Staff

Profile

Alex has taught English in five different countries around the world since 2011. He currently teaches English for Academic Purposes at XJTLU. When he was 7 he encountered a wild bear in his suburban neighborhood and tamed it. He went everywhere with his bear. In High School he was known by his peers as Alex "the bear man" Barrett. Despite spending all of his time around a vicious animal, Alex maintained a high degree of affability and could typically be found entertaining people from high and low society alike. Alex found that all of these experiences were pointing his life in one direction, to be an English teacher. As soon as his bear passed on from a glandular complication, he pursued a degree in TESOL, and you may now find him teaching EAP in China, of all places.
Website: AlexJamesBarrett.com

Qualifications
- M.A. in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), San Francisco State University, December 2011
- B.A. English Literature (Minor in Philosophy), San Francisco State University, August 2006
- A.A. Libral Studies, Evergreen Valley College, May 2003
Experience
- English Language Teacher, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, China, August 2017 - Present
- English Language Fellow, US Department of State, Namangan State University, Uzbekistan, October 2015 - August 2017
- Assitant Lanugage Teacher, Japan Exchange and Teaching Program, Hyogo, Japan, August 2013 - August 2015
- English Teacher, Minerva Bilingual School, Gracias, Lempira, Honduras, August 2012 - June 2013
Research interests
- Language education as soft-diplomacy
- Language Teacher Education
- Technology-mediated pedagogy
Articles
- Pack, A., Barrett, A., Liang, H.-N. & Montiero, D. (2020). University EAP Students’ Perceptions of Using a Prototype Virtual Reality Learning Environment to Learn Writing Structure. International Journal of Computer Assisted Language Learning and Teaching, 10(1), 27-46. DOI: 10.4018/IJCALLT.2020010103
- Barrett, A. (2019). Extended Icebreaker, English Teaching Forum, 57(3), 33-35.
- Barrett, A. (2018). Review: Innovation in Language Learning and Teaching: The Case of China, ETiC: English Teaching in China, 10, 22-24.
Chapters, cases, readings and supplements
- Quaid, E. & Barrett, A. (2020). Toward the Future of Computer-Assisted Language Testing: Assessing Spoken Performance through Semi-Direct Tests. In Zou, B. & Thomas, M. (eds.), Recent Developments in Technology-Enhanced and Computer-Assisted Language Learning, pp 208-235, Hershey, PA: IGI Global. DOI: 10.4018/987-1-7998-1282-1
- Barrett, A. (2019). Semantics. In Chen, C. & Morris, G. (eds.), How Language Works- A brief introduction to linguistics, pp 92-110, Shanghai: Macmillan Red Globe Press.
Conference presentations
- Pack, A. & Barrett, A. (2019). Virtual Reality Learning Environments as Pedagogical Tools for English for Academic Purposes. BALEAP Conference: Innovation, Exploration and Transformation, Leeds, U.K.
- Pack, A. & Barrett, A. (2019). Painting in a Virtual World: How Virtual Reality Can Supplement EAP. BALEAP Conference: Innovation, Exploration and Transformation, Leeds, U.K.
- Pack, A. & Barrett, A. (2019) How to use the Virtual Reality Language Learning Lab to teach academic writing structure. JALT: Kyoto X MAVR, Kyoto, Japan.
- Pack, A., Hai-Ning, L., & Barrett, A. (2018). Investigating the Use of Virtual Reality Technology to Support the Learning of Academic English Essay Writing. GloCALL Conference, Suzhou, China.
- Barrett, A. (2017). Building Quality Note-Taking Skills. English is Key to Dialogue TESOL Conference, Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
- Barrett, A. (2017). Communicative Games. Challenges and Opportunities in ELT Conference, Namangan, Uzbekistan.
- Barrett, A. & Kuchkarova, Y. (2016). Using Rubrics for Performance Assessment. KazTEA Conference, Oskemen, Kazakhstan.
- Barrett, A. & Sarimsakova, D. (2016). Learning a Lot in a Little Time. Kaz TEA Conference, Oskemen, Kazakhstan.
- Barrett, A. (2016). Communicative Games. Central Asia ELF Program Conference, Almaty, Kazakhstan.
- Barrett, A. (2014). Practical Techniques for Teaching Language. JET Program Skill Development Conference, Awaji, Japan.
- Barrett, A. (2011). Interlanguage Pragmatics: Implications of positive transfer. Biannual SFSU TESOL Conference, San Francisco, California.
Grants
- Barrett, A., Pack, A., Guo, Y. & Wang, N. (2019). Leveraging collaborative VR paint programs for the teaching and learning of Chinese characters. Summer Undergraduate Research Fund 201952. Principle Investigator. RMB 6,435 (US 960).
- Barrett, A., Pack, A., & Hai-Ning, L. (2018). Investigating the Use of Virtual Reality Technologies to Support Public Speaking and Giving Presentations in English for Academic Purposes Environments. TDF project- 18/19-R17-115. Principal Investigator. RMB 36,000 (US 5,350).
- Pack, A., Hai-Ning. L., & Barrett, A. (2017). Investigating the Use of Virtual Reality Technologies to Support the Learning of Academic English Essay Writing. TDF project - 17/18-R15-103. Co-Investigator. RMB 50,000 (US 7,254).
Professional service activities
- Member- Teaching Centre Committee (2018-Present)
- Member- Learning and Teaching Committee (2018-Present)
- Chair- Student-Staff Liaison Committee (2018-Present)
Courses taught
- EAP 105
- EAP 115
Professional memberships
- BALEAP (British Association of Lecturers in English for Academic Purposes), since 2018
- JALT (Japan Association for Language Teaching), since 2014
- TESOL International Association, since 2012

Telephone
+86 (0)512 8188 4746
Email
Alex.Barrett@xjtlu.edu.cn
Address
Office: ES413
Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University
111
Ren'ai Road

Suzhou Dushu Lake Science and Education Innovation District
Suzhou Industrial Park
Suzhou
P.R.China
215123

Profile

Qualifications

Experience

Research interests

Articles

Chapters, cases, readings and supplements

Conference presentations

Grants

Professional service activities

Courses taught

Professional memberships