Facebook pixel Hoi Lun Helen Wan | Pepperdine University | Seaver College Skip to main content
Pepperdine | Seaver College
Helen Wan's headshot

Hoi Lun Helen Wan

Visiting Assistant Professor of Chinese Language and Literature
International Studies and Languages, Seaver College
PLC 197

Biography

Dr. Helen Wan earned her PhD in sociolinguistics and Cantonese/Chinese Linguistics from the department of Asian languages and cultures at UCLA. With a focus on Asian cultures, her research spans identity construction, sociolinguistic analysis of Chinese literature, political discourse, gesture analysis, and gender studies. Prior to her current role at Pepperdine, Dr. Wan was teaching a range of courses at UCLA and the University of Hong Kong, covering areas such as Linguistics, Pragmatics, Sociolinguistics, Chinese Linguistics and Culture, Languages and Cultures in Asia, as well as Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese. She found her passion for linguistics and cultural studies during her bachelor degree at the University of Hong Kong, and later completed a master in linguistics at University College London.

Education

  • PhD, East Asian Linguistics, University of California, Los Angeles
  • MA, Linguistics, University College London
  • BA, Linguistics and Comparative Literature, The University of Hong Kong

 

  • Pauley Fellowship & University Fellowship, UCLA. 2019 

  • The Excellence in Pedagogy and Innovative Classroom (EPIC) Program Fellowship, UCLA. 2018

  • Travel Grant for Students of Chinese Linguistics, UCLA. 2018 

  • Department Fellowship, UCLA. 2017 

  • Departmental Research Fellowship, UCLA. 2017 

  • Graduate Summer Research Mentorship, UCLA. 2017 

  • University Fellowship, UCLA. 2016 

  • Pauley Fellowship & University Fellowship, UCLA. 2015 

  • Wan, Helen. (2022). ““Hypophora” and “Question Cascade” in Cantonese political discourse: question particles, stance marking, and rhetorical moves”. Special issue in Text and Talk. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/text-2020-0219 
  • Tao, Hongyin, Carter, Liz, Wan, Helen and Zhou, Yan. (2021). Inclusive Education in Chinese as Second/Foreign Language: An Overview and Research Agenda. International Journal of Chinese Language Education 9, 1-16. 

Courses

  • GSCL 199 Cultures and Languages in Asia 
  • ASIA 301 Sources of Asian Traditions 
  • ASIA 345 Modern Chinese Literature 
  • CHIN 151 Elementary Chinese 
  • CHIN 251 Second-Year Chinese 
  • CHIN 351/499 Advanced Chinese