Luoyi Cai enriches Chinese language learning
With social media and international partnerships, the COIL Faculty Fellow opens “a new horizon” for students.
At East Normal China University in Shanghai, Luoyi Cai studied teaching Chinese as a foreign language. There she met Hsin-hsin Liang, a University of Virginia professor who led the UVA-in-Shanghai summer language program from 2006 to 2019.
“Before our summer program started, I recruited the ECNU graduate students to be the teachers in our program,” Liang said. “Luoyi was one of the applicants. She impressed me with her eagerness and seriousness to become an excellent teacher even though she was only a first-year graduate student and had little experience of teaching Chinese.”
In 2013, Cai moved to the U.S. to be a visiting lecturer at UVA. After finishing her master’s degree the following year and teaching courses at UVA and various institutions, she came to Carolina.
As a teaching associate professor, she has taught Chinese language courses at every level. Cai also does research on Collaborative Online International Learning curriculum design as a COIL Faculty Fellow.
“When I teach a language, I hope I do more than teach grammar and vocabulary,” Cai said. “I hope to open a new horizon of possibilities for my students. To do this, I constantly reflect on and improve my teaching to make sure all students, from all backgrounds, are part of the journey.”
Cai uses “authentic materials,” such as YouTube videos, social media content and popular Chinese television shows to “bridge the gap between the theoretical and the practical.” She invites guest speakers, collaborates with community partners and embraces virtual exchange.
Cai was an early adopter when UNC Global Affairs introduced COIL to Carolina in 2020. In a COIL course, instructors at two or more universities anywhere in the world create opportunities for students to learn material and complete assignments together virtually.
COIL has “broken the walls of the traditional classroom to develop new forms of cooperation,” Cai said.
She partnered with Beijing Normal University on a COIL course that began during the COVID-19 pandemic. The class continues as a meaningful way to enhance Carolina students’ language skills and BNU students’ teaching skills. Cai and her colleague Yi Zhou have now taught several COIL courses.
This year, Cai received a Tanner Award for Undergraduate Teaching.
“Her remarkable talents as an instructor and mentor leave an indelible impact on her students, shaping their academic journey and nurturing their passion for the Chinese language,” said Zhou and Pamela Lothspeich, the two colleagues who nominated Cai for the award. “Her commitment to her students’ growth and her passion for language education are truly commendable.”
In April, Cai attended an international conference for Chinese language teachers to celebrate her mentor’s 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Chinese Language Teachers Association.
“Liang inspired me so much,” Cai said. “She told me that being an excellent teacher never means ensuring each class is perfect. Teaching is an art of listening and caring. A truly inspiring educator always gives their full attention to their students and stands by their side, guiding them through ups and downs on their journey.”
Perhaps that is why she begins every course congratulating her students. Cai appreciates her students’ courage and believes in the importance of language learning.
“A student may forget 99% of the language they’ve learned in college after graduation, and that’s fine,” she said. “But their outlook and mindset will never be the same. The courage to step out of their comfort zones, the motivation to explore and learn from different cultures and life experiences, as well as the inclusive mindset they’ve developed through learning a new language, are the most valuable things that I hope my students gain from my class.”
