Contact
Biography
Ms.Kwan is an teacher of Mandarin in the School of Languages (SOL) at University of Nottingham Malaysia.
She received her BA in Information Technology (IT) from University Sabah Malaysia (UMS) majoring in System Management and Networking. She has a MA from Taiwan National Chengchi University (NCCU) majoring in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language (TCSL).
Her thesis used experimental designed for a number of students who were located around the world and wanted to learn Mandarin online. Thus, she created an online learning board as a tool provided in the web.
Her background and research interest is about integrating technology in language learning including Computer Assisted Language Leaning (CALL), Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) and Flipped learning.
Ms. Kwan is also very interested in learning many foreign languages. She is fluent in Malay, Mandarin, Cantonese and English. She had learnt some basic Japanese and Deutsch during her university studies.
Teaching Summary
Ms. Kwan has gained experience from free teaching to many students as for instance her volunteered job at Taipei Ci Guang temple teaching Mandarin to 19 Vietnamese for a whole year. Her volunteer… read more
Ms. Kwan has gained experience from free teaching to many students as for instance her volunteered job at Taipei Ci Guang temple teaching Mandarin to 19 Vietnamese for a whole year. Her volunteer teaching job in Chung-de I-Kuan Tao temple has given her good experience in teaching the Classics & Scriptures Recitation to kids aged between 4-12 years old.
She has been trained in tutoring foreigners in the Chinese Language Center of NCCU in Taiwan while also offering foreigners free courses of KTV Learning Mandarin through songs at NCCU.
She was designated to teach Mandarin as a Second Language in the University of Richmond and this working experience lasted two academic years.
She believes that there are many good reasons why so many people learn Mandarin these days. There are Chinese people nearly everywhere in today's society and it is also a language of business. However, Ms. Kwan thinks that teaching Mandarin is more than teaching a language. It is also about culture and living. She has been teaching Mandarin in several countries including Taiwan, United States, and Malaysia to students from all around the world.
She is currently a board member of FASS School of Languages in teaching Mandarin from beginner to advance level.
Modules taught in UNM SOL
Mandarin 1A & 1B
Mandarin 2A & 2B
Mandarin 3A & 3B
Business Chinese
Past Research
Her thesis used experimental designed for a number of students who were located around the world and wanted to learn Mandarin online. Thus, she created an online learning board as a tool provided in the web.
She has also done an action research on developing listening comprehension for Mandarin learners over the internet by having synchronous distance tutoring sessions with students in different countries.
Ms.Kwan's recent experience in the University of Richmond in USA and at National Chengchi University in Taiwan was investigating the effects of programmable computer learning programs with Chinese education programs through videos, games, simulations, testing.
As part of her research, she also explored online distance education to promote innovative designed programs with exercises where learners could enhance their creativity and critical thinking. Her experience as an Assistant Professor in research for National Science Council in Taiwan and in the E-learning course gave her an interesting insight about strategies and teaching techniques.
Journals/ Conference Paper
Hwee Ling, Kwan (2009), Online Distance-teaching by using Voicethread Conversation and Voicethread Educator. The 3rd International Chinese Conference for Graduates of Teaching Chinese as a Second Language, Shanghai.
Hwee Ling, Kwan (2009), Take Chinese educator as the reader: How to scaffold students online by observing 3 foreigners' experience, challenge of Chinese learning through live lessons online". The 9th Annual Conference of Teaching Chinese as a Second Language, Association of Teaching Chinese as a Second Language, Taiwan.
Future Research
Ms.Kwan's future research intends to further her exploration about integrating technology into the development of online distance language teaching and learning, both synchronous and asynchronous worldwide. This also includes the investigation on the strategies in teaching language online and the advantages for teachers and learners.
She wish to carry out an action research by having cooperation with schools,Institutes and University all around the world, and to have language lessons teaching not only by sitting in a classroom environment but also lively online via Internet.
She believes that distance will not hinder the teachers and learners worldwide to acquire a different language.