好高興認識你！hou2 gou1 hing3 jing6 sik1 nei5 !
Hi, I’m Amy. I’m a BBC (British-born Chinese), a full-time teacher, and a first-time mum to baby AJ. I love crafting, dancing, singing (terribly) to AJ, and getting very silly. As a result, here you will find ways of exploring Cantonese through art and play (and without drill memorisation).
Why I Created Mama Bear Cantonese
Despite growing up in a Cantonese-speaking home, English was my first and only language. Instead of celebrating my two cultures, I felt like an outcast growing up- I spent years feeling I wasn’t Chinese enough or British enough.
It was only when I became a parent, I realised how important it was for me to pass on my cultural heritage to my child. However, on my journey to reconnect with my heritage, I realised:
1. There are very few resources for learning Cantonese
2. There are even fewer resources on how to teach Cantonese to your baby
3. The few resources designed for Cantonese parents assumed speaking skills I did not have
Ai1 aa1!
But my je4 je4 taught me to work hard so I’ve spent my maternity leave relearning the language, collecting parent-specific resources, and exposing my baby to broken Cantonese.
I’ve started this site in hopes my efforts can help others because, despite what my teen self thought, I know there are other BBCs like me. I know there are many parents and carers from a vast array of backgrounds who desire to give their child the gift of Cantonese.
I wish you all the best on your journey.
How to Support Mama Bear Cantonese
I hope to keep all my resources available for free through my website to make learning and teaching Cantonese as accessible as possible.
If you find my website helpful, please consider showing your support by following me on Instagram and Pinterest. You can also help towards the running costs of this site by becoming a Patreon member, from £1 a month, which will give you exclusive content. If you prefer a little one-off contribution, you can buy me a dumpling.
Thank you for your support!
Mama Bear Cantonese 