Dumpling the Pug (Jiaozi) helps teach children Chinese.
A virtual reality dog is helping young Britons get to grips with some basic
Mandarin Chinese – the most spoken language in the world.
An interactive voice-controlled learning experience
introducing primary school children to Mandarin Chinese.
Launched for the Year of the Dog in 2018, Dumpling the Pug is an interactive learning experience developed for the British Council to introduce primary school children to Mandarin Chinese. The playful digital companion responds to simple voice commands such as “eat”, “walk” and “sit”, encouraging young learners to experiment with basic Mandarin vocabulary. Created as part of a wider Chinese New Year schools programme, the project helps children explore the sounds and tones of Mandarin through a fun, accessible interactive website.
With Mandarin widely recognised as one of the most important non-European languages for the UK, the project also reflects growing interest among UK parents in language learning that can broaden cultural understanding and future opportunities.
Developed with the British Council, the project aims to introduce young learners to Mandarin Chinese in an engaging and accessible way. Mandarin is the most widely spoken language in the world and is increasingly recognised as an important skill for the UK’s future global competitiveness. The interactive experience encourages children to experiment with basic Mandarin vocabulary through playful voice interactions, helping to build confidence and curiosity about language learning.
[YEAR OF DOG Lesson 1 VR] [YEAR OF DOG Lesson 2 AR]
You can download the full Year of the Dog pack here.