Xu was invited by Colgate University to give a talk on "History of the Chinese Language" at China Center, Colgate University, April 26, 2002.
Xu was invited by Union College to give a talk on "Incorporating Multimedia in Chinese Language Teaching--A Nine Year Practice", at Language Center, Union College, New York, May 15, 2002.
Xu chaired a panel "Multimedia Course's Testing and Design" at the Second Conference and Workshops of Technology and Chinese Language Teaching in the 21st Century, Yale University, June 7-9, 2002.
He also presented a paper titled "Multimedia Learning Guide for Film Studies" at the Second Conference and Workshops of Technology and Chinese Language Teaching in the 21st Century, Yale University, June 7-9, 2002.
Xu gave a talk titled "Multimedia Approach in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language" at Teacher's Training Session III, ACC, Beijing, CUEB, June 12, 2002.
Xu was invited by Hong Kong Chinese International School (CIS) to give a talk titled "Methodology in Bilingual Chinese Language Teaching", Hong Kong, June 16, 2002
Xu's talk "Pedagogical Issues in Teaching Classical Chinese" is selected in the proceedings of "Reflecting on the Future of Chinese Language Pedagogy: A Conference Honoring the 40-year Career of Professor George Chih-ch'ao Chao", held at University of Chicago, October 11, 2002.
Xu published two new books (collaborated with Hong Gang Jin), Crossing Paths: Living and Learning in China, and Shifting Tides: Culture in Contemporary China, Cheng & Tsui Company, Boston, 2002.