Pengfei Li

Principal Senior Lecturer in Asian Studies (Chinese)
Director of Undergraduate Studies; Coordinator, Chinese Language Program

Dr. Li holds a Ph.D. in Applied Linguistics and specializes in Chinese language pedagogy and second language acquisition. His expertise includes technology-enhanced language teaching, task-based language teaching, curriculum design, and instructional material development. Before joining Vanderbilt University, he taught Chinese language courses at Boston University and Wake Forest University.

Dr. Li’s teaching is grounded in the communicative approach and guided by the principle of “learning to use.” He emphasizes helping students develop the ability to use Chinese through meaningful tasks, authentic communication, and experiential learning. He is committed to creating engaging, student-centered learning experiences that integrate innovative pedagogy and technology with clearly defined learning goals. His teaching has been recognized through university and national awards for excellence and innovation in Chinese language education. His scholarly interests complement his teaching and include second language acquisition, technology-enhanced and task-based language teaching, translanguaging, and Chinese linguistics.

Beyond the classroom, Dr. Li is deeply committed to experiential education, student engagement, and undergraduate success. He has designed and led Immersion Vanderbilt projects that connect Chinese language and culture with Chinese American identity, community engagement, and Chinese calligraphy. Through these projects, students extend their learning beyond the traditional classroom by engaging with communities, exploring cultural identities, and creating their own calligraphy works while examining the artistic and cultural traditions of Chinese calligraphy.

Dr. Li is also actively involved in university service and student mentorship. He has served for several years as a Vanderbilt Visions faculty advisor, mentoring first-year students as they transition to university life, and is a Vanderbilt CARES Fellow supporting student well-being. He has also served as Vice Chair of the Vanderbilt University Faculty Senate.