Save Cantonese met with two students who are leading the wave of Cantonese learning at Wesleyan University this month over Zoom. Since its launch in February 2025, Wesleyan College's Cantonese Forum has become a vibrant hub for cultural exchange, historical inquiry, and practical language learning. Led by sophomores Charlotte Li and Ana Li, the forum is redefining what student-driven global engagement can look like. Charlotte, a sociology, science and technology, and global engagement major, teaches the forum's classes—held every Monday and Wednesday over 13 weeks—with a focus on conversational Cantonese and cultural fluency. Ana, majoring in government, global engagement, and data analysis, supports programming and outreach, helping the forum grow into a campus-wide resource.
Their mission is clear: to keep Cantonese alive and relevant. That includes exploring the history of Hong Kong and its complex relationship with the language, as well as equipping students with real-world skills—like how to navigate Hong Kong International Airport with confidence.
Each semester, the forum hosts invited panels featuring scholars and community leaders who speak on topics ranging from linguistic preservation to Hong Kong's political evolution. These events have sparked campus-wide conversations and drawn interest from key partners. Charlotte and Ana are currently in talks with the Patricelli Center for Entrepreneurship and Wesleyan's Jewett Center for Community Partnerships (JCCP) to expand the forum's reach and impact.
But Charlotte and Ana's work goes far beyond the classroom. They're building a movement—one that connects language, identity, and action. "We're not just teaching Cantonese," says Charlotte. "We're creating a space where history, culture, and community come together." Ana adds, "This is about making sure our stories—and our language—have a future." With their leadership, the Cantonese Forum is thriving—and inspiring others to join the conversation.
If you would like to connect with Charlotte and Ana, you can connect through LinkedIn or reach out via email.