Teacher PLD: Designing Engaging Chinese Classroom Activities for All Year Levels

Please complete this form to express your interest, and we will contact you about the next steps for registration.

 

Date: 13 March, 30 April, 3 June, 7 August, 16 September, 28 October

Modality: Hybrid (in person and online)

Duration: Two full-day in-person workshops (9:30am-3:30pm) and four after-school online workshops (4:00 - 5:30pm)

Price: Free

 

Short course structure and topics covered: 

 This short course equips Chinese language teachers with practical tools and strategies to design engaging, effective classroom activities aligned with the New Zealand Curriculum. Through a mix of in-person and online workshops, participants will gain hands-on experience creating balanced programmes and interactive tasks across the four language skills. 

Each session provides practical examples, collaboration opportunities, and time to develop ready-to-use resources. By the end of the course, participants will have a collection of creative classroom activities and will reflect on their learning through a Professional Growth Cycle presentation.

Two full day in-person workshops and four after-school online workshops.

 

Workshop 1 (full-day face-to-face) 

Friday 13 March 2026, 9:30am - 3:30pm

Designing and implementing classroom activities in line with the NZ language curriculum  

 

Workshop 2 (online after school) 

Thursday 30 April 2026, 4:00 - 5:30pm

Developing a well-balanced language programme  

 

Workshop 3 (online after school) 

Wednesday 3 June 2026, 4:00 - 5:30pm

Designing engaging Chinese listening activities

 

Workshop 4 (full-day face-to-face)

 Friday 7 August 2026, 9:30am - 3:30pm

Designing interactive Chinese speaking and writing activities  

 

Workshop 5 (online after school)

Wednesday 16 September 2026, 4:00 - 5:30pm 

Designing immersive Chinese reading activities

 

Workshop 6 (online after school) 

Wednesday 28 October 2026, 4:00 - 5:30pm

Professional Growth Cycle presentations

 

TRD Reimbursement

Following successful completion of the course, two Teacher Release Days (TRD) will be reimbursed to your school to cover the two full-day workshops.

 

School visits available on request

We're happy to visit your class to observe and provide personalised feedback and support as you apply the teaching approach, strategies, and activities from the course in your own classroom practice.

 

Learning outcomes: 

On completion of the course, participants will:

• Gain practical strategies for designing engaging Chinese classroom activities across all year levels.
• Learn how to align classroom activities with the New Zealand Curriculum.
• Develop balanced language programmes and design activities that integrate listening, speaking, reading, and writing.
• Explore approaches to make language activities interactive, culturally relevant, and immersive.
• Build a repertoire of adaptable activities and resources ready for immediate classroom use.
• Enhance their professional growth through reflection and peer sharing.

 

Who should attend?  

This course is designed for Chinese language teachers at all year levels in New Zealand schools. It is especially beneficial for those seeking effective activity design techniques to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes. No prior experience or knowledge is required. 

 

Previous participant reviews: 

"I found this PLD incredibly valuable for my professional growth as a Chinese language teacher. Each workshop gave me practical strategies that I could immediately apply in the classroom, increasing the variety of activities i use to support students with different learning styles. One of the biggest benefits was having a mentor observe my practice and share insights that I hadn't noticed as an insider. It opened up new perspectives and gave me confidence in how to advance my teaching. I particularly appreciated learning how to design engaging listening, speaking, and reading activities that align with the NZ language curriculum, while also ensuring my programme is well-balanced and responsive to learners' needs. This PLD not only enriched my teaching toolkit but also inspired me to keep experimenting and refining my practice. I highly recommend it to Chinese teachers at all levels who are looking to make their classrooms more interactive, effective, and student-centred."

                                            -- Flora Tie, Chinese Language Teacher, Aidanfield Christian School

 

"I learned many fun classroom activities and discovered the latest technology used in Chinese teaching. I have already applied these ideas in my own classroom, which has made my work easier and more effective. I really appreciated the facilitator's inspiring sessions and support throughout my professional development."

                                                -- Ivy Ding, Chinese Language Teacher, Columba College 

 

If you have any course enquiries, please email chinese.clec@auckland.ac.nz.   

 

By enrolling in a Short Course at the University of Auckland you agree to the Short Course Terms and Conditions