The ‘Growth2’ Project organized a territory-wide dissemination conference entitled ‘The Picture Book Space Shuttle: Conference on Effective Chinese Learning for Multicultural Learners (繪本穿梭機──高效能多元文化中文學習分享會)’ on 20 March 2021. It provided a platform for in-service teachers and researchers to discuss and share their ideas, perspectives, experiences and findings of teaching and learning of Chinese for multi-cultural students ranged from pre-primary to primary levels. Due to the Government's social distancing measures, it was conducted in a dual-mode. The conference themes were addressed through two keynote speeches and four featured presentations by 12 collaborating school teachers.

The keynote speech ‘Adventure through picture books (繪本奇遇記)' was delivered by Dr. W.M. Cheung, Project Leader of ‘Growth2’ project, who shared experience on supporting teachers to develop pedagogy through picture books especially when most of the classes were switched to online mode in pandemic. The another keynote speech 'Encounter and Reunion – Pedagogical strategies with picture books (相遇與重逢──穿梭於繪本世界的策略)' was delivered by Dr. H.C. Lee, former Senior Lecturer of EdUHK, who shared innovative pedagogies with picture books to engage cross-cultural students in learning Chinese. The Conference was a great success, with 286 delegates from 81 local schools, including teachers from 4 partnership schools, who have stepped out to share their experiences and new pedagogical knowledge generated within the challenges of the pandemic. Their invaluable experiences and perspectives can undoubtedly help other teachers to better equip themselves in facing the New Normal. For details, please visit the website: https://www.hkuuspp.com/growth2conference2021.html

	Dr. W.M. Cheung, Project Leader of Growth2 Project, delivered keynote speech on ‘Adventure through picture books (繪本奇遇記)' .
	Dr. H.C. Lee, former Senior Lecturer of EdUHK, delivered another keynote speech on ‘Encounter and Reunion – Pedagogical strategies with picture books (相遇與重逢──穿梭於繪本世界的策略)’.

An exemplar of innovative pedagogical strategies with picture book was developed to engage cross-cultural students to learn Chinese during school suspension.

Twelve teachers from 4 collaborating schools, namely Christian & Missionary Alliance Church Tai Wo Kindergarten, Shin Yat Tong. Yat Tung Kindergarten, Shamshuipo Kaifong Welfare Association Primary School and TWGHs Tang Shiu Kin Primary School, shared their new experience and pedagogical knowledge generated the challenges of the pandemic.

Program rundown:

http://www.cacler.hku.hk/site/assets/files/7675/program_rundown_g2_conference_2021-03-20.pdf

The ‘Growth2’ project (「成長易: 高效能多元文化學習及幼小銜接」計劃), funded by School-based Professional Support Section of Education Bureau, aims to gear up the professional capacity of schools in helping their NCS students learn Chinese; enhance the Chinese language proficiency of NCS students in schools under support and facilitate their smooth transition from KG to primary education; provide an impetus for sustaining the momentum of development in schools admitting NCS students through disseminating the valuable practices and experiences generated; and develop system knowledge about how to help NCS students learn Chinese effectively in Hong Kong. This three-year project will provide research-based professional service for 22 kindergartens and primary schools each year from 2019 to 2022. For details, please visit:

https://www.hkuuspp.com/growth2.html