN0040-3001: Kiinan kielen kirjoittaminen (Advanced Chinese Writing)
• CHIN0014-3002: Proseminaari ja HuK-tutkielma (Proseminar and Bachelor's Thesis)

These courses cover various aspects of Chinese language, from advanced language skills and interaction to language policy and linguistic variation, allowing students to explore both linguistic theory and practical language use.