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Student’s door-to-door Chinese ballads break down barriers, win fans and lamb chops
MacNeill visited 300 to 400 homes and drew mixed reactions as his Chinese-language performances won praise and helped him build language skills.
- Michael MacNeill, a 22-year student at Queen's University in Kingston, Ont., spent his summer knocking on doors in Richmond, Canada, serenading residents with iconic Chinese hits to practice his language skills.
- Encouraged by Chinese Canadian friends who were amazed when he sang a classic Mando-pop tune in a car, MacNeill had learned Mandarin using Google Translate and YouTube videos while in Ontario.
- Performances of the ballad 'A Spray of Plum Blossoms,' videoed by friend Jason Chen, received millions of views online. Residents initially skeptical offered MacNeill food, including dinner at his first stop.
- Residents shifted from being shy to asking MacNeill questions, providing motivation to continue learning. He experienced "over the top reactions" that reinforced his language-learning efforts.
- Showing genuine interest in the culture allowed residents to open up, challenging the false impression that Chinese immigrants are "closed off." His project demonstrated how cultural exchange breaks down language and social barriers in Richmond.
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22 Articles
22 Articles
The Toronto Star+6 Reposted by 6 other sources
Student’s door-to-door Chinese ballads break down barriers, win fans and lamb chops
When Kieran Michael MacNeill started going door to door in Richmond, B.C., serenading householders in Mandarin, he was worried they might think he was a "weirdo."
·Toronto, Canada
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Winnipeg Free Press+14 Reposted by 14 other sources
Student's door-to-door Chinese ballads break down barriers, win fans and lamb chops
When Kieran Michael MacNeill started going door to door in Richmond, B.C., serenading householders in Mandarin, he was worried they might think he was a
·Winnipeg, Canada
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Total News Sources22
Leaning Left13Leaning Right0Center9Last UpdatedBias Distribution59% Left
Bias Distribution
- 59% of the sources lean Left
59% Left
L 59%
C 41%
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