This workshop is facilitated by Heather Seyl Miyashita, Academic Programs Coordinator, and Xiaobing Lin, International Student Specialist (RISIA) from International Student & Visitor Services (International Education + Enrolment)

Hour 1: Name Affirmation 

Names carry deep cultural, familial, and personal meaning. In post-secondary environments, using and pronouncing someone’s name correctly is a small but powerful way to foster inclusion, belonging, and respect. The Name Affirmation session introduces the concept of name-based identity, explores the impact of mispronunciation and name-changing, and provides practical strategies to support respectful name use in student and colleague interactions.

Participants will reflect on their own experiences with names, learn how to ask for pronunciation in a culturally sensitive way, and explore the importance of modeling name-affirming behaviors across campus environments. This session is interactive and discussion-based, offering concrete tools that can be applied in classrooms, advising spaces, administrative settings, and beyond.

The Name Affirmation session lays the groundwork for inclusive communication and is required for hour 2 of this workshop. It is a valuable starting point for anyone working in a student-facing role or committed to fostering a respectful and inclusive campus culture.

Hour 2: Chinese Language and Cultural Context 

Communication begins with language, but respectful engagement requires more than just vocabulary. The focus of this Chinese Language & Cultural Context session combines practical pronunciation support with a cultural introduction to the naming practices, values, and communication styles of students from this region.

This session focuses on the Chinese language and cultural group and is designed to help staff feel more confident when addressing students by name, greeting them appropriately, and understanding key cultural cues.  

Participants will learn common names and their meanings, receive phonetic guidance, and practice pronunciation in a supportive environment. These sessions help reduce the fear of “getting it wrong” and promote everyday inclusion through more thoughtful interactions.