Chatting in Chinatown

Wanling Zhong                                               Jiawen Qu

Teacher - Chinese                          Teacher - Chinese

Learning a new language can be a challenging task, but it can also be an exciting and rewarding experience. One of the best ways to learn a new language is to immerse oneself in the language and culture. For students learning Chinese, engaging with the vibrant community in Chinatown can be an excellent way to practice their language skills and gain cultural insights. 

Several Chinese language students from Years 10, 11 and 12 recently completed an activity where they put their Chinese language skills into practice by engaging with and interviewing passers-by and vendors in Melbourne’s Chinatown. These students have been learning Chinese for more than three years and were eager to put their skills into practice in a real-world setting.  (Wanling Zhong and Jiawen Qu accompanied the students to Chinatown and provided guidance and support throughout the activity). 

The students were tasked with interviewing passers-by in Chinatown and engaging in conversations in Chinese. They were encouraged to ask questions about Chinese culture, leisure activities and Chinese food and snacks, as well as to practice common phrases and expressions. The activity allowed the students to practice their speaking and listening skills and gain confidence in using the language in a natural setting.  

Alice McCarthy chatted to a vendor:

The students were surprised at how welcoming and friendly the locals in Chinatown were. During their encounters, the students engaged in a series of captivating discussions - one of which was with a woman who happened to be the proprietor of a Chinese snack shop. She graciously offered her 'interviewers' a range of Chinese delicacies, including Xiaolongbao (pan-fried buns), Har gow (prawn dumplings), and steamed pork dumplings - highlighting the significance of food as an integral part of Chinese cultural heritage and national identity. In Chinese culture, food is often imbued with symbolic significance and used to convey various messages, including good fortune, prosperity, longevity, happiness, and wealth. 

Klaudia Rose (Year 12) conversed with a vendor

Reflecting on the activity, the students expressed how valuable and enjoyable the experience was. They felt that the activity had helped them improve their language skills and gain cultural insights that they could not have gained in the classroom. They were also grateful for the opportunity to practice their social skills, including initiating conversations and listening actively. 

Overall, the students who completed this activity found it to be a rewarding and enriching experience. By immersing themselves in the language and culture of Chinatown, they were able to extend their language skills and gain valuable insights into the Chinese community and its traditions. This activity not only helped them become better language learners but also more knowledgeable and empathetic global citizens. 

Click on the gallery below to enlarge photos.