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In Memory of Professor Stephen Evans

† Prof Stephen Evans

Associate Head and Professor

Education and Academic Qualifications

BA (Hons) in Modern History (University of Oxford)
Postgraduate Certificate in Education in English (University of Oxford)
MA in Teaching English as a Second Language (City University of Hong Kong)
PhD in Applied Linguistics (University of Edinburgh)

Research Interests

  • Post-colonial Englishes
  • Language policy and planning
  • English for academic purposes
  • Business English
  • Professional communication
  • Language in education
  • ELT course and materials design

Research projects & publications

2014–

  • Investigating the past, illuminating the present: Perspectives on language policies and practices in Hong Kong education. GRF. Principal Investigator.

2012–

  • Meeting the challenges of English-medium higher education: The undergraduate experience of the new Hong Kong curriculum. GRF. Principal Investigator.
  • Making the transition to English-medium higher education: A comparative study RGC Direct Allocation. GRF project rated 3.5. Principal Investigator.

2011–

  • Modelling the development of English in Hong Kong. GRF. Principal Investigator.

2009-2010

  • The evolution of Hong Kong English. RGC Direct Allocation. GRF project rated 3.5. Principal Investigator.
  • Analysing research articles in the Humanities and Social Sciences. Dean’s Reserve, Principal Investigator.

2009-2011

  • Perspectives on the learning and use of English for professional purposes in Hong Kong. GRF. Principal Investigator.

2008-2010

  • Language policy in Hong Kong education (1902-1941). Departmental Research Grant. Principal Investigator.

2008-2009

  • In search of commonality: Generic structures, rhetorical moves and linguistic features of research articles in applied disciplines. Dean’s Reserve.

2007-2009

  • The evolution of the English-language press in Hong Kong (1842-present): An exploratory study.Departmental Research Grant. Principal Investigator.

2007–2008

  • Analysing research articles in applied disciplines. Learning and Teaching Grant. Principal Investigator.
  • The use of English in the professional workplace in Hong Kong. RGC Direct Allocation. GRF project rated 3.5. Principal Investigator.
  • Analysing PolyU students’ English-medium learning experiences. Learning and Teaching Grant. Co-Investigator.

2006–2008

  • Perspectives on the implementation of Hong Kong’s medium of instruction policy (1998-2006).Departmental Research Grant. Principal Investigator.

2005–2006

  • Effective English for postgraduate research students: Needs analysis. Learning and Teaching Grant. Co-Investigator.

2004–2007

  • Meeting the challenges of studying at an English-medium university in Hong Kong. Learning and Teaching Grant. Co-Investigator.

2003–2004

  • English for Academic Purposes: Determining the requirements of departments and the needs of students. Learning and Teaching Grant. Principal Investigator.

