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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 Appointments & Affiliations


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

Recent Publications


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

Journal Article Applied Linguistics Review · February 3, 2026 AbstractGenerative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is rapidly reshaping writing education, yet discussions of AI literacy often foreground tool knowledge and strategic use without adequately theorizing ho ... Full text Cite

Online Interview

Chapter · January 6, 2026 This chapter explores online interviews as a qualitative data collection method in applied linguistics. It begins by defining online interviews as a method, discussing their increasing adoption due to their flexibility, accessibility, and cost-effectivenes ... Link to item Cite

Resisting Homogenization in EAL Writing Education: Translingual Practices in the Rise of Generative AI

Journal Article TESOL Quarterly · January 4, 2026 This study examined how generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) shaped English as an additional language (EAL) writing from a translingual perspective. Focusing on Chinese EAL students, the study investigated how they used and perceived GenAI tools duri ... Full text Cite
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Education, Training & Certifications


Purdue University · 2020 Ph.D.