Rolling Dialogue – Cloud Storytelling

prototype, education and learning, people of diverse race, Impact Incubator

Using multiple online communication means to support Non-Chinese speaking (NCS) children in learning Chinese at home

  

School classes have been suspended for a long period under the COVID-19 pandemic. Non-Chinese speaking (NCS) students have found it harder to learn and practise Chinese at home. When they encounter difficulties in completing their Chinese homework, their parents might not be able to help. Their progress in learning Chinese may be affected.

Riding on the success of the prototype project ”Rolling Books” which was funded by the SIE Fund in 2018, the team launches a new programme using picture book storytelling and online communications to support NCS students to learn Chinese. Trained volunteer storytellers will tell picture book stories in Cantonese and teach NCS children how to write Chinese characters. The team will produce online videos and exercise worksheets for NCS children to practise Chinese at home. The videos will include Urdu or Nepalese voice clips to help NCS children understand and learn better.

The venture targets to offer one-to-one weekly counselling sessions to 30 NCS students (primarily from K3 to P4) living at Hoi Lai Estate in Cheung Sha Wan. Each NCS child will be paired up with a volunteer. They would communicate through WhatsApp video call for at least 30 minutes each week. The volunteers will follow up with the children on their progress of learning via videos, give feedback on the worksheets, and provide support for their Chinese homework. Family members of the NCS children are also encouraged to join the programme to learn Chinese together.

Another 70 NCS children from other districts will be recruited to join storytelling sessions delivered through Facebook live video or YouTube. The programme will help the NCS children improve Chinese as well as build their confidence in communicating with others in Cantonese.

The venture has received funding support from the SIE Fund for two other prototype projects: Rolling Books and Drive My BOOKS: Rolling Reading Drivers.

 

  • Click here to learn more about the "Hong Kong Social Innovator" behind this venture.

Name of Organisation

Rolling Books Limited

Approved Funding Amount

HK$300,000

Funding Period (Status)

8 months (Ended)

Impact/Outcomes

  • Recruited 37 non-Chinese speaking (NCS) students and 39 volunteers from both the existing pool and a private corporate. Among them, 35 pairs have been matched and over 180 hours of one-to-one online communications was recorded
  • Held 11 storytelling live sessions for 84 NCS students. 88 hours of interaction time was recorded
  • Produced 18 online videos and relevant worksheets in both Cantonese and Urdu. Over 9 000 viewership was recorded and around 3 600 worksheets have been printed and distributed

Website

www.rollingbooks.hk

 
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