Yan Shi

PhD student in Linguistics

University of Utah

Biography

My name is Yan Shi [jæn35, ʂɻ̩35]. I am currently a second-year PhD student in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Utah. I am under the supervision of Professor Rachel Hayes-Harb at the Speech Acquisition Lab and work in collaboration with Professor Shannon Barrios. I am mainly interested in L2 phonology, phonetics, psycholinguistics, and language acquisition. In particular, I would like to investigate how naïve listeners and L2 learners of Mandarin perceive non-native Mandarin consonants, which in turn influences their spoken word recognition. In addition, I am interested in how Mandarin speakers perceive non-native speech contrasts (e.g., the tense /i/ and lax /ɨ/) and how they perform in spoken word recognition.

Prior to University of Utah, I earned my M.A. degree in Linguistics in the Department of Languages, Literature, and Linguistics at Syracuse University. My two concentration areas include theoretical linguistics and language acquisition. I worked with Professor Stephanie McMillen in her Diversity in Language and Literacy Lab in the Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders. Earlier than that, I earned my M.A. degree in Applied Linguistics and Language Acquisition in Multilingual Contexts from the University of Barcelona in Spain and an M.A. degree in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) from University of Bath in the UK.

Download my CV.

Interests
  • L2 Phonology
  • Phonetics
  • Psycholinguistics
  • Language Acquisition
Education

  • PhD in Linguistics, 2021-Present

    University of Utah

  • MA in Linguistics, 2021

    Syracuse University

  • MA in Applied Linguistics and SLA, 2018

    University of Barcelona

  • MA in TESOL, 2016

    University of Bath

Research Projects

Linguistics:

  • Fall 2022: The perception of Non-native Mandarin consonants by L2 Mandarin learners and naive listeners. (ongoing) University of Utah
  • Spring 2021: The effect of L2 proficiency and language exposure on bilingual word recognition: an eye-tracking study. (In collaboration with Dr. McMillen from Syracuse University and Xuan Wang from University of Kansas. Ongoing) University of Utah
  • Spring 2021: Bilingual morphological acquisition: a CHILDES study. (In collaboration with Dr. McMillen from Syracuse University and Xuan Wang from University of Kansas. Ongoing) University of Utah
  • Spring 2021: Tone sandhi in Mandarin Chinese. Syracuse University
  • Spring 2021: Pro-drop and null objects in Mandarin Chinese. Syracuse University
  • Spring 2020: Long-distance binding for the Mandarin reflexives ziji and taziji. Syracuse University
  • Spring 2020: Linguistic fieldwork on Mbat, a Bantu language. Syracuse University
  • Fall 2019: Language use in brand names and its relationship with consumers’ social status in China. Syracuse University

Applied Linguistics

  • Summer 2018: Vocabulary size and language proficiency skills in Chinese young EFL learners. MA Thesis. University of Barcelona
  • Spring 2018: Age effects on English classroom anxiety and L2 proficiency among Chinese learners. University of Barcelona
  • Spring 2018: A comparison of the motivation and learning strategies by L2 English learners from Spain, China and Turkey. (group work) University of Barcelona
  • Spring 2018: Multilingualism: Benefits of L3 instruction on L2 and L1 literacy. (group work) University of Barcelona
  • Spring 2018: An analysis of the effect of task complexity and L2 proficiency on two English learners’ oral fluency, complexity and accuracy. University of Barcelona
  • Fall 2017: An investigation into the bilingual attitudes and identity in Cantonese-speaking area in China. (group work) University of Barcelona
  • Fall 2016: Listening anxiety in English learning among international students in a secondary school in the UK. MA thesis. University of Bath

Teaching

I am a graduate teaching assistant in Linguistics at the University of Utah. Prior to that, I was an instructor at Syracuse University and taught Mandarin Chinese for two academic years.

Linguistics

  • LING 1200: Introduction to the Study of Language. Fall 2022 (Teaching Assistant)
  • LING 3600: Cross-Cultural Communication. Summer 2022 (Instructor)
  • BUS 3950: Cross-Cultural Communication for Business. Spring 2022 (Teaching Assistant)
  • LING 3470: Language and Culture. Fall 2021 (Teaching Assistant)

Mandarin Chinese

  • CHI 101: Chinese I. Fall 2019/2020 (Instructor)

  • CHI 102: Chinese II. Spring 2020/2021 (Instructor)

  • CHI 200: Daily Conversation in Chinese. Spring 2021 (Instructor)

Presentations

Linguistics

  • 2021: Pro-drop and null objects in Mandarin Chinese. LLL Research Showcase at Syracuse University

Achievements

  • Research Mentoring Certificate Spring 2022: University of Utah.

  • Certificate in University Teaching 2021: The graduate school of Future Professoriate Program at Syracuse University awarded Yan Shi the Certificate in University Teaching in recognition of excellence in professional preparation for an academic career.

  • Master’s Dissertation Award 2017: The British Council recognises that Yan Shi, student of University of Bath, has produced an outstanding Master’s Dissertation that has high potential for impact on policies and practice in the ELT field. The dissertation entitled “Listening anxiety in English learning among international students in a secondary school in the UK.”

Skills

R-Studio
Statistics
eye-tracking

Contact

  • yan.shi@utah.edu
  • Room 2930, Languages & Communication Bldg, 255 S Central Campus Dr., Salt Lake City, UT 84102
  • Enter Building and take the stairs to Office 2930 on Floor 2
  • Monday 13:30 to 15:30