On the afternoon of July 10, 2024, at the invitation of SFS, Professor Zhang Yang from the University of Minnesota visited the school and delivered an academic lecture titled “Unlocking Neuroplasticity: Pathways to Success in Speech Training Studies”.

Professor Zhang Yang explored how speech training methods can activate neuroplasticity from the perspectives of child language development, cross-linguistic learning, and clinical linguistics. He emphasized the critical role of speech training research in advancing theories of second language acquisition, psycholinguistics, and neurolinguistics. Additionally, he highlighted its potential to provide effective rehabilitation interventions for individuals with hearing impairments and to drive technological and teaching innovations in applied speech research.

Through concrete research examples, Professor Zhang elaborated on speech training methodologies and their efficacy evaluation, sharing insights from his studies on speech training for hearing-impaired populations. The lecture concluded with an interactive Q&A session, during which he addressed questions from the audience in detail.

Featuring cutting-edge content and rich interdisciplinary insights, the lecture provided valuable inspiration for attendees to integrate cognitive neuroscience mechanisms of language into their own research projects. Both faculty and students expressed that they benefited greatly from the event.