Transcript: Chinese Language Teaching - Doncaster Gardens PS

Michele Beal, Principal: At Doncaster Gardens, we use technology to develop deeper understandings of the other cultures around the world. We have developed relationships with two sister schools in China; we have Suzhou Sunlight Experimental School and also Fangcaodi International School in Beijing. We use Skype regularly, about once a fortnight we’re communicating our students with the students at Sunlight City. I think one of the big advantages is that I’ve been to China, I’ve set up the sister-school relationship with Beijing and with Suzhou so it’s authentic, it’s real. And the teachers that travelled with me have built up that relationship too.

Kerry Law, Teacher: In my Chinese classroom we do a lot of technologies to inspire us to learn, to learn more about the Chinese culture and the language. We always use the iPads to develop the students’ oral and written skills in terms of the Chinese language learning. The student found the Chinese writer app is really good for their Chinese writing because they can actually write it properly. And it’s more engaging and fun way for them to learn how to write the characters instead of on a normal traditional way, piece of paper with a pencil. 

I use technology in my classroom because it’s fun and I believe it will work and help the student to learn better in Chinese.