Developing Language Proficiency, Enhancing Cultural Understanding, and Building a Learning Community through a Student Film Discussion Group

Duration: 45 mins

Presented by Yea-Fen Chen

In this presentation, Dr. Chen shares her experience in organizing a weekly Chinese film discussion group to help students practice Chinese and enhance their cultural understanding in summer 2020. The discussion group was led by students. Each student took turns in choosing the movie and preparing materials to discuss with other students, while the teachers that participated would occasionally pose questions or intervene to correct or stimulate discussion. Students from three different Chinese Flagship Programs discussed 9 films ranging from science fiction movies like Wandering Earth or Animal World to social commentaries like The Blue Kite or Dying to Survive, and then posted their discussion summary on a Facebook group with more than 500 Chinese language teachers. This special interest group is a good way to develop students’ language proficiency, enhance their cultural understanding, and build a learning community among different Flagship programs. 

Webcasts Link: https://vimeo.com/645411431