UBC University-Community Support Funding has been secured for a new project and partnership with the National Pilipino Canadian Cultural Centre (NPC3) Society. Speaking our Mother Tongue Makes Us Stronger: Empowering Heritage Language Teaching and Learning Through the Cultural-Creative Performative Arts is co-led by GRSJ Director, Dr. Nora Angeles and NPC3’s Erie Maestro.
This project leverages the creative talents, artistic & cultural skills, and social networks of NPC3 to pilot and develop a community-based Philippine Heritage Language Training and Literacy Programs for institutionalization at the UBC Arts Faculty led by the community and university proponents (NPC3 & UBC) in potential future collaboration with the Asian Studies & Asian-Canadian Asian Migration Programs.
NPC3’s research, spoken word, visual arts & theatre projects have promoted critical-creative studies of Philippine cultures, histories, ethnicities, languages, and institutions through the arts. As previous studies show, strong mother-tongue proficiency is essential for immigrants’ health and well-being. This project aims to strengthen the existing capacities of Filipinos in Vancouver.
The project will pilot an interactive heritage language teaching and learning leading to language skills acquisition through Philippine artistic forms, and culminating in curated variety shows at the Pacific Theatre to showcase learners’ progress, as well as developing a preliminary Philippine Language curriculum for UBC Arts Faculty.
This project is one of 30 outstanding initiatives to receive funds through the 2023-24 Community-University Engagement Fund. Projects are chosen based on how they exemplify the power of community-university partnerships in addressing priority issues throughout the province.
