Collaborative Approach for Language Learning (CALL): A Proposal for Peer Learning Language Enhancement (Chinese Language) (2024/25)

The majority of students at the Chinese University of Hong Kong have Chinese as their mother tongue and possess a basic command of the language. The objective of this project is to build upon this foundation by enhancing students’ cognitive and practical skills in advanced semantic and pragmatic aspects of Chinese and by fostering collaborative learning within the student community.

Entitled CALL (Collaborative Approach for Language Learning), the project positions students as the main participants and calls upon their peers to cultivate greater attention to the Chinese language. It endeavors to nurture a culture of group learning where students can exert a positive influence on one another. The project comprises two core components:

Mentor Program Development: On various language topics, cultivate academically outstanding students to become mentors, equipping them with the ability to tutor lower-grade students. This not only provides care for the younger students, helping them quickly master learning strategies and techniques, but also fosters a sustained enthusiasm for learning Chinese and the ability to reflect on the Chinese language among the senior students.

Language Lecture Series: These lectures will be led by student mentors and will focus on themes that resonate with the students’ interests or are pertinent to their academic experience, providing an opportunity for student mentors to present their research findings. The lectures will be open to all students and will foster student participation through interactive discussions. The aim is to enhance the students’ understanding of Chinese, to stimulate their interest in the language, and to cultivate a culture of peer learning and ongoing reflection on language.