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I am assistant professor in the Department of Linguistics and Modern Language Studies at HKIEd. I completed my Master's degree in linguistics at University of California, Davis, USA, and PhD in English at National Kaohsiung Normal University, Taiwan. My chief areas of interest are interlanguage phonology and experimental phonetics. I am currently carrying out research examining intelligibility in the speech of second language learners. I am also interested in cross-linguistic factors influencing the acquisition of vowels, rhythm, the role of speech rate in intelligibility, and second-dialect learning.

Teaching  Interests

 Phonetics, Phonology, pronunciation teaching

Research Interests

Experimental Phonetics, Inter-language Phonology, Perception and Production, Computer Assisted Language Learning

 

Selected Research Outputs

Journal Publications

  • Chen, H. C. (2016). In-service teachers’ intelligibility and pronunciation adjustment strategies in English language classrooms. English Language Teaching, 9(4), x-x.
  • Chen, H. C. (2015). Acoustic analyses and intelligibility assessments of timing patterns among Chinese English learners with different dialect backgrounds. Journal of Psycholinguistic Research, 44(6), 749-773. 
  • Chen, H. C. (2013). Chinese learners’ acquisition of English word stress and factors affecting stress assignment. Linguistics and Education, 24(4), 545-555. 
  • Chen, H. C. (2013). Phonological changes in code-mixing and the effects on foreign accents: a comparative study. English Teaching and Learning (THCI Core), 37(4), 55-89. 
  • Wang, M. J., & Chen, H. C. (2013). Social presence for different tasks and perceived learning in online hospitality culture exchange. Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 29(5), 667-684. 
  • Chen, H. C. & Wang, M. J. (2013). Gender discourse patterns of Taiwan college students in social-based computer mediated chat rooms. Chinese Journal of Applied Linguistics, 36 (3), 368-385. 
  • Chen, H. C. (2013). The roles of phonological knowledge in L2 lower achievers' reading development. The Journal of Asia TEFL, 10 (2), 1-34. 
  • Wang, M. J., & Chen, H. C. (2012). Emotions and pair trust in asynchronous hospitality cultural exchange for students in Taiwan and Hong Kong. Turkish Online Journal of Educational Technology (SSCI), 11 (4), 119-131.
  • Wang, M. J. & Chen, H. C. (2012). The influence of teacher presence in blended learning: A case study in a postgraduate course. Taipei Municipal University of Education Journal of Language and Literature, 8, 1-28.
  • Chen, H. C. (2012). Hong Kong ESL learners’ acquisition of English stress and the assessment of an on-line tutoring program. The TESOL Journal, 6(1), 45-62.
  • Chen, H. C. (2011). An acoustic analysis of intra-sentential pause patterns by Taiwanese learners of English. Hong Kong Journal of Applied Linguistics, 13(1), 74-90.
  • Chen, H. C. (2011). Judgments of intelligibility and foreign accent by listeners of different language backgrounds. The Journal of Asia TEFL, 8(4), 61-83.
  • Chen, H.-C. & Wang, M. J. (2011). An acoustic analysis of Chinese and English vowels. CALR Linguistic Journal, 1, 1-19.
  • Chen, H. C. (2010). Second language timing patterns and their effects on native listeners’ perceptions. Concentric: Studies in Linguistics (THCI Core), 36 (2), 183-212.
  • Wang, M. J., & Chen, H. C. (2010). Social presence of inservice teachers in distance learning. Taipei Municipal University of Education Journal of Language and Literature, 4, 1-23.
  • Wang, M. J., & Chen, H. C. (2009). Pedagogical practice and students' perceived effectiveness of web-based automated speech evaluation. The Journal of Asia TEFL, 6(4), 217-243.
  • Chen, H.-C., & Chung, R.-F. (2008). Inter-language analysis of phonetic timing patterns by Taiwanese learners. Concentric: Studies in Linguistics (THCI Core), 34(1), 79-108.
Conference Papers
  • Chen, H. C. & Wang, Q. (2013, March). English timing patterns of Chinese learners: Evidence from acoustic measures and perceptual judgments. The American Association for Applied Linguistics 2013 Annual Conference, Dallas, Texas, USA.
  • Chen, H. C. (2012, May). Factors affecting stress assignment for English pseudo words by Chinese ESL learners. Paper presented at the 29th International Conference on English Teaching and Learning. Chinese Culture University,, Taipei, Taiwan.
  • Wang, Q. & Chen, H. C. (2012, April). Learnability and teachability of English lexical stress by Chinese advanced ESL learners. Paper presented at the 2012 International Conference on Applied Linguistics & Language Teaching (ALLT) & The Second Cross-strait Symposium on Foreign Language Teaching & Research, Taipei, Taiwan.
  • Wang, M. J., & Chen, H. C. (2011, December). When popular culture meets tourism: Cultural exchange for students in Hong Kong and Taiwan. Paper presented at the 2nd International Conference on Popular Culture and Education, Hong Kong.
  • Chen, H. C. & Wang, Q. (2011, August). The Roles of Sensitivity and Phonological Awareness in Second Langauge Learners‘ Reading Development. Paper presented at the 16th conference of pan-pacific association of applied linguistics (PAAL), The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
  • Wang, M. J., & Chen, H. C. (2010, December). Social Presence of Inservice Teachers in Distance Learning. Paper presented at the 2nd East Asian International Conference on Teacher Education Research, Hong Kong.
  • Chen, H.-C. (2010, November). English Phonological Patterns of Chinese learners and Intelligibility Judgment by Listeners of Different Language Backgrounds. Paper presented at the 36th Annual International Conference on Language Teaching and Learning & Educational Materials Exposition (JALT 2010 Annual Conference), Nagoya, Japan.
  • Chen, H.-C. (2010, May). Phonological changes in code-mixing and foreign accent: a comparative study. Paper presented at the International Conference on Phonology and Phonetics. (Organized by Shanghai International Studies University), Shanghai.
  • Chen, H. C. (2009, June). The assessment of on-line pronunciation tutoring programs on stress acquisition. Paper presented at the Independent Learning Association Conference 2009, Hong Kong.
  • Wang, M. Y., & Chen, H. C. (2009, June). Pedagogical practice and students' perceived effectiveness of web-based automated speech evaluation. Paper presented at the Third Pearl River Delta English Studies Graduate Student Conference, Hong Kong.
  • Chen, H. C. (2008, December). An acoustic analysis of pause patterns in Chinese learners' speech production. Paper presented at the 2008 Annual Research Forum of the Linguistic Society of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.

