My research interests span across multilingualism and intercultural communication and child language. I am interested in how people of different linguistic and cultural backgrounds communicate with each other;how children/young adults learn and acquire their languages (first and additional) and how they are socialised into different cultures through language learning in a variety of contexts, and what role languages and culture play in power dynamics, equity and social justice.

I have  recently completed one Covid-related research grant: ‘Quarantined between cultures:Overcoming communication challenges and building resilience among Chinese students residing in the UK during the COVID-19 pandemic’ (CI, British Academy Special Research Grants, 2020-21),  and one GCRF project ‘Capacity building for developing standardised and computerised speechand language assessment tools in China’ (PI, Academy of Medical Science, 2019-21).  Previously I completed an ESRC project on  ‘Family Language Policy: A Multi-level Investigation of Multilingual Practices in Transnational Families’ (CI, 2017-2020);  the AHRC Translating Cultures Large Grant‘Translation and translanguaging: Investigating linguistic and cultural transformation in superdiverse wards in four UK cities’ (CI, 2014-18), and the Leverhulme-funded Translanguaging and Visual Art (PI, 2016-17, in collaboration with visual artist, Ella McCartney).