“EdUHK–Tencent JoyLearning PTH Journey” Mobile Application Achievement Sharing Session
Leveraging Technology to Enhance Mandarin Learning Engagement and Effectiveness
The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) and the Tencent Foundation today (2 July) co-hosted an achievement sharing session for the charitable initiative “EdUHK-Tencent JoyLearning Putonghua Journey” at EdUHK’s West Kowloon Study Centre. The session highlighted the project’s outcomes in enhancing Putonghua (PTH) learning among Hong Kong primary school students through the mobile platform: Putonghua Funlearning（趣學普通話）and a series of related activities.
Officiating guests included Professor John Lee Chi-Kin, President of EdUHK; Dr Li Tsz Shu, Vice President of Public Affairs at Tencent, Chief Executive of the Tencent Foundation; Mr Lau Ka-keung, Member of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and Hong Kong Deputy to the National People’s Congress; Dr He Wenjun, Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR; Dr Chow Kin, Senior Curriculum Development Officer (Chinese) of the Education Bureau; Dr Yau Yat, Executive Director of the Academy of Chinese Studies; Ms Jiang Qu, the Partnership Development Director of Tencent IEG Social Value Exploration Centre; Dr Jin Jing, Executive Co-Director of the Centre for Chinese and Multilingual Education Development; Ms Gai Hui Xia, Associate Vice President (Mainland Engagement and Development) and Director of Communications and Engagement; and Professor Leung Pui-wan, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, among others.
In his remarks, Professor John Lee Chi-Kin underscored EdUHK’s longstanding to advancing educational innovation in the digital era. He noted the University’s honour in partnering with the Tencent Foundation, which champions the philosophy of “Tech for Good”（科技向善）, through this two-year charitable project. The initiative, he said, demonstrates the integration of educational innovation and technology in PTH education. Professor Lee reaffirmed EdUHK’s mission of “Education Talent Virtue”（育才弘教 立德樹人）, pledging to foster the innovative development of PTH education and nurture a new generation with strong language literacy, cultural understanding, and global vision.
Dr Li Tsz Shu emphasised that the Tencent Foundation has consistently upheld “Youth Tech for Good”（青年科技向善）as its guiding principle, encouraging young people to observe societal issues and apply technology to address them. He highlighted the project’s use of AI pronunciation assessment and interactive features to transform repetitive practice into enjoyable exploration. “Technology is a capability, and doing good is a choice,” Dr Li said, expressing hope that students would apply their PTH knowledge in daily life and continue to use technology to benefit others. The Tencent Foundation looks forward to walking alongside more young people, so that those who experience the warmth of technology today will know how to use technology to warm others tomorrow.
The Putonghua Funlearning（趣學普通話）application integrates education and entertainment to enhance students’ interest and proficiency in PTH, laying a solid foundation for future opportunities in the nation and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Tailored to local primary school levels, the EdUHK team developed content that reflects everyday Hong Kong scenarios. Between July 2024 and February 2025, a pilot trial was conducted in 15 primary schools, involving 1,068 students and 61 teachers. Complementary activities—including PTH carnivals and territory wide competitions— attracted nearly 600 students from more than 60 schools, creating an enjoyable atmosphere for learning and practice.
Dr Jin Jing noted that the platform provides self-directed learning resources, including audio materials, word- and sentence-level read-aloud exercises, and after-class practices. AI technology enables real-time pronunciation scoring, supporting both teachers and students in assessing accuracy. Frontline teachers gave positive feedback on the quality of the customised PTH learning resources in the application, the diverse learning modules, and the student-centred design. Survey results showed that 95.7% of teachers believed the application enhanced students’ ability to learn PTH independently, while 91.3% found the content clearly structured and the question types consistent. In terms of proficiency, 95.7% and 87% of teachers reported improvements in students’ listening skills and oral fluency, respectively, demonstrating the application’s effectiveness in supporting PTH learning.
Ms Jiang Qu remarked that good products are always evolving, and every improvement of Putonghua Funlearning（趣學普通話）stems from classroom practice and student experience. “We identified teaching weaknesses through EdUHK’s research, sought solutions in frontline classrooms, and refined every detail through students’ feedback,” she said. “Alone one may go fast, but together we can go far. We look forward to collaborating with partners across sectors to further improve Putonghua Funlearning （趣學普通話）.”
Teacher representatives from pilot schools shared their experiences and insights, engaging in discussions with experts on technology assisted PTH learning and the challenges and opportunities in PTH teaching.
The session brought together stakeholders from the education, innovation, and technology industries, as well as pilot schools, to review achievements and share practical experience in PTH education. As a university committed to multidisciplinary development with a focus on teacher education, EdUHK has achieved notable results in collaboration with Tencent to empower PTH teaching through technology. Looking ahead, both parties will continue to promote dialogue among industry, academia and research, leverage synergies, advance educational innovation, and provide Hong Kong students with more diverse, effective, and engaging learning experiences.
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“EdUHK–Tencent JoyLearning PTH Journey” Mobile Application Achievement Sharing Session Leveraging Technology to Enhance Mandarin Learning Engagement and Effectiveness
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