Profile

Xuan Zheng is currently an Associate Professor at the Department of English Language and Literature at Peking University. Her research interests include intercultural communication, the social and emotional dimensions of foreign language education, and qualitative research methods. Prof. Zheng serves as a council member of the China Association for Intercultural Communication (CAFIC). She has published research papers in leading international and Chinese journals such as the Modern Language Journal, System, International Journal of Intercultural Relations, Waiyu Jie (Foreign Language World), Zhongguo Waiyu (Foreign Languages in China), and Yuyanxue Yanjiu (Linguistics Research). Prof. Zheng has also published an English monograph Non-native English-speaking Teachers Revisited with Routledge (2025) and co-authored 3 Chinese monograph with Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press (2021) (2025) and Peking University Press (2021). 

Educational Experience

Ph.D. in English, University of Washington, Seattle, USA (2013).

Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MATESOL) , University of Washington, Seattle, USA (2009).

B.A. in English, Huazhong Normal University (2007)

Work Experience

Associate Professor (August 2025-present), Department of English Language and Literature, School of Foreign Languages, Peking University

Assistant Professor (August 2018-July 2025), Institute of Linguistics and Applied Linguistics, School of Foreign Languages, Peking University

Lecturer (Feb 2014-July 2018), Institute of Linguistics and Applied Linguistics, School of Foreign Languages, Peking University

Research Interests

Intercultural communication, identity and language learning/teaching, teacher education, emotions, qualitative research methods

Teaching Courses

Research on Language and Culture (graduate, undergraduate)

Theory and Practice in Foreign Language Education (graduate)

English Language Teaching Methodology (graduate)

Academic Reading and Appraisal II (doctoral)

Language, Culture and Communication (College English)

Language, Culture and Communication (PKU summer school international)

Selected Publications

Books

Zheng, X. (2025). Non-Native English-Speaking Teachers Revisited: Paradoxes in Multilingual Professionals’ Identities. London: Routledge.

Journal Articles & Book Chapters (English)

Li, Y. & Zheng, X. (2025). A literature review of intercultural emotion studies from 1987 to 2023: theoretical approaches, hot topics and future directions. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 106. (corresponding author)

Wang, S. & Zheng, X. (2024). Influence of public health emergency on city image: the case of COVID-19 stigma on Wuhan city. Humanities and Social Sciences Communication, 11, 771. (corresponding author)

Zheng, X. & Gao, Y. (2022). The discursive construction of identities and conflict management strategies in parent-child conflict narratives written by Chinese university students. In X. Dai & G-M. Chen (Eds.) Conflict Management and Intercultural Communication: The Art of Intercultural Harmony. 211-229. 2nd edition. London and New York: Routledge.

Zheng, X. & Gao, Y. (2019). Promoting intercultural competence in English Language Teaching: A productive bilingualism perspective. In X. Gao (eds.). Second Handbook of English Language Teaching. Springer International Handbooks of Education. Switzerland: Springer International Publishing.

Chen, Y. & Zheng, X. (2019). Chinese university students’ attitude towards self and others in reflective journals of intercultural encounter. System, 84, 64-75. (corresponding author)

Zheng, X. (2017). Translingual Identity as Pedagogy: International Teaching Assistants of English in College Composition Classrooms. The Modern Language Journal, 101S, 29-44.

Zheng, X & Gao, Y. (2017). Facilitating transformative learning towards productive bilingualism: Innovations in teaching English for intercultural communication in China. In H. Reinders, D. Nunan & B. Zou (Eds.) Innovation in language learning and teaching: the case of China. 261-288. Palgrave Macmillan.

Journal Articles & Book Chapters (Chinese)

Lu, Y., Zhang, H, & Zheng, X. (2023). Attachment and separation: Tracing sources of intercultural conflict competence based on discussions of the movie “Bao”. Intercultural Studies Forum. (Corresponding author).

Zheng, X. Zhang, Z. & Zhao, X. (2023). The impact of emergent public event on regional stereotypes: Psychological meanings of “Wuhan” among Chinese university students. Studies in Linguistics and Literature. 103-116.

Li, Q. & Zheng, X. (2021). A literature review of research methods on studying teacher emotion. Foreign Language World, 4, 80-87.(Corresponding author)

Zheng, X. (2019). A literature review on intercultural language teachers in English and Chinese databases. Foreign Language World，4，85-93.

Zheng, X. (2017). Facilitating language attitude change through reflection: An empirical study of an intercultural communication class. Linguistics Research, 22, 174-185.

Zheng, X. & Lee, M. (2016). Exploring reflective intercultural teaching: An action research in a College English class. Foreign Languages in China, 13(3), 4-11. 

Research Projects

2018-2025: The National Social Science Fund of China- Grant for Emerging Scholars, National Office for Philosophy and Social Sciences (NOPSS): Research on university-level foreign language teaching model that develops affective intercultural competence. Principal Investigator. (RMB 200,000)

Social Affiliations

Council Member, the Governing Committee of China Association for Intercultural Communication (CAFIC)

Member, International Academy for Intercultural Research

Member, International Association of Language and Intercultural Communication

Honors and Awards

Ng Teng Fong Outstanding Emerging Scholar Award, Peking University, 2023 (10,000 RMB)

Chia Tai Fellowship, Peking University, 2022 (10,000 RMB)

First Place for Outstanding Papers at the 16th annual conference of China Association for Intercultural Communication: “Applying cross-cultural simulation games in College English classrooms to promote intercultural communicative competence” (corresponding author), 2020

Excellent Class Advisor, Peking University, 2017, 2019

Outstanding Teaching Award, Peking University, 2018

Ng Teng Fong Outstanding Emerging Scholar Award, Peking University, 2015 (10,000 RMB) 

Overseas Experience

Ph.D. in English, University of Washington, Seattle, USA (2013).

Master of Arts in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (MATESOL) , University of Washington, Seattle, USA (2009).