Parent Workshops on Bilingual Shared Reading and Language Development

As part of our community engagement activities, our research team delivered two parent workshops at Chinese language schools in Dartford and Sevenoaks. Each one-hour workshop, followed by a Q&A session.

During the workshops, we introduced the concept of shared reading and discussed how carer-child shared reading can support bilingual children's language and literacy development in the home environment. We also discussed practical strategies for bilingual families, including ways to maintain Chinese as the home language while supporting children's English language development through the use of their home language.

In addition, we shared practical guidance on selecting bilingual books that are appropriate for children's age and language proficiency levels, helping parents make informed choices for shared reading at home.

These workshops formed part of our ongoing public engagement activities, strengthening connections between research and local bilingual communities while promoting evidence-informed home literacy practices. We are grateful to Mrs. Yuan Jun, the headteacher of both participating schools, and to all the parents who attended and contributed to the discussions.