CLTANT Members Explore Chinese Straw Weaving at the second PD, 2026

DARWIN — CLTANT’s second Professional Development session for 2026 was held on Sunday morning, 7 June, 2026, with members gathering at Charles Darwin University for a hands-on straw weaving workshop.

Hosted at the Confucius Institute, Orange 2 Level 4, Casuarina Campus from 9am to 12pm, the members-only workshop was presented by Miao Sun and Jing Yu.

The session, Straw Weaving Craft, gave local Chinese language teachers a chance to experience one of China’s traditional fingertip arts firsthand and consider how to bring it into their own classrooms.

Why straw weaving matters for language teachers

Straw weaving is listed as Chinese intangible cultural heritage, and for teachers it’s a genuinely useful classroom tool. It’s tactile, visual and culturally rich — ideal for getting students off screens and learning language through making.

For NT teachers, where hands-on learning and connection to Country are part of everyday practice, the craft struck a chord. The activity naturally generated vocabulary around materials, colours, shapes and sequential instructions, while also opening up deeper cultural discussion around 传承 chuánchéng — cultural transmission — and 工匠精神 gōngjiàng jīngshén — craftsmanship.

Miao and Jing demonstrated core weaving techniques and then linked the practice back to pedagogy: scaffolding instructions in Chinese, using craft for storytelling and character recognition, and using a simple woven piece to talk about sustainability, regional craft traditions, and cross-cultural making.

No experience was needed. Members left with their own woven piece to take home, plus practical ideas they can trial with students.

The PD was free for CLTANT members, with all materials and refreshments provided by CLTANT.

Tea and a yarn to finish

After Miao and Jing finished their presentation, the morning continued with a relaxed tea party. Members stayed on for a cuppa, compared their weavings, swapped classroom stories and kept the professional conversation going in a more informal setting.

CLTANT thanks Miao Sun and Jing Yu for their generous sharing, and CDU Confucius Institute for hosting.

Event snapshot

• What: CLTANT 2026 2nd PD: Straw Weaving Craft Workshop

• When: Sunday 7 June 2026, 9:00am – 12:00pm

• Where: Charles Darwin University, Casuarina Campus, Orange 2 Level 4, Confucius Institute

• Who: CLTANT members only

• Cost: Free, materials and refreshments included for CLTANT members