Dr Lam Yan-yan, Chinese Language Centre

Innovations in Chinese Oral Communication: AI-Powered Assessment and Metaverse Learning Environments. The 18th Inter-institutional Symposium on Putonghua Teaching in Tertiary Education. Language Centre, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, 21 May 2025.

Abstract
The presentation investigates the application of AI assessment and metaverse technologies in oral Chinese language education, analyzing two pioneering platforms: “A Flipped Classroom for Cantonese Learning” and “Metaverse for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language”. The former represents Hong Kong’s first AI-powered oral evaluation tool for tertiary-level Cantonese self-learning digital resources, while the latter introduces the region’s inaugural metaverse-based immersive speaking practice for Chinese learners in higher education. Both platforms have demonstrated strong pedagogical effectiveness, with positive evaluations from educators and students. The presentation demonstrates how these pioneering technological integrations address critical gaps in oral language learning and introduce actionable models for digital language education.