Difficulty: Challenger (Level 2)
Ruth Lau, 75, and her eight-year-old granddaughter Azaria Lau recently bonded over a unique experience when they won a storytelling competition.
The pair performed the book Dragons by Roderick Hunt at the graduation ceremony for the Intergenerational Learning and Reading Project.
The project was organised by the University of Hong Kong and The Hong Kong Jockey Club. The purpose of these workshops is to help members of the older generation keep an energetic outlook on life.
Senior participants act as teachers for children from Kindergarten Three to Primary One. They do educational activities, such as writing books, reciting poems, singing and drama.
“I enjoyed spending time with my grandmother. I got a chance to understand that nobody is perfect. We were also able to observe each other’s weaknesses and strengths,” Azaria shared. “I would like to participate in more events like these and engage in teamwork.”
Professor Samuel K.W. Chu is one of the programme organisers. He said: “These events create opportunities for the elderly to teach children. We believe the best way to learn is to teach.”
The events allowed people young and old to socialise and make friends. It also helped them learn from each other. Younger people could learn about the past, and seniors could learn about life today.
“Over the last two years, I have attended all 10 workshops, including one on artificial intelligence. What I enjoyed the most were the singing sessions. I have two grandsons, and I can sing to them to keep them entertained,” shared 69-year-old Ringo Chui.
Chui added: “I gained a lot of knowledge, and I feel good. I feel young when I am with young people. They asked me about my years working. It felt good to reminisce.”
Professor Chu said they also taught the seniors to play the video game Super Mario 64. Research has shown that playing video games can help seniors increase the amount of grey matter in their brains. This, in turn, improves their cognitive health.
The workshops concluded with a graduation ceremony where older participants showcased a drama as well as other performances from previous competitions.
Over the past two years, the unique initiative has helped improve senior cognitive and mental health. It also allowed the younger generation to meet and learn from their elders.
Use the crossword below to test your knowledge of the vocabulary words in the story.
Suggested answers
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Before you read: Ways to keep mentally sharp include reading, doing puzzles or riddles, and playing games involving strategy or hand-eye coordination. (accept other appropriate answers).
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Stop and think: Through teaching, elderly Hongkongers can share their memories and recognise their strengths and weaknesses. Both participants can learn how members of the other generation think and what their lives are like.
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Consider this: Research suggests that playing video games like Super Mario 64 can increase grey matter for older people and improve their intelligence.
