The Centre for Research in Chinese Language and Literacy Education (CRCLLE), housed within the Department of Language and Literacy Education at the University of British Columbia, was established in 2008 with generous multi-year support from Hanban (in China) and with considerable enthusiasm on the part of Canadian language educators, teacher educators, graduate students, researchers, Chinese language learners, and the general public. Although Chinese is being taught in an ever-increasing range and number of contexts worldwide, only a limited amount of research has been conducted on Chinese language and literacy education across the lifespan.
Our goal was to create a hub and network for world-class scholars engaged in research activities that will contribute to our understanding of more effective approaches to Chinese language teaching, testing, curriculum and materials development, teacher education, and innovation in digital technologies for Chinese language and literacy education and use. We are also committed to examining the changing role and representation of Chinese languages in society, in media, and in education both locally and globally. We aim to understand, theorize, and enhance Chinese language learners’ experiences—their identities communities, and trajectories—within their diverse multilingual, transnational contexts and across the lifespan.
A number of faculty members and graduate students focusing on Chinese are affiliated with CRCLLE. Together, we seek to address issues and priorities in the teaching and learning of Chinese across a range of geographical, linguistic, and educational contexts worldwide, from childhood through adulthood. We are also conducting research on the teaching, learning, and use of Chinese (sometimes in combination with other languages) and we have sponsored professional development and outreach activities and events related to Chinese language education locally and internationally.
CRCLLE itself does not admit graduate students. Prospective students should apply to either the Department of Language and Literacy Education or the Department of Asian Studies at UBC for admission.