Bowie Cheung Sparks Debate After Using Cantonese to Teach Son English Storybooks

(Hong Kong, 23rd) Actor Benjamin Yuen and his wife Bowie Cheung, who have been married for five years and share two sons, often offer glimpses into their family life. Recently, a heartwarming video of Bowie reading with her son unexpectedly sparked a debate on early language education.

In the clip, Bowie reads the English picture book Pip and Posy with her eldest son, Hayven. She begins by pronouncing the book title in English before seamlessly switching to Cantonese to narrate the story, using expressive tones and engaging gestures: “Pip has a balloon,” “Wow, such a big red balloon!”

Hayven appears fully engaged, touching the pages, mimicking actions like popping the balloon, and responding in Cantonese—creating an adorable and intimate moment between mother and child.

However, the video quickly drew mixed reactions online. Some netizens argued that English books should be read entirely in English to maximize early language exposure, emphasizing the importance of creating an immersive environment during a child’s critical learning period.

Others, however, supported Bowie’s approach, stressing the importance of building a strong foundation in one’s mother tongue first. Comments included: “Many children today can’t even speak Cantonese fluently—mother tongue comes first,” and “Every family has its own parenting style.”

The discussion reflects a broader conversation among modern parents—balancing multilingual education with cultural identity and emotional connection.