Zhisheng Wen

Biography

Dr Zhisheng (Edward) Wen holds a Ph.D. in applied linguistics from the Chinese University of Hong Kong and is currently Associate Head and Senior Lecturer at College of Professional and Continuing Education of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (HK PolyU-CPCE). Prior to joining CPCE in Jan 2025, he served as a Visiting Fellow at University of Macau, and Professor cum Interim Head of the Department of English Language and Literature at Hong Kong Shue Yan University and Associate Professor at Faculty of Languages and Translation of Macao Polytechnic University. So far, Prof. Wen has taught undergraduate and postgraduate programs in applied linguistics, psycholinguistics, TESOL, and business writing/financial translation for over 25 years at major universities in the Greater Bay Area (GBA) of China (e.g., Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao).

Prof. Wen's broad research interests include Second Language Acquisition, Task-based Language Teaching and Learning, Psycholinguistics and Cognitive Science, Language Testing & Assessment, Translanguaging Theory and Practice, Cognitive Translation/Interpreting, Genre Analysis and ESP Theory & Practice. His research expertise and current research foci include language aptitude and working memory in SLA and he is actively constructing his integrated Phonological/Executive (P/E) model (please refer to Wen, 2012, 2014 & 2015, 2016/2018, 2019, 2020; also see Wen, Mota & McNeill, 2013 & 2015; Wen & Schwieter, 2022).

Prof. Wen's representative publications include over 70 academic papers and book chapters in top-notched journals (Language Teaching, Annual Review of Applied Linguistics etc.) and edited volumes (Cambridge University Press, Routledge, Multilingual Matters, etc.). In addition, he has so far published 10 research monographs and edited volumes (e.g., “Working memory and second language learning”) published by Multilingual Matters in 2016 and reprinted by Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press in Beijing in 2018; a co-edited a volume with Mailce Mota and Arthur McNeill on ("Working memory in second language acquisition and processing", Multilingual Matters, 2015); guest-edited five Special Issues, including "Working Memory and SLA") of Asian Journal of English Language Teaching (AJELT, 2013 Volume); "Translanguaging language policy planning in the Greater Bay Area of China and beyond" (Asian-Pacific Journal of Second and Foreign Language Education; 2022); "Rethinking individual differences in L2 education and psychology: A special issue in honor of Professor Richard Sparks" (Language Teaching Research Quarterly, 2022); and most recently, "A special issue in honor of Prof Diane Larsen-Freeman's contributions to language teaching and second language development" (LTRQ, 2023) and a special issue honoring Prof. Brian MacWhinney to celebrate his 50-year contributions to language sciences and psychology sciences and education (LTRQ, 2024).

Prof. Wen's more recent books include "Language aptitude: Advancing theory, testing, research and practice" (2019, Routledge), "Researching L2 task performance and pedagogy in honour of Peter Skehan", (2019 John Benjamins), “Cambridge handbook of working memory and language” (2022, CUP), "Language aptitude theory and practice" (2023, CUP), "Memory in science for society" (2023, OUP) and "Cognitive individual differences in second language acquisition: Theories, Assessment and Pedagogy" (2023, Mouton de Gruyter). Forthcoming volumes include "Working memory in first and second language" ( by CUP) .