April Jiawei Zhang 張家維

I am an Assistant Professor in the School of Education at City University of Macau, where I explore the human dimensions of language pedagogy and educational assessment. My work is grounded in the belief that Assessment for Learning (AfL) and formative practices should do more than measure progress. Used thoughtfully, they can support wellbeing and engagement both within and beyond the classroom.

My move from English for Academic Purposes (EAP) teaching in the UK and China to my current role as a teacher-researcher has sustained my commitment to the student experience. My doctoral research at the University of Sheffield examined motivation among young learners engaged in formative assessment. Since then, my work has broadened to include GenAI, peer-mediated feedback, co-constructed rubrics, and multilingual educational settings.

My current projects examine technology-assisted education, including how GenAI and informal digital tools can support teaching and assessment without replacing human judgement. I also study language learning among young learners and the role of emotion in digital spaces. Across these areas, I aim to connect established educational practices with the needs of contemporary learners.