The Eighth International Literacy & Education Research Network Conference on

SPETSES, GREECE
4-8 July 2001

Dr Ling Shi

Assistant Professor, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

Writing Across Cultures: Writing Experiences of Chinese TESOL Professionals

Abstract

Little is known about how nonnative English language teachers, after having been trained in the west, return to their home countries to resume their academic careers, publishing mainly in their first languages in local academic journals. This study, based on interview data, reports the experiences, successes, and frustrations of eight Chinese professors as they write across cultures negotiating between two writing conventions. All the interviewees have published in Chinese academic journals. When asked if their expertise in writing in one language helped them write in the other, many reported completely different experiences when writing in Chinese and English. A few said that they either consciously incorporated the 'strengths' of one writing tradition into the other, or had to switch between the two to play the game. The study highlights the special concerns of non-native language professionals who write and negotiate between different writing conventions.

Presentation Type
30 min. Paper

Presentation Equipment Requirements
OHP

Speaking Date/Time Restrictions

Country
Canada