ESL Activities on Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

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 Introduction: R.F. Kuang’s Yellowface

R.F. Kuang’s Yellowface (2023) is a sharp, fast-paced contemporary novel that explores authorship, cultural appropriation, and the publishing industry. It follows June Hayward, a struggling white writer who steals the unfinished manuscript of her classmate and literary star, Athena Liu, after witnessing her sudden death. June publishes the manuscript under a more ambiguous name, “Juniper Song,” and is quickly swept into fame—while trying desperately to hide the truth behind her success.
The novel unfolds through June’s unreliable narration, social-media storms, and heated public debates about representation. Yellowface is not only a compelling page-turner; it is also an exciting and relevant text for advanced ESL learners who want to read modern English fiction connected to today’s world.

Why Yellowface Is a Great Teaching Tool for ESL Classes

1. Highly Relevant to Today's Issues

The novel dives into topics such as cultural appropriation, diversity in publishing, racism, and online cancel culture. These themes are widely discussed in classrooms and on social media, making them ideal for stimulating conversations in ESL classes. Students often enjoy exploring stories that connect to debates they already see in the news or on TikTok or Instagram.

2. Strong Connection to Social Media Culture

Much of the drama in Yellowface unfolds online—through Twitter threads, public statements, and viral controversies. Because ESL students already encounter English through digital platforms, this novel becomes a familiar and engaging bridge between fiction and real-world online communication.

3. Modern, Accessible Language with Challenging Elements

While the story is fast-moving and written in contemporary English, it also contains new vocabulary, idioms, and expressions typical of professional writing, social-media jargon, and publishing-world terminology. This combination makes Yellowface challenging but accessible for upper-intermediate and advanced ESL learners.

4. High Interest and Strong Narrative Voice

June’s dramatic voice, moral ambiguity, and questionable decisions make the story engaging for students who enjoy suspense, character-driven narratives, and ethical dilemmas. This interest naturally increases motivation to read in English and discuss the text—key elements for language learning.

ESL Activities for Studying Yellowface

Below are practical, classroom-ready activities you can use