Development of Activity-Based Language Learning of Chinese for a Primary School in Western Sydney: A Participatory Action Research Study

This paper reports on a study on the use of activity-based learning in the Chinese as a Foreign Language classroom, for young learners (8 - 9 years old) in the western Sydney region. The research question was: How can activity-based learning be used to teach Chinese language to learners who do not have a Chinese language background? This action research involved the teacher-researcher reflecting on her teaching practice. She engaged in activity-based learning of this research for nine weeks in 2019. Data were collected from sources including feedback from the classroom teacher’s observations and interviews, teacher-researcher’s reflective journal, as well as student’s focus groups and checklists. By using various activities such as simple Chinese songs and visual arts activities, students engaged cognitively and emotionally. Activity-based learning had a significant impact on their Chinese language learning.