University of Auckland Scholar delivers lecture at CityU on cutting-edge research in second language acquisition

To foster international academic exchange and broaden the research horizons of faculty and students, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (FHSS) at Macau City University (CityU) hosted a “Distinguished Lecture” series yesterday. The event featured Professor Lawrence Zhang, Associate Dean (AD) International for the Faculty of Arts and Education at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, and an internationally renowned applied linguist, as the keynote speaker. He presented an academic report titled “Ideal L2 Writing Self, Writing Growth Mindset, and Writing Enjoyment in L2 Writing Self-Efficacy: Understanding Their Relationships via a Mediation Model.” The lecture attracted a large audience of faculty and students, fostering a vibrant academic atmosphere.

During the lecture, Professor Zhang delved into cutting-edge topics in second language (L2) acquisition, offering an in-depth analysis of the theoretical connotations and interrelationships among three core constructs: Ideal L2 Writing Self, Writing Growth Mindset, and Writing Enjoyment. He emphasized that writing, as a central component of L2 learning, is directly linked to learners’ academic and professional development. Departing from previous research that primarily focused on cognitive dimensions, Professor Zhang adopted an affective and motivational perspective. Drawing on empirical data from multiple intermediate English learners, he revealed the mechanisms through which these constructs operate: both Ideal L2 Writing Self and Writing Enjoyment significantly and directly enhance Writing Self-Efficacy, while Writing Enjoyment plays a critical mediating role between Growth Mindset and Self-Efficacy. These findings offered fresh theoretical perspectives and practical implications for L2 writing instruction.

In the interactive session, attending students actively posed questions, engaging in thorough discussions with Professor Zhang on research methodologies and data analysis details. Professor Zhang patiently addressed each query, providing explanations on research design, variable measurement, and mediation model testing methods, which sparked a lively exchange of ideas.

The lecture not only deepened the faculty and students’ understanding of the psychological mechanisms underlying L2 writing but also provided valuable international perspectives and theoretical support for the college’s foreign language teaching and research endeavors. Looking ahead, CityU will continue to invite renowned scholars from both domestic and international academia to conduct high-level academic exchanges, thereby promoting the integrated development of the humanities and social sciences.

Source: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

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University of Auckland Scholar delivers lecture at CityU on cutting-edge research in second language acquisition

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