Ni Zhang

Originally from China, she moved to the United States for graduate study and earned a doctorate in Applied Linguistics from Columbia University in 1994. Her teaching career has spanned decades, including many years at Columbia University followed by two decades at George Washington University, where she led major Chinese language programs and later became Professor Emeritus of Chinese and International Affairs.

Her work centers on Chinese syntax, pedagogical grammar, language proficiency development, and technology-enhanced teaching. In addition to teaching and program leadership, she has written widely used learning materials, including David and Helen in China and the Developing Chinese Fluency series, created to help learners build practical speaking and writing skills.

Her more recent scholarship has also explored how digital tools and typing-based approaches can reshape the way beginners learn Chinese characters. Across her books and academic work, the focus stays consistent: making Chinese more teachable, more usable, and more engaging for students.