Dr. Yan Zhang | Social Sciences | Best Researcher Award

🎓 Educational Background of Dr. Yan Zhang

Dr. Yan Zhang possesses a strong and diverse academic foundation in linguistics and foreign language studies. She earned her Ph.D. in Linguistics and Applied Linguistics from Beijing Language and Culture University in 2018, following a Master’s degree in Foreign Linguistics and Applied Linguistics from Xinjiang Normal University in 2009. Her academic journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in English from Hebei University of Economics and Business in 2006. To further broaden her international perspective and research capabilities, she also served as a visiting scholar at the University of Northern Colorado, USA, from October 2022 to October 2023, sponsored by the China Scholarship Council. This robust educational background has laid a solid foundation for her academic career and cross-cultural linguistic research.

💼 Professional Experience of Dr. Yan Zhang

Dr. Yan Zhang currently serves as an Associate Professor at the School of Foreign Languages, Tangshan University, where she focuses on linguistics, applied linguistics, and foreign language education. With a career dedicated to both teaching and research, she has led 11 significant research projects, including six funded by provincial and ministerial agencies. Her professional expertise extends to areas such as prosody, syntactic ambiguity, phonetics, and educational reform. In addition to her academic duties, Dr. Zhang has contributed as a peer reviewer for several international journals, including the Journal of Educational Issues and Journal of Education and Linguistics Research, and holds memberships in renowned organizations such as the American Psychological Association (APA). Her career also includes service as an editorial board member and active participation in academic societies, demonstrating her leadership and influence in the field of language and linguistic research.

🔬 Research Interests of Dr. Yan Zhang

Dr. Yan Zhang’s research interests lie at the intersection of linguistics, applied linguistics, and foreign language education, with a strong emphasis on cross-cultural and contrastive studies. Her work particularly focuses on the contrastive analysis of Chinese and English language and culture, as well as prosodic disambiguation, phonetics, and syntactic ambiguity in modern Chinese. She is also deeply engaged in exploring innovative approaches to college English teaching, including the integration of Project-Based Learning (PBL) and VR technology. In addition, Dr. Zhang has investigated the phonetic characteristics of Pingju Opera, the preservation of intangible cultural heritage, and dialect studies as part of her broader sociolinguistic pursuits. Her interdisciplinary research reflects a commitment to advancing both theoretical knowledge and practical applications in language learning and cultural communication.

🏅 Awards and Honors of Dr. Yan Zhang

Dr. Yan Zhang has been recognized for her outstanding contributions to linguistic research and language education through several prestigious awards. She received the Second Prize in the 16th Excellent Higher Education Scientific Research Achievements from the Hebei Higher Education Society in 2018 for her work on optimizing English major teaching in digital environments. Her earlier contributions also earned her the Third Prize in the 15th and 14th Tangshan Social Science Excellent Achievements Awards in 2016 and 2014, respectively—highlighting her studies on communicative context in literary analysis and speech production in aphasia patients. These honors reflect Dr. Zhang’s consistent dedication to academic excellence, impactful research, and innovative approaches to language and communication studies.

🧾 Conclusion