Informational technology assists the teaching and learning of Chinese as a Second Language: the case of Cross-Cultural Learners' Magazine (CCLM)

Abstract

In Hong Kong, catering for the different learning needs of culturally diverse non-Chinese speaking (NCS) secondary students in the Chinese language classroom has recently become a pressing challenge to the teachers. This paper presents a case study of using information technology for assisting teaching and learning of Chinese as a second language (CSL) by situating students in a natural learning environment. Our research team launched an online creative project named Cross-Cultural Learners’ Magazine (CCLM) based on Second Language Acquisition (SLA) and social learning theories. Students’ written and multimedia works on cultural issues were published on various social media, thus creating an online learning platform and a rich source of mental age and life experience matched authentic Chinese materials for CSL curriculum and assessment development. Teachers’ and students’ feedback indicate that CCLM has been successful in motivating NCS students’ for CSL learning and language socialization within the local Chinese-dominated society.