Add Oil Cantonese 加油廣東話

09/01/2026

Meet our teachers: Myself, Jason Lee and Eva Leung.

We are ready to resume classes next week, are you?

08/22/2026

This housing co-op project in Montreal Chinatown is a separate project that I'm working on with our team. So many students and families asked me where they can attend cultural programs, activities or in person language classes in Montreal, helping support this initiative will definitely make all the wishes/ requests above come true! Please sign and share with your networks! Petition link is also in bio.

https://www.ipetitions.com/p/more-coop-housing-for-montreals-chinatown/

08/17/2026

🍂 Fall Cantonese Classes — Registration Is Open! 🍂

Ready to reconnect with Cantonese, build your confidence, or finally start learning the language?

Registration for our Fall 2026 Cantonese courses is now open! 🎉

All classes are live and online, designed for adult learners in a friendly and supportive environment. Whether you’re a beginner or already have some Cantonese, there’s a class for you.

📚 Check out the full fall schedule below 👇
💻 Live online classes
🗣️ Adult learners
🍁 Fall session starts: the week of Sep 7th

👉 For more information and registration, visit my website:
https://www.addoilcantonese.com/eng/classes/online-group-class-for-adults/

I’d love to have you join me this fall! 💛

08/10/2026

Thank you for explaining that for us!

07/28/2026

Venez faire un tour le 8 août !
I'll be around !

Finally the Chinatown Day/Night program is out !

Le programme « Journée / Nuit du Quartier chinois » est enfin disponible !

07/05/2026

There are moments in life that quietly remind us why we do what we do.

Our last Cantonese class of the session ended with a karaoke party. We sang in Cantonese, Mandarin, and Japanese. There was laughter, applause, a few missed notes, and so much joy.

Then, something unexpected happened.

One by one, my students shared how they can have conversations in Cantonese with their grandparents, families, in-laws or friends.

I always know that I am not simply teaching a language. I am witnessing conversations that might never have happened otherwise. Memories being created. Silences turning into stories. A language becoming a bridge between generations, identities, and hearts.

As an immigrant myself, I understand what it means to live with roots stretching across an ocean. My family is far away, and here in Canada, apart from my two daughters, life has often meant creating home rather than finding it.

Somewhere along the way, without even noticing, my students became part of that home.

Perhaps this is what language has always been about. Not just words, grammar, or perfect tones, but the quiet miracle of allowing us to belong to one another a little more deeply.

If something from my classes remains in someone's heart long after they've forgotten a vocabulary list—if they remember the courage to call a grandparent, the joy of sharing a meal in Cantonese, the confidence to reconnect with a piece of themselves—then I know this work has already found its purpose.

Thank you for trusting me with your journeys, your stories, your laughter, and your hearts.

You came to learn Cantonese.

You gave me something far greater in return. ❤️

# Chinatown House

06/20/2026

One of the highlights of yesterday's class was playing a memory game inspired by 超級無敵掌門人 ciu1-kap1 mou4-dik6 zoeng2-mun4-jan4 (Movie Buff Championship)! 🎉

For those who grew up in Hong Kong, 超級無敵掌門人 was a classic TVB variety show that many of us watched as children. It was a big part of my own childhood, so bringing a game inspired by it into the classroom felt both nostalgic and meaningful.

Not only was it a lot of fun, but it's also a fantastic activity for language acquisition. Memory games encourage active recall, focused attention, and repeated exposure to vocabulary—all essential ingredients for making new words stick.

I was impressed by my students' concentration and their ability to remember the dim sum names we have learned over the past two weeks. 🥟🥢 From siu maai to haa gaau, they rose to the challenge with enthusiasm and determination.

Moments like these remind me that language learning doesn't always happen through textbooks and drills. Sometimes, it happens through laughter, friendly competition, cultural connections, and the joy of discovering just how much you've already learned.

It was wonderful to see a game from my childhood creating new memories for my students while helping them strengthen their Cantonese vocabulary.
Well done, everyone! 👏✨
TVB HongKongCulture LearningThroughPlay AdultLearning CantoneseClass

05/25/2026

Friday night, I felt so moved hearing my beginner Cantonese students singing 《數字人生》 (A Life of Numbers) together in class at Chinatown House 滿華庭 (mun5 waa4 ting4). ❤️ It was especially meaningful because it's the place I named in Chinese and gifted it to Jia Foundation to show my gratitude of their creation of such a welcoming space for the community. Since February, I have been giving the very first session of Cantonese classes there to our young and committed community members!

I have loved this beautiful song by George Lam for a very long time, and hearing students who are only beginning their Cantonese journey sing it with courage was special for me.

Moments like this remind me that language learning is not only about vocabulary or pronunciation — it is also about culture, emotions, memories, and connection. Through music, we can feel the rhythm and soul of a language in a completely different way.

In the higher-level classes, we are also exploring more 「語氣」(jyut5 hei3) using drama techniques — something I personally find super fun. Learning intonation, emotional expression, rhythm, and delivery is such an important part of speaking Cantonese more naturally and authentically, almost like a native speaker. Drama and music open a door to the living, breathing side of the language that textbooks alone cannot teach. 🎭🎶

Thank you to my students for your trust, your effort, and your willingness to sing with open hearts. 🥹

05/08/2026

Robot monk 機械出家人Gei1 haai6 ceot1 gaa1 jan4

中國機械人喺南韓成為出家人，叫迦悲，承諾遵守五戒！
zung1-gwok3 gei1-haai6- jan4 hai2 naam4-hon4 sing4-wai4 ceot1-gaa1-jan4，giu3 Gaa1-Bei1, sing4-nok6 zeon1-sau2 ng5 gaai3！
Chinese robot becomes a monk in South Korea, named Gaa1 Bei1, promising to conform to the Five Precepts!

05/01/2026

For the past 3 years, we’ve been so lucky to have such a dedicated and caring Cantonese teacher teaching with us. ❤️

Thank you, Joey, for all the hard work, patience, energy, and love you brought into every class and every interaction with our students and community. Your dedication has touched so many students, and your passion for sharing Cantonese and culture has truly made a difference.

Beyond teaching, I’m also deeply grateful for the friendship we’ve built along the way. Through all the conversations, challenges, and laughter, we created memories and connections that I will always treasure.

This photo was taken in Toronto last month when Joey and Eva came to support me at our play Bonnes Bonnes. It felt especially meaningful to have both a past teacher and a new teacher together in the audience — a beautiful reminder of friendship, support, and the continuity of our community. 💛

Wishing you all the best in your next chapter. Thank you for being part of our journey these past years — you will always be part of our community.