Learning through laughter

When Shirley Li moved from China to Cornwall in the winter of 2013 with her two daughters, her English wasn’t strong.

She would watch TV and wonder, “Why are people laughing?” Li was curious.

“I wanted to laugh too,” she said during an interview with The Guardian.

That curiosity and misunderstanding of the English language ended up leading to a new pastime for Li — standup comedy.

Earlier this summer, Li performed her comedy for the first time to a packed room at Baba’s Lounge. Her language confusion fuelled much of her comedy.

For instance, when she told her friend the Canadian saying “raining cats and dogs,” her Chinese friend replied, “What a wonderful place — cats and dogs are free’.”

“In China, dogs and cats are very expensive,” Li said.

When she made a dentist appointment, her Canadian friend asked, “Are you prepared to bite the bullet?”

Li was confused, “Oh, in China we just pull the teeth out. There is no explosion involved.”

Li said she has had help crafting her jokes. She is taking comedy classes from U.K.-born comedian Niti Dhingra who performs on P.E.I. and internationally.

Dhingra has been putting on workshops for women who want to try their hand at comedy.

After taking the class, Li started Shirley Li sits outside the Confederation Centre Public Library in downtown Charlottetown. She has been taking many classes, including comedy, to better understand English since moving to P.E.I. with her daughters in 2013.

watching more comedy and even found a comedian she can relate to. Joe Wong is a Chinese-American comedian who gave up his career as a chemical engineer and studied to be a stand-up comedian.

“He became pretty successful. Most of the time I watch his comedy. It is all about the immigration experience. It is related to my life, so it is much easier for me

to understand,” Li said.

It is not only comedy that has helped Li better understand English, she said.

“I try to join all kinds of clubs like pickleball and I have many friends there. Once a week I go to the Toastmaster Breakfast Club and learn public speaking. I take all kinds of chances to learn English.”

Li is also in a tennis group and a

dancing club. All the groups have helped her grasp English better, she said.

“It did build me some

Li’s isn’t the only one in her family gaining confidence and learning. She said her daughters have also been receiving a good education on P.E.I.

It was the main reason Li and her family came to Canada. She confidence.”

said she wanted her daughters to have a more encouraging learning environment.

“I really want to thank their teachers. My kids are very happy in school.”

One of her daughters is going into Grade 9, and the other is in her third year of biology at UPEI, Li said.

“I really here.” like the education