 

Research Projects

A corpus-based online pronunciation learning system: The pedagogical applications of spoken corpus in improving Hong Kong/Mainland university students’ English pronunciation
This project aims to develop a corpus-based, online pronunciation learning system to help HKIEd’s teachers, learners and researchers have a better understanding of the major problems in learning pronunciation by Hong Kong and Mainland English learner . . .
Project Start Year : 2012  Chief Investigator(s) : CHEN, Hsueh Chu 陳雪珠

Asynchronous Hospitality and Tourism Culture Exchange for Students in Hong Kong and Taiwan
This study attempts to explore students’ online utterances and interactions to determine the extent of collaborative learning for hospitality and tourism culture and to understand online collaborative characteristics among students from two universit . . .
Project Start Year : 2011  Chief Investigator(s) : CHEN, Hsueh Chu 陳雪珠

English timing patterns of Chinese learners: Evidence from acoustic measures and perceptual judgments
The major goals of this project are: (a) to investigate the English speech rhythm patterns produced by English speakers and Chinese speakers with different dialect backgrounds through examining both acoustic measures and perceptual ratings given by n . . .
Project Start Year : 2011  Chief Investigator(s) : CHEN, Hsueh Chu 陳雪珠

Intelligibility Judgment of English Word Stress by Chinese Listeners
This proposal attempts to investigate the role of word stress in intelligibility. The issue in this study is whether incorrect placement of word stress by a nonnative speaker renders the form of words unintelligible to an interlocutor. Through the co . . .
Project Start Year : 2011  Chief Investigator(s) : CHEN, Hsueh Chu 陳雪珠

