A new beginning.
Author Lillian Ip-Koon
Date 13th June 2021
One project in university is now a small team of 4 passionate friends working hard to preserve what is currently a minority language in the UK- Cantonese. As a British Chinese, it never occurred to me I would have an issue teaching my children my mother tongue, but now a mother of two, I can’t deny it is not as easy as I thought.
Growing up bilingual, expressing myself in English and Cantonese has always been interchangeable, but undeniably English has been a favourable language in the household; whether it is between me and my partner, the children talking about school, the books we read or the television shows we engage in. It is a challenge to stay emerged in Cantonese culture when it is so difficult to get the resources- spending the weekends driving my child to Chinese school or being on a 3-month waiting list to get the next shipment of Chinese books in my house.
With Cantochat, I hope to bring a digital option to parents who are struggling like myself. Let’s face it- those devices aren’t going anywhere. 49% of UK kids have their OWN tablet by the time they’re 11 years old. So, why not utilise that time to get them reconnecting with their native language? How else are they ever going to appreciate those classic Stephen Chan comedies or Sam Hui’s ingenious music, 你話係咪先！
You can read more about my university project process over at my personal website: https://www.lillianipkoon.com/uxwork/cantochat