I’m always on a search for apps that can help children and adults alike to learn Cantonese so, of course, I was delighted to come across the app, CanPro, by the Education University of Hong Kong.
How CanPro works
CanPro (Cantonese Pronunciation app) is an app that focuses on learning common Cantonese expressions, specifically your listening comprehension. Their vocabulary list is about over three levels. Within each level, you are presented a common Cantonese phrase. After listening to the pronunciation of the whole phrase, you then need to match each Chinese character in the phrase to its romanised counterpart. The app provides you a choice of Yale or Jyutping.
Pros
Gamified learning- It’s little touches like the ticks and dings for correct answers that is very motivating. Give me more of these mini dopamine hits!
Completely free- Whilst I would happily pay for high quality Cantonese apps, it’s fantastic that this high quality app is completely free with no adverts.
Written by experts- Sometimes, I feel language learning apps have relied solely on computer generated translations. It’s comforting to know that the expressions on CanPro have been verified by Cantonese experts.
Colloquial/spoken Cantonese- For non-native speaking families, having resources in spoken Cantonese i.e. written how a Cantonese person would speak is far more beneficial than other apps I see that use SWC with Cantonese pronunciation. My learning goals are for my family to speak Cantonese, rather than reading Chinese so I do love how CanPro is in spoken Cantonese.
Quality audio- The audio files have a clear, crisp sound, which you shouldn’t take for granted.
Cons
Clunky design – The app doesn’t have intuitive controls and provides no instructions. In terms of usability, the app is somewhat lacking. For example, the main direction you are swiping is right to left (to match up the words) but if you start your swipe a little too far to the right, you bring up the Home Screen of the app. I kept exiting levels by accident and it hampered mg flow.
Focuses on listening only- The app only tests your listening skills and will not improve your pronunciation, grammar, reading or writing. However, as the phrases contain a lot of repeated words, my character recognition is slightly better because of the app.
No spaced repetition or option to review previous phrases- The app’s sole purpose is to improve your listening comprehension. There is no algorithm for the learner to repeat weaker phrases, which is a missed opportunity for users to up their Cantonese vocabulary.
Conclusion
I think CanPro is an excellent tool for any older members of your household that have had very little Cantonese exposure and therefore would like more practise with their listening skills and recognising tones. I think my English partner would benefit a lot from CanPro. However, the app provides no real challenges for heritage speakers and no real entertainment for younger learners so I would direct your learning time elsewhere.
Common Cantonese Expressions Flashcards
One thing I did find useful from the app was revisiting those small, everyday phrases that pepper conversations. It took me back to my childhood and it’s also helped my listening comprehension when I watch tv shows in Cantonese. I’ve added all of these expressions to a Quizlet deck with audio if you also want to revisit these common phrases. If you don’t know what Quizlet is, it’s a free website and app where you can make or find sets of interactive flashcards. You can find all the Quizlet decks I’ve created here.
If you have any recommendations for other Cantonese apps either for parents or children, please let me know in the comments below.
P.S. You can support Mama Bear Cantonese on Patreon. From £1 a month, you can access editable versions of all my resources as well as bonus content. Your generosity will help cover this site’s running costs. 多謝 do1 ze6!
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