1999–2002

  • The English Language Centre survey of language use in the professional workplace in Hong Kong.Learning and Teaching Grant. Principal Investigator.
  1. Evans, S. (2016). The English Language in Hong Kong: Diachronic and Synchronic Perspectives. London: Palgrave Macmillan.
  2. Evans, S. and Morrison, B. (2016). Adjusting to higher education in Hong Kong: The influence of school medium of instruction. International Journal of Bilingual Education and Bilingualism
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13670050.2016.1228600.
  3. Evans, S. (2015). Word-formation in Hong Kong English: Diachronic and synchronic perspectives. Asian Englishes, 17(2), 116-131.  
  4. Evans, S. (2015). Testing the Dynamic Model: The evolution of the Hong Kong English lexicon (1858-2012). Journal of English Linguistics43(3), 175-200.
  5. Evans, S. (2015). Modelling the development of English in Hong Kong. World Englishes, 34(3), 389-410.
  6. Evans, S. (2014). The evolutionary dynamics of postcolonial Englishes: A Hong Kong case study. Journal of Sociolinguistics, 18(5), 571-603.
  7. Evans, S. (2014). Teaching business correspondence: Lessons from the globalised workplace. Asian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 1(2), 102-120.
  8. Evans, S. (2014). The decline and fall of English in Hong Kong’s Legislative Council. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 35(5), 479-496.
  9. Evans, S. (2013). The long march to biliteracy and trilingualism: Language policy in Hong Kong education since the handover. Annual Review of Applied Linguistics, 33, 302-324.
  10. Evans, S. (2013). “Just wanna give you guys a bit of an update”: Insider perspectives on business presentations in Hong Kong. English for Specific Purposes, 32(3), 195-207.
  11. Evans, S. (2013). Designing tasks for the business English classroom. ELT Journal, 67(3), 281-293.
  12. Evans, S. (2013). Perspectives on the use of English as a business lingua franca in Hong Kong. Journal of Business Communication, 50(3), 227-252.
  13. Evans, S. and Morrison, B. (2012). Learning and using English at university: Lessons from a longitudinal study in Hong Kong. The Journal of Asia TEFL, 9(2), 21-47.
  14. Evans, S. (2012). Designing email tasks for the business English classroom: Implications from a study of Hong Kong’s key industries. English for Specific Purposes, 31(3), 202-212.
  15. Lin, L. and Evans, S. (2012). Structural patterns in empirical research articles: A cross-disciplinary study. English for Specific Purposes, 31(3), 150-160.
  16. Evans, S. (2012). Attending to the human element in advanced-level business English courses. In Pillay, H. and Yeo, M. (eds.), Teaching Language to Learners of Different Age Groups (pp. 19-33). Singapore: SEAMO RELC.  
  17. Chan, J.Y.H. and Evans, S. (2011). Choosing an appropriate pronunciation model for the ELT classroom: A Hong Kong perspective. The Journal of Asia TEFL, 8(4), 1-24.
  18. Evans, S. (2011). Hong Kong English: The growing pains of a new variety. Asian Englishes, 14(1), 22-45.
  19. Evans, S. (2011). Hong Kong English and the professional world. World Englishes, 30(3), 293-316.
  20. Evans, S. and Morrison, B. (2011). The first term at university: Implications for EAP. ELT Journal, 65(4), 387-397.
  21. Evans, S. and Morrison, B. (2011). Meeting the challenges of English-medium higher education: The first-year experience in Hong Kong. English for Specific Purposes, 30(3), 198-208.
  22. Evans, S. and Morrison, B. (2011). The student experience of English-medium higher education in Hong Kong. Language and Education, 25(2), 147-162.
  23. Evans, S. (2011). Historical and comparative perspectives on the medium of instruction in Hong Kong. Language Policy, 10(1), 19-36.
  24. Evans, S. (2010). Language in transitional Hong Kong: Perspectives from the public and private sectors. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 31(4), 347-363.
  25. Evans, S. (2010). Business as usual: The use of English in the professional world in Hong Kong. English for Specific Purposes, 29(3), 153-167.
  26. Evans, S. (2009). The evolution of the English-language speech community in Hong Kong. English World-Wide, 30(3), 278-301.
  27. Evans, S. (2009). The medium of instruction in Hong Kong revisited: Policy and practice in the reformed Chinese and English streams. Research Papers in Education, 24(3), 287-309.
  28. Evans, S. (2008). The making of a colonial school: A study of language policies and practices in nineteenth-century Hong Kong. Language and Education, 22(6), 345-362.
