Instructor of Chinese
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University Hall 3118
(205) 934-1834

Research and Teaching Interests: language assessment, teaching materials development, distance education, modern and contemporary Chinese literature and culture

Office Hours: By appointment

• BA, Jinan University
• MA certificate, Sun Yat-sen University
• BS, University of Alabama at Birmingham
• MAEd, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Ling Ma is a native of Changchun, China. She fell in love with Chinese language and literature at an early age and began writing short stories about her life experiences for local newspapers during elementary school. By the time she was 14 she had twice earned the national level awards of creative writing. Ling was the chief editor of the university’s newspaper during her undergraduate studies. She continued her studies at Sun Yat-sen University where she completed her graduate study in law, during which time she also practiced law. In 2008 she launched her career as a language educator in Birmingham, teaching Chinese on a part-time basis. She returned to school to pursue a degree in business and a degree in education. In 2012, she joined the Department of World Languages and Literatures.

She believes the goal of education is to motivate learners. When planning a course or interacting with students, she is always conscious of their different learning styles and rates, what they have already learned, and what they will need to learn in the future. Ling wholeheartedly commits to helping students learn Chinese language skills and enhances the experience by sharing her first-hand cultural knowledge. Besides teaching in the classroom, she organizes Chinese cultural events at UAB, launched the National Standardized Chinese Proficiency Tests (HSK&HSKK) at UAB, developed “UAB in China” education abroad programs, and established relationships with four universities in China.

Ling has taken every effort to broaden her educational experience, and in doing so finished the professional training program on Chinese teaching materials and pedagogy at Sun Yat-sen University, and the professional training program for Foreign Chinese Language Teachers at Beijing International Chinese College in recent years. She is also a founder of the Alabama Chinese Language Teachers Association, an AP Chinese rater for the College Board, and the advisor of the Chinese Society.