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Exchanging Knowledge and Experiences

Chinese Language Teaching Workshop

Date: Saturday, March 16, 2024

Location: Tegler Student Centre, Concordia University of Edmonton, 7128 Ada Blvd, Edmonton, AB, Alberta T4B 4E4

Morning Keynote: A Braided Approach to Cultivating Reconciliatory Practices in Schools

Reflecting on a longitudinal project funded by Alberta Education, Dr. Simmee Chung highlights key learnings from this collaboration and transformative journey alongside Elder, knowledge keepers, colleagues, and communities. Dr. Chung shares her understanding of a braided approach and how this continually shapes her path in engaging in reconciliatory practices. She explores what honouring and attending to different worldviews might look like in K-12 schools alongside children, families, and teachers. By braiding ways of knowing and being, she strives to co-compose a more relational future and inclusive curricula for all.

Dr. Simmee Chung

Dr. Simmee Chung is an associate professor in the Faculty of Education at Concordia University of Edmonton in Canada. Dr. Chung has over 20 years of teaching and teacher leadership experience in K-12 and post-secondary school contexts. Her intergenerational narrative research alongside children and families of colour, immigrants, and Indigenous youth — deepens her understanding of practices and policies that are more responsive to the complexities of diverse communities. Simmee works in collaboration with Elders, knowledge keepers, communities, and fellow scholars to support a “Braided Approach” in teacher education. Simmee’s research interests include narrative inquiry, intersections in curriculum-making, conceptualizations of belonging and identity- making, and braiding ways of knowing.

Afternoon Keynote: ChatGPT: Opportunities for Language Learning

The presentation explores the varied opportunities that ChatGPT offers in the field of Chinese language education. It delves into how ChatGPT can create conditions conducive to language learning and serve as a valuable component in language teaching. Participants will be presented with concrete examples demonstrating the practical applications of ChatGPT in this field. The talk will also include a discussion on other artificial intelligence tools and their applications in language education. By the conclusion of this talk, participants will have gained insights into how ChatGPT can enhance tridiagonal teaching methods, foster personalized learning experiences, and amplify learner engagement.

Dr. Wei Cai

Dr. Wei Cai is a Professor of Chinese in the School of Languages, Linguistics, Literatures, and Cultures at the University of Calgary, Canada. She is a former Chair of the Division of Chinese Studies and Japanese Studies, Director of the Language Research Centre, and President of the Chinese Language Teaching and Research Association. In 2023, she was awarded the Robert Roy Award by the Canadian Association of Second Language Teachers (CASLT). Her research interests include second language listening and second language acquisition. Her primary research area is second language listening. Her new book, Teaching and Researching Chinese Second Language Listening, was published in 2022 by Routledge (Taylor & Francis Group).

Program

Workshop Program

9:00 a.m.: Welcome Remarks

9:15 a.m.: Keynote – A Braided Approach to Cultivating Reconciliatory Practices in Schools by Dr. Simmee Chung, Concordia University of Edmonton

10:15 a.m.: Health Break

10:30 a.m.: Non-Native Speaker Teacher Identity & Student Sentiment: A Cast Study of Lived Experience by Dr. Kerry Sluchinski, University of Alberta

11:15 a.m.: Engaging Teaching Practices for Integrating Chinese Calligraphy into Character Instruction by Haiping Sun, Confucius Institute of Edmonton

12:00 p.m.: Networking Lunch

1:00 p.m.: Keynote – ChatGPT: Opportunities for Language Learning by Dr. Wei Cai, University of Calgary

2:00 p.m.: Health Break

2:15 p.m.: Cultivating Engagement in Language Classrooms by Dr. Xinxin Fang, Concordia University of Edmonton

3:00 p.m.: Using Viral Songs to Enhance Chinese Language Teaching Practices by Terrence Kong, Edmonton Public Schools

Evening Program

5:00 – 7:00 p.m.:  Workshop Banquet

7:30 p.m.: Drama Show @ Al and Trish Huehn Threatre, The Theory of Relativity by Fine Arts at Concordia University of Edmonton with music and lyrics by Neil Bartram and book by Brian Hill.

Registration Fee: $75.00 + GST

Registration fee includes workshop program, networking lunch, banquet, and an evening music show.

Register here.

For more information, please contact extension@concordia.ab.ca

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