International Chinese education; Activity-Based learning; Constructivist learning theory; Experiential learning theory; Chinese language curriculum; Chinese mother-tongue teaching
Effectively applying teaching methodologies in various linguistic and cultural contexts has emerged as a crucial research topic due to the quick expansion of international Chinese education and the growing diversity of demands in Chinese mother-tongue education. This study based on constructivist and experiential learning theories, utilises case analysis to investigate the feasibility of implementing Activity-Based Learning (ABL) throughout the teaching process in Chinese classrooms in Hong Kong and Brazil. The findings reveal that pre-class background activities efficiently address learning obstacles, and in-class activities improve the acquisition and application of comprehensive language skills. Moreover, post-class extension tasks help to cement learning outcomes by enabling information transfer and application. The study demonstrates that ABL can be highly adaptive, matching the demands of Chinese instruction in multilingual settings while increasing student interest and participation. Finally, the research provides practical suggestions for future implementations, aiming to foster cross-disciplinary insights between international Chinese education and Chinese mother-tongue teaching.