UBC Cantonese Language Program, in collaboration with Familogue, hosted a workshop titled Start From the Basics (由細做起工作坊) on April 15, 2025. Held at the Westside Baptist Church and streamed online, this hybrid event attracted a diverse group of parents and caregivers eager to explore practical strategies for nurturing Cantonese language skills in children in North America.
The workshop took the form of a dynamic conversation between the guest speaker Dr. Chaak Ming Lau, Assistant Professor and Director of the Centre for Research on Linguistics and Language Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong, and the moderator Dr. Zoe Lam, Lecturer at UBC Asian Studies.
Dr. Lau opened the session by addressing a common concern among parents: how to maintain Cantonese as a home language in a predominantly English-speaking environment. There is no single answer that would work for everyone, as each family has different language backgrounds and communication styles. However, in the literature of bilingualism, the “one parent, one language” strategy is often discussed. This approach emphasizes consistency in language exposure. When each parent consistently communicates with the child in a specific language, it helps children distinguish between languages and develop strong foundational skills in each.
Dr. Lau showing reading materials that are suitable for Cantonese-learning children
Photo credit: Familogue
A key highlight of the workshop was Dr. Lau’s discussion on storytelling as an effective language-teaching tool. He demonstrated how engaging and interactive storytelling not only supports vocabulary development and grammar acquisition but also builds emotional connections with the language. Parents were also encouraged to read stories in colloquial Cantonese to build a strong foundation of speaking skills before introducing literacy skills.
Lastly, Dr. Lau introduced participants to digital tools that can supplement Cantonese learning at home. One featured resource was TypeDuck, a user-friendly application that enables learners to type Chinese characters with Cantonese Romanization. Users can click and listen to Cantonese consonants or rhymes while typing, which enhances children’s phonological awareness. The tool also functions as a dictionary which displays the English translation of a vocabulary item side by side with its written form.
User interface of TypeDuck, a Chinese input tool developed by Dr. Lau’s team
Photo credit: TypeDuck.hk
Throughout the workshop, attendees had the opportunity to ask questions, share personal experiences, and connect with other parents facing similar challenges. The atmosphere was supportive and collaborative—reflecting the shared goal of preserving heritage language in the next generation. As the evening concluded, participants left with new ideas and a renewed commitment to integrating Cantonese into their home life.
The UBC Cantonese Language Program extends its sincere thanks to Dr. Chaak Ming Lau for visiting from Hong Kong. We are especially grateful to our collaborator, Familogue, for making the event possible through their live streaming support and on-site childcare services. We also appreciate the enthusiastic participation of all workshop attendees. We look forward to organizing more community-focused events in the future to continue this important dialogue.
