Our 21st Annual Chinese Teaching Conference ‘New Horizons: New Perspectives’ is coming up on 19th October 2024.

In this year’s programme you’ll find plenaries, speeches, performances as well as workshops covering a wide range of topics. In the run up to the conference, we are interviewing some of the workshop presenters to get a better idea of what can be expected at the conference. Jane Woo (Head of Mandarin and Confucius Classroom Manager at Christ’s College Finchley, North London) and Dr. Sophia Lam (Assistant Professor in the Department of Chinese Language Studies at the Education University of Hong Kong) will be delivering the workshop ‘Expanding Horizons: Integrating Literature in Language Learning’. This workshop challenges the idea that literature is only for advanced language learners, highlighting its benefits for all proficiency levels.

Jane and Sophia kindly answered some questions about their workshop below.

Can you tell us a bit about your workshop content?

The workshop challenges the notion that literature is only for advanced learners. We explore how integrating literature can enhance linguistic, cultural, and aesthetic competence across all levels of language learning.

What style of workshop are you planning to deliver?

It will be an interactive session, combining short presentations with group activities where participants will apply the principles of literature integration. We will also include a Q&A segment to address specific challenges participants might face.

What made you choose this subject for this year’s conference?

We chose this subject to challenge the misconception that literature is only suitable for high-proficiency learners. Our goal is to show how literature can enrich language learning at any level, offering teachers new tools to broaden their teaching practices.

What will attendees take away from your workshop?

Attendees will leave with practical ideas for selecting literary materials, designing effective lessons, and creating assessments. They will also gain insights on how to navigate common challenges when integrating literature into language learning.

Many thanks Jane and Sophia! 

We look forward to welcoming ticketholders to Jane and Sophia’s workshop on Saturday 19th October 2024 at the IOE. Book your conference tickets here.