This summer, the UBC Cantonese Language Program hosted its third and fourth installments of teaching workshops on May 11 and July 12, 2024, respectively, gaining significant community interest. Both workshops were hosted in a hybrid format with the guest speaker’s speech held in the first hour, followed by in-person discussions among attendees in the second hour.
Recognizing the challenges faced by Cantonese educators, these workshops provided an invaluable opportunity for community teachers to gain insights from experienced practitioners and collaborate on effective teaching strategies. By connecting teachers all over the world and fostering a sense of community among educators, the UBC Cantonese Language Program is working to advance the field of Cantonese language education.
In the workshop Teaching Cantonese Through Storytelling 講故仔 講技巧 held on May 11, 2024, Cantonese writer Peg Chiu, based in Ireland, shared her new Cantonese children’s storybook《橋底老虎》with the workshop participants. Peg’s presentation highlighted the importance of storytelling as a dynamic and engaging method for language instruction. She also delved into different storytelling methodologies to captivate students’ interest and make the learning process enjoyable. The workshop concluded with an informal discussion, where attendees shared their practical ideas to implement in their teaching practices.
Live audience of the workshop on July 12, 2024
In the workshop New Cantonese Input & Output Tools 粵語好打得 held on July 12, 2024, guest speaker Dr. Jon Chui and Dr. Chaak Ming Lau guided the workshop participants through the use of new Cantonese digital tools Typeduck and Canto Fonts. Both tools represent an innovative approach to learning and teaching the Jyutping romanization system. Dr. Lau demonstrated how Typeduck, a Jyutping-typing tool, facilitates swift input of Cantonese characters and promotes efficient learning for Cantonese learners. Dr. Chui introduced Canto Fonts, which provide colorful Jyutping pronunciation guide on top of Cantonese characters, enriching the visual aspect of language teaching. The workshop highlighted the practical applications in educational settings, enabling teachers to integrate technology into their curriculum and providing students with resources to support their language acquisition journey.
By integrating storytelling techniques and digital tools into language teaching, the UBC Cantonese Language Program hopes to enhance the educational experience for both teachers and students. UBC Cantonese also looks forward to interacting with more members of the community in future teaching workshops.
Read about Cantonese Teaching Workshops in 2023 here.
