Ying Zhang, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Education (Education)
zhang@rmu.edu 412-397-5918 phone (M) Wheatley Center 316

Educational Background

• Ph.D., Language & Literacy, Curriculum & Instruction , Purdue University, 2013
• Master of Education, Literacy Education, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, 2004
• Bachelor of Arts, English Language Literature & Education, Beijing Normal University, 2002

Professional Background

• I have been actively engaged with the TESOL field. I was the President of Three Rivers TESOL in 2018-2019. Currently I am serving as the TESOL 2022 convention local co-chair.

Area of Expertise/Research

• I have a background in literacy education with a specific focus on English Language Learners. My research interests include English language development, teacher training, multimodal teaching & learning, educational linguistics, academic language in the content areas, and second language writing.

Publications

• Zhang, Y. (2021). Preparing teachers to work with English Learners: A multimodal vocabulary mini-lesson project. TESOL Journal.

  Zhang, Y. (2021). Using Virtual Reality for English Learners: Practical ideas in ESL teacher training. International Journal of Technology in Teaching and Learning. 

  
  Zhang, Y. (2017). Supporting English Language Learners in Social Studies: Language-focused Strategies. The Social Studies, 108(5), 204-209. 

  Zhang, Y. (2016). Multimodal teacher input and science learning in a sheltered ESL classroom. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 53(1), 7-30.
  
  Zhang, Y. (2015). Attention to scientific academic language: Teaching science to middle school English Language Learners . Pennsylvania Reads, 14(1), 37-42.
  
  Zhang, Y., & de Oliveira, L. C. (2010). Helping English Language Learners learn history: A functional grammatical perspective. INTESOL Journal, 7(1), 59-68.
  
  Zhang, Y. (2003). Motivation in second language learning: Maslow’s theory in Beijing Concord College of Sino-Canada. In Z. J. Lin (Ed.) First Annual Conference of English Education In China (pp.42-53). Singapore: Xin Ya.

Presentations

• 2020 - Zhang, Y. (2020, Oct.) Using virtual tours to teach language and culture. Presentation at Three Rivers TESOL Fall Conference, Pittsburgh, PA.
• 2019 - Zhang, Y. (2019, July.) Training future teachers: A multimodal vocabulary mini-lesson project. Presentation at 2019 Global English Education China Assembly, Hangzhou, China.
• 2019 - Zhang, Y. (2019, Oct.) Discourse strategies as comprehension tools for English Learners. Presentation at Three Rivers TESOL Fall Conference, Pittsburgh, PA.
• 2018 - Zhang, Y. (2018, May.) Multimodal discourse: Theory, research, and implications for classroom practices. Presentation at Beijing Language and Culture University.
• 2018 - Zhang, Y. (2018, Jun.) Reading instruction in content areas: Research, strategies, and applications. Presentation at Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
• 2018 - Zhang, Y. (2018, Jun.) Advocacy through education: Cultivating Pre-service teachers? cultural humility. Presentation at the 14th annual international conference of the China Association for Intercultural Communication (CAFIC), Jinan, Shandong, China.
• 2017 - Zhang, Y. (2017, Oct.) Practices that develop excellent teachers: Helping teachers meet the needs of English Learners. Presentation at the PAC-TE annual conference, Harrisburg, PA.
• 2017 - Zhang, Y. (2017, Oct.) Before-reading strategies for English Language Learners. Presentation at the 2017 Three Rivers TESOL Fall conference, Pittsburgh, PA.
• 2021 - Chen, X., Luo, Y., Wu, w., Zhang, Y. (2021, Oct.) Interdisciplinary Learning Communities on Virtual Immersive Technology: A Dialogue between Teacher Educators and STEM Educators, AECT Annual Conference, Chicago, IL.
• 2017 - Zhang, Y. & Ramos, K. (2017, February). Language teacher education for a world on the move: Meeting the needs of diverse student populations. Presentation at the 2017 Language Teacher Education, Los Angeles, CA.
• 2016 - Zhang, Y., & Ramos, K. Traversing Borders: Building Bridges to Disciplinary Literacy Practices through Genre Pedagogy. Presentation at the annual TESL convention, Baltimore, Maryland.
• 2016 - Zhang, Y. Developing Literacy Skills in Science: An Ethnographic Study. Presentation at the annual TESL convention, Baltimore, Maryland.
• 2015 - Zhang, Y. Vocabulary strategies with English Language Learners. Presentation at the annual meeting of Three Rivers TESOL, Pittsburgh, PA.
• 2014 - Zhang, Y. Using a genre-based approach for teaching writing. Presentation at the annual meeting of Keystone Reading Association, Pennsylvania State University, PA.
• 2014 - Zhang, Y. Building literacy in science: Lessons learned from a sheltered middle school classroom. Presentation at the annual meeting of Three Rivers TESOL, Pittsburgh, PA
• 2014 - Zhang, Y. Multimodal teacher input and science learning for middle school ELs. Presentation at the annual meeting of TESOL, Portland, Oregon.
• 2013 - Zhang, Y. Helping ELLs develop vocabulary in secondary content areas. Presentation at the annual meeting of Three Rivers TESOL, Pittsburgh, PA.
• 2010 - Zhang, Y. Multimodal analysis of ELLs? science experiences. Presentation at the annual meeting of Indiana Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (INTESOL), Indianapolis, IN.
• 2009 - Zhang, Y. Using visual images with ELLs in science classrooms: Problems and Strategies. Poster presentation at the annual meeting of Indiana Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (INTESOL), Indianapolis, IN.
• 2008 - Zhang, Y. Words with worlds: Genre-based writing pedagogy. Presentation at the annual meeting of Indiana Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (INTESOL), Carmel, IN.
• 2007 - Zhang, Y. Dissecting a social studies text: Using functional linguistics to understand content. Presentation at the annual meeting of Indiana Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (INTESOL), Carmel, IN.
• 2004 - Zhang, Y. The power of poetry: Teaching poetry in elementary schools. Presentation at the annual meeting of Pennsylvania State Reading Association, Springfield, PA.
• 2004 - Creany, A., & Zhang, Y. Removing the mask: Examining Asian children?s literature for accurate, authentic reflection of culture. Presentation at the annual conference of National Association for Multicultural Education, Kansas City, MO.
• 2003 - Zhang, Y. Motivation in second language learning: Maslow?s theory in Beijing Concord College of Sino-Canada. Presentation at the first annual conference of English Education in China, Guangzhou, China.