Developing Students’ Affective Attitude in Secondary EFL Classrooms in the PRC
The study investigates the beliefs, design and practices of secondary school teachers from the PRC when implementing the affective dimension of the English language curriculum, and finds out the extent the pedagogy and approaches suggested in the cur . . .
Project Start Year : 2010  Chief Investigator(s) : LI, Ka Wo Benjamin 李家和   (Dr CHEN, Hsueh Chu 陳雪珠 as Co-Investigator)

English Phonological Patterns of Chinese Learners and Intelligibility Judgment by Listeners of Different Language Backgrounds
The major goals of this proposal are: (a) to investigate multiple aspects of English phonological patterns spoken by Chinese speakers, and (b) to explore the nonnative speakers' (NNS) perceptual judgments of intelligibility in English. Two groups of . . .
Project Start Year : 2010  Chief Investigator(s) : CHEN, Hsueh Chu 陳雪珠

The roles of prosodic sensitivity and phonological awareness in second language learners’ reading development
This project attempts to investigate the role of prosodic skills at the word, phrase, and sentence levels in reading development, and clarify the relationship and interaction among prosodic skills, phonological awareness and reading development. Thr . . .
Project Start Year : 2010  Chief Investigator(s) : CHEN, Hsueh Chu 陳雪珠

In-service Programme for Guangdong English Teachers 2009
A total of 40 teachers and researchers from different parts of the Guangdong province participated in the programme, which was held at HKIEd from 6 July 2009 to 24 July 2009. This was the 10th Programme jointly orgainised by the Guangdong Education B . . .
Project Start Year : 2009  Chief Investigator(s) : LI, Ka Wo Benjamin 李家和   (Dr CHEN, Hsueh Chu 陳雪珠 as Team Member)

Phonological Changes in Code-mixing and Foreign Accent - A Comparative Study
The purpose of this study attempts to draw a link between code-mixing and foreign accent by analyzing the phonological features of the English words used in code-mixing from the perspectives of Cantonese, Mandarins and English. More specifically, the . . .
Project Start Year : 2009  Chief Investigator(s) : CHEN, Hsueh Chu 陳雪珠

Sharing by Dr Rebecca Chen, Recipient of the Faculty Teaching Award 2014/15

MATESOL-Eng 6212 English Phonetics and Phonology

Project Website:

http://ec-concord.ied.edu.hk/phonetics_and_phonology/wordpress/


The project aims to

1. Research into authentic English speech data of Hong Kong and Mainland university students studying at HKIEd in order to identify the major pronunciation features of these learners;2. Supply resources, materials and a platform for Hong Kong and Mainland students inside and outside HKIEd to enhance their awareness of segmental and suprasegmental features serving various significant communication functions (e.g., grammatical function, accentual function, attitudinal function) employed by native and non-native English speakers;3. Develop a variety of pronunciation learning materials specific to learners’ needs in order to help HKIEd students better interpret the appropriate use of segmental and suprasegmental features, to enhance intra- and inter-cultural communication; and to improve the pronunciation learning environment within HKIEd.4. Provide English teachers inside and outside Hong Kong with authentic examples of Chinese and Hong Kong learners’ common pronunciation problems and difficulties in learning pronunciation as so to enhance pronunciation teaching and learning.5. Develop a variety of pronunciation teaching materials specific to learners’ needs to enhance pronunciation teaching of pre-service and in-service teachers of English, as well as colleagues In ELT profession.

Research Team:CHEN Hsueh Chu,Rebecca hsuehchu@ied.edu.hkWANG Lixun   lixun@ied.edu.hkCHAN WONG Pui Man  Jenniejennie@ied.edu.hkCHAN Ka Yin  cky@ied.edu.hkCHEE Epin  s0760111@s.ied.edu.hkWANG Qian, Bobbie qianwang@ied.edu.hk