  29. Evans, S. (2008). Classroom language use in Hong Kong’s reformed English-medium stream Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 29(6), 483-498.
  30. Evans, S. (2008). Disputes and deliberations over language policy: The case of early colonial Hong  Kong. Language Policy, 7(1), 47-65.
  31. Evans, S. (2008). The introduction of English-language education in early colonial Hong Kong. History of Education, 37(3), 383-408.
  32. Evans, S. & Green, C. (2007). Why EAP is necessary: A survey of Hong Kong tertiary students. Journal of English for Academic Purposes, 6(1), 3-17. (with Green, C.)
  33. Evans, S. (2006). The beginnings of English language teaching in China. Asian Englishes, 9(1),  42-63.
  34. Evans, S. (2006). Language policy in British colonial education: Evidence from nineteenth-century Hong Kong. Journal of Educational Administration and History, 38(3), 293-312.
  35. Evans, S. (ed.) (2004). English for Academic Purposes. Hong Kong: English Language Centre, Hong Kong Polytechnic University.
  36. Evans, S. & Green, C. (2003). The use of English by Chinese professionals in post-1997 Hong Kong. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 24(5), 386-412. (with Green, C.)
  37. Evans, S. (2002). The medium of instruction in Hong Kong: Policy and practice in the new English and Chinese streams. Research Papers in Education, 17(1), 97-120.
  38. Evans, S. (2002). Macaulay’s Minute revisited: Colonial language policy in nineteenth-century India. Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, 23(4), 260-282.
  39. Evans, S. & Green, C. (2001). Language in post-colonial Hong Kong: The roles of English and Chinese in the public and private sectors. English World-Wide, 22(2), 247-268.
  40. Evans, S. (2000). Hong Kong’s new English language policy in education. World Englishes, 19(2), 184-204.
  41. Evans, S. (2000). Classroom language use in Hong Kong's English-medium secondary schools. Educational Research Journal, 15(1), 19-43.
  42. Green, C. & Evans, S. (2000). A survey of language use in the professional workplace in Hong Kong. Hong Kong Journal of Applied Linguistics, 5(2), 60-82.
  43. Evans, S. (1999). The medium of instruction in the Engineering stream at tertiary level in Hong Kong. Education Journal, 27(2), 21-41.
  44. Evans, S. (1999). The English language needs of building services practitioners in Hong Kong. Asian Journal of English Language Teaching, 9, 41-57.
  45. Evans, S. (1999). Workplace communication in a time of transition: The case of Hong Kong's construction industry. Hong Kong Journal of Applied Linguistics, 4(2), 57-78.
  46. Evans, S. (1998). The Morrison Education Society School and the beginnings of Anglo-Chinese education in Hong Kong. Hong Kong Journal of Applied Linguistics, 3(1), 17-40.
  47. Evans, S. (1998). The beginnings of English language education in Hong Kong, 1842-1859. Educational Research Journal, 13(2), 151-176.
  48. Evans, S., Jones, R., Rusmin, R. & Cheung, O. (1998). Three languages: One future. In Pennington, M. (ed) Language in Hong Kong at Century’s End. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press, 391-415.
  49. Evans, S. (1997). Communication in the classroom – A Hong Kong perspective. In Berry, V., Adamson, B. and Littlewood, W. (eds) Applying Linguistics: Insights into Language in Education. Hong Kong: English Centre, 37-54.
  50. Evans, S. (1997). Teacher and learner roles in the Hong Kong English language classroom. Education Journal, 25(2), 43-61.
  51. Evans, S. (1996). The context of English language education - The case of Hong Kong. RELC Journal, 27(2), 30-55.
  52. Jones, R. & Evans, S. (1995). Teaching pronunciation through voice quality. ELT Journal, 49(3), 244-251.
  53. Jones, R., Rusmin, R. & Evans, S. (1995). Self-assessment of pronunciation by Cantonese-speaking tertiary students. In Nunan, D., Berry, R. and Berry, V. (eds) Language Awareness in Language Education. Department of Curriculum Studies, University of Hong Kong, 169-180.
  54. Evans, S. (1995). Talking Points 2: Listening and Speaking Activities for the Certificate. Hong Kong: Youth Bookroom.
  55. Evans, S. (1994). Talking Points 1: Listening and Speaking Activities for the Certificate. Hong Kong: Youth Bookroom.
  56. Evans, S. (1990). Write On: A Composition Course for the Certificate. Hong Kong: Youth Bookroom.
  57. Evans, S. (1990). HELP 1: Practice Papers for the HKCEE. Hong Kong: Youth Bookroom.
  58. Evans, S. (1990). HELP 2: Practice Papers for the HKCEE. Hong Kong: Youth Bookroom.
  59. Evans, S. (1988). A Guide to English Usage. Hong Kong: Youth Bookroom.

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