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Yachao Sun

Assistant Professor of Applied Linguistic and Writing Studies at Duke Kunshan University
DKU Faculty

Overview


Yachao Sun is an Assistant Professor at the Language and Culture Center of Duke Kunshan University. His research centers on multilingual writing, translingual studies, multimodal composition, and technology-empowered language education. His work has been published in journals such as the Journal of Second Language Writing, Language Teaching, TESOL Quarterly, Language Teaching Research, Journal of English for Academic Purposes, English for Specific Purposes, Assessing Writing, RELC, ELT, and System, among others. His recent research examines how applied linguistics and writing theories can address the challenges of increasingly diverse teaching and learning contexts amid rapid technological advancement, thereby informing contemporary language practices and pedagogies. He is particularly interested in exploring multilingual writers’ language practices and ideologies through both translingual and generative AI perspectives, with one of his current projects investigating the impact of generative AI on translingual writing practices.

He has a joint master's degree in TESOL and Linguistics from Ball State University, Indiana and a Ph.D. in Second Language Studies from Purdue University, Indiana. Before joining Duke Kunshan University, he had been teaching introductory composition courses at Ball State University and Purdue University.

Current Duke Appointments & Affiliations


Assistant Professor of Applied Linguistic and Writing Studies at Duke Kunshan University · 2020 - Present DKU Faculty

Recent Scholarly Works


Conceptualizing critical AI literacy in writing education: power dynamics in Chinese EAL students' negotiations with GenAI

Journal article Applied Linguistics Review · May 1, 2026 Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is rapidly reshaping writing education, yet discussions of AI literacy often foreground tool knowledge and strategic use without adequately theorizing how power operates in AI-mediated literacy practices. This art ... Full text Cite

The development of writing programs in Sino-foreign joint-venture universities in China: Opportunities, challenges, and pathways forward

Journal article Journal of Second Language Writing · April 28, 2026 This study examines how undergraduate writing is organized and taught in English-Medium-Instruction (EMI) Sino-foreign joint-venture universities (JVUs) in China, a growing form of transnational higher education. Drawing on a survey of writing-program lead ... Full text Link to item Cite

Translingual Digital Feedback in English as an Additional Language Writing

Journal article Relc Journal · April 1, 2026 This study investigates how English as an Additional Language students in a non-English medium instruction university context seek, understand and utilize translingual digital feedback during academic writing. Framed by translingual practice, the study rep ... Full text Cite
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Education


Purdue University · 2020 Ph.D.