AcknowledgmentsTo reach the end of this particular journey would not have been possible without some precious people in my life.
First, I would love to express my sincere appreciation to PARABLE Professor Rod Ellis, for his tireless guidance and patience. Without hihis thesis would be.
Secondly, I would dedicate my deepest gratitude to g and Ms. Yuhua Kong, for their unconditional love and support, and for supervising me spiritually throughout the years.
My heart cries out “I love you and miss you”to my late grandmother, Ms. Zhenya Hui, who keeps watching over ing of this book. gratulate me there!
end to my teachers, friends and colleagues. Associate Professor Gary Barkhuizen, for always being considerate; Dr. Robert Batstone, for helping me with my presentation; Mr. Nick Shackleford, for the warm Kiwi welco years; the CSC and Consul Tom Gao, for the scholarship and understanding; Lily Li, for a beautiful job in helping me with SPSS; Davida Bantz-Leguard and Russell Greenwood, for their careful proof-reading; Professor Lydia Li and Professor Huixin Zhang, for their encouragement and trust in me whenever I alowel.
My appreciation also goes to ts in Shenyang Jianzhu University of China. Thank you for opening your doors to me.