About the
Project
Project Background
The current project is a Teaching Innovation Grant Project (TIG) funded by The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK-Shenzhen). This project explores the potential of GenAI for pedagogical innovation while addressing concerns about misuse and academic integrity. The project aims to prepare students for the emerging AI era by integrating GenAI tools into a wide range of content- and language-based courses, as well as workshops.
Project Goals
The project focuses on the main goals:
1. Integrating GenAI tools into English for Academic/Specific Purposes (EAP/ESP) courses, a teacher education course, a corporate communication course, and a series of workshops that support students’ independent learning.
2. Developing learning packages and teaching resources for AI-integrated teaching and learning.
3. Producing publications that examine how GenAI can empower students, how such integration may foster students’ metacognitive awareness of AI use, and what and how educators can teach in the AI era to cultivate essential academic abilities.
Research
Team
Principal Investigator
Xiao, Yangyu
Assistant Professor (Teaching)
School of Humanities and Social Science
The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen
Co-investigator
Yao, Yao
Assistant Professor (Teaching)
School of Humanities and Social Science
The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen
Co-investigator
Liu, Xiaohua
Assistant Professor (Teaching)
School of Humanities and Social Science
The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen
Team Members
He, Tiantian
CUHK-Shenzhen
Graduate
School
of Humanities and Social Science
Wang, Xi
CUHK-Shenzhen
Graduate
School
of Data Sciences
Xu, Yiran
CUHK-Shenzhen
Undergraduate
School
of Humanities and Social Science
Zhou, Yushan
CUHK-Shenzhen
Graduate
School
of Humanities and Social Science
Zhu, Jiayi
CUHK-Shenzhen
Undergraduate
School
of Humanities and Social Science
Publication
Research Presentation
Awards
Research Publications
1
Zhi, Y., Xiao, Y.*, & Yao, Y. (2026). Developing Students’ AI Literacy and Writing Skills: A Case study of AI-integrated IELTS writing workshops. In G. Neokleous & J. Duarte (Eds.), New insights on learning (foreign) languages with and through AI.
2
Liu, X., Xiao, Y.*, and Li, D. (2025). Assessing strategic use of artificial intelligence in self-regulated learning: Instrument development and evidence from Chinese university students. International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education. (SSCI, Q1, IF: 16.7)
3
Xiao, Y., Liu, X.*, & Yao, Y. (2025). Students’ development of AI metacognitive awareness in an EAP course: A qualitative inspection through the Experiential Learning Theory. System, 133, 103790 (SSCI, Q1, IF: 5.6)
4
Liu, X., & Xiao, Y.* (2024). Chinese university teachers’ engagement with generative AI in different stages of foreign language teaching: A qualitative enquiry through the prism of ADDIE. Education and Information Technologies. (SSCI; Education, Q1, IF: 4.8)
5
Xiao, Y., & Zhi, Y*. (2023). ChatGPT in language learning: An exploratory study of EFL learners’ experience of using ChatGPT. Languages, 8, 212. (ESCI; Linguistic, Q4, IF: 0.9)
Conference Presentations
1
Xiao., Y., & Liu, Y. (2025, August 27–29). Students’ development of AI metacognitive awareness for an EAP course: A qualitative inspection through the Experiential Learning Theory. Paper presented at the EAIR Forum 2025, Utrecht University, Netherlands.
2
Xiao., Y., & Liu, Y. (2025, July 10-14). Students’ development of AI metacognitive awareness for an EAP course: A qualitative inspection through the Experiential Learning Theory. Paper presented at the 23rd Asia TEFL 2025 Conference. The Education University of Hong Kong.
3
Liu, X., & Xiao, Y. (2025, July 5-6). Measuring AI Integrated self-regulated learning strategies in higher education: Instrument development and examination of demographic, disciplinary and behavioral correlates. Paper presented at the 2025 International Conference on English Language Education in the AI Era. The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China.
4
Xiao, Y., Liu, X., & Yao. Y (2025, July 5-6). Fostering students’ AI metacognition in an EAP course: An experiential theory approach. Paper presented at the 2025 International Conference on English Language Education in the AI Era. The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China.
5
Xiao, Y. (2025, May 17). Teaching and assessing students in the AI Era: Strategies for addressing AI challenges in language assessment. Paper presented at the Symposium on Language Diagnostic Testing and Assessment in the Context of AI. Xi’an Jiaotong University, China.
6
Xiao, Y. (2024, October 18). Students’ experiences of using Generative AI tools in completing an EAP course: Unpacking students’ self-directed engagement with AI tools for feedback. Paper presented at the 2nd International Symposium on Teaching English at Chinese Universities (STECU 2024), Shenzhen MSU-BIT University, China.
7
Xiao, Y. (2024, August 23–24). Integrating AI tools in language education: Will GenAI tools facilitate the development of students’ assessment literacy. Roundtable discussion presented at The Dialogues Between Artificial Intelligence and General Education Symposium, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China.
8
Xiao, Y. (2024, July 25–28). Students’ experiences of using Generative AI tools in completing an EAP course: Activating students’ agency in productive AI use. Paper presented at the 2024 Global English Education China Assembly, Zhuhai, China.
9
Zhi, Y., & Xiao, Y. (2024, July 3–5). Unveiling the potential of ChatGPT in technology-enhanced language learning: Perspectives from EFL learners. Paper presented at the International Conference on Technology-Enhanced Language Learning and Teaching & Corpus-Based Language Learning and Teaching (TeLLT & CoLLT 2024), Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
10
Xiao, Y., Liu, X., & Yao, Y. (2024, May 28–30). Students’ experiences of using generative AI tools in completing an EAP course: Activating students’ agency in productive AI use. Paper presented at the Redesigning Pedagogy International Conference (RPIC) 2024, Nanyang Technological University (NIE, NTU), Singapore.
11
Liu, X., & Xiao, Y. (2024, May 28-30). Teachers’ initial engagement with generative AI in tertiary EFL instruction: Practices, reactions and implications. Paper presented at the Redesigning Pedagogy International Conference (RPIC) 2024, Nanyang Technological University (NIE, NTU), Singapore.
Awards
1
Best Paper Award—Second Prize: Language Journal, awarded by the MDPI publisher in June 2025 (with 458 citations on 21 March 2026)
Xiao, Y. & Zhi, Y. (2023). An exploratory study of EFL learners’ use of ChatGPT for language learning tasks: Experience and perceptions. Languages. 8(3):212.
2
上海教育技术协会外语专业委员会第四十一届年会优秀论文 二等奖
Zhi, Y. & Xiao, Y. (2026). Developing students’ prompt literacy and writing skills: A case study of ChatGPT-integrated IELTS writing workshops. Paper presented at The 41st Annual Conference of the Foreign Languages Professional Committee, Shanghai Educational Technology Association.