Department of Modern Languages Faculty
Department Chair
Mirabelle Tinio
mtinio [at] langara.ca (mtinio[at]langara[dot]ca)
Assistant Chair
Wei Xia
wxia [at] langara.ca (wxia[at]langara[dot]ca)
Fax: 604.323.5001
General email: chinese [at] langara.ca (chinese[at]langara[dot]ca)
Huimin Lin
Phone: 604.323.5261
Office: A345c
Email: hlin [at] langara.ca (hlin[at]langara[dot]ca)
Courses: CHIN 1115, 1215, 1117, 1217
At Langara Since: 1998
Credentials and training:
- BA in English Language and Literature, Shandong University, Shandong, China
- Spanish Language Certificate, Official Language School, Madrid, Spain
- Certificate of Cervantes Spanish Language, Madrid, Spain
- Master of Education, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Style of teaching: I strongly believe in involving students in the learning process, and making the learning fun and interesting by incorporating games, stories, and empowering students with socio-cultural knowledge of the Chinese language.
Areas of academic or research interest: My area of interest and specialization is teaching Mandarin Chinese to beginners as a foreign/second language, in particular, the origin, philosophy and cultural knowledge of Chinese characters, radicals of Chinese characters, the social and cultural dimensions of Chinese grammar and other aspects of the language and using games and technology in the learning process.
Academic and professional activities:
- Member, Teaching Chinese as a Second Language Association
- Judge, Confucius Institute Chinese Bridge Mandarin Speech and Singing Contests
- Member, Standing Committee on Language Articulation (SCOLA)
Other interests: I love animals and volunteer in the Vancouver Rabbit Rescue shelter. I enjoy hiking and practicing Yoga. In my free time, I help new immigrants with their new life in Canada. I have traveled extensively and lived 2.5 years in Germany and 6 years in Spain. These experiences were not only eye and mind-opening but also convinced me to dedicate myself to intercultural communication.
Wei Xia
Assistant department chair
Phone: 604.323.5002
Office: A345d
Email: wxia [at] langara.ca (wxia[at]langara[dot]ca)
Courses: CHIN 2221, 2223, 3331, 3333
At Langara Since: 2004
Credentials and training:
- B.A. in Teaching Chinese as A Second Language, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
- Master of Arts, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
Style of teaching: Students are always the center of my teaching. To engage the learners as much as possible, to attend to their interests and needs at each stage, to enhance their learning experience with new technology and updated methods is the teaching style which I pursue. As always, I learn how to be a better teacher through teaching.
Areas of academic or research interest: I have taught various Chinese language/literature courses at different levels. My main area of specialty during the past two decades has been to create a semi-immersion in-class and online environment to help non-heritage beginners develop integrated Chinese language skills, especially at an intensive pace. I have also devoted myself to teaching Classical Chinese since 2012. I have developed a pedagogy to enable students to read and analyze Classical texts through their social and historical contexts. One of my main objectives is to allow heritage learners to re-examine and strengthen their connections to their Chinese cultural heritage through extensive research and critical thinking.
Academic and professional activities:
- Member, Standing Committee on Language Articulation (SCOLA)
- Member, Canadian Teaching Chinese as a Second Language Association
- Judge, Confucius Institute Chinese Bridge Mandarin Speech and Singing Contests for University/College Students
Other interests: I love to make apple pies in my kitchen in the cold and damp winter days, and love to spend time in my garden during summer. I also enjoy traveling and visiting my artist friends in different cities. From time to time, I curate art exhibitions featuring some of my favourite works.
Sean James
Phone: 604.323.5449
Office: A344
Email: sjames [at] langara.ca (sjames[at]langara[dot]ca)
At Langara Since: 2003
Credentials and training:
- BA in History (UBC)
- French (University of Alberta)
- Spanish 1-4 (Langara Continuing Studies)
- Mandarin (Langara, UBC, Yunnan Normal University, Beijing Language and Culture University, Nanjing Normal University)
- Confucius Institute Mandarin speech contest, third place (2015)
- Canada-China Scholar's Exchange Award Recipient (2016)
- Confucius Institute Teaching Chinese as a Second Language Scholarship Recipient (2017)
Published works (translations):
- Zheng Chaolin, “Discussion on Problems of Revolution (1946–79),” in Zheng Chaolin: Selected Writings, 1942–1998, edited by Gregor Benton and John Sexton, translated by Sean A. James, Boston: Brill, 2022.
- Feng Xiaocai, “Status, Ritual, and Politics: The Chinese Communist Party’s Ideological Remoulding of Capitalists after 1956,” The PRC History Group, 2022.
Areas of academic or research interest: My ongoing research interest is in language education technology and methods to enhance language education and study. Among my current projects are: developing and improving facilities for language study and practice (i.e., digital language labs and study space); expanding student learning opportunities by developing online, mobile-accessible language learning resources; and expanding the use of course management systems to supplement in-class instruction.
