Bring Chinese Language Learning to Life
By ZHANG Chi 张驰
The CLTA-WA invited veteran Mandarin teacher Ping Wu to host a virtual workshop titled “Teaching Chinese Through TV Shows” on November 16, 2024. Ms. Wu has been teaching Mandarin at Columbus School for Girls since 2010. A recipient of multiple awards, she was also a finalist for Teacher of the Year at the 2023 Central States Conference on the Teaching of Foreign Languages.
Chinese TV shows offer a wealth of authentic resources, providing insights into language, culture, fashion, customs, and daily life. However, effectively utilizing these resources in the classroom can be challenging. Teachers often face difficulties in identifying suitable materials and integrating them into their lessons, as the process can be both time-consuming and complex.
In the workshop, Ms. Ping Wu shared practical and innovative strategies for leveraging Chinese TV shows as a “hook” to captivate students and encourage them to engage with the language both in and outside of the classroom.She introduced a range of authentic materials she had curated from Chinese TV shows and demonstrated step-by-step methods for incorporating vocabulary and grammar instruction through video clips. From introducing new words and grammar points to designing assessments, Ms. Wu showcased how to create seamless connections between video content and classroom instruction.
Additionally, Ms. Wu highlighted how to design activities, projects, and full instructional units using TV show resources, aligning them with the three modes of communication: interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational. To wrap up the session, she generously shared her extensive library of TV show resources, along with the activities, projects, and lesson plans she has developed over the years, via Padlet.
The workshop was enthusiastically received by educators, with over 80 participants joining online. Participants actively interacted with Ms. Wu, engaging in discussions and asking insightful questions. They praised the workshop for its relevance, practicality, creativity, and uniqueness, noting how it provided actionable ideas for immediate application in their classrooms.
The CLTA-WA extends its heartfelt thanks to Ms. Ping Wu for delivering such an inspiring and insightful workshop. We also thank all the educators who participated and contributed to the success of this event. Your enthusiasm and dedication to improving Chinese language teaching are what make events like these so impactful. We look forward to continuing to support and collaborate with our vibrant teaching community in future workshops.
CLTA-WA Member-Only Resources
The workshop video is available on the member-only page. Please use the password provided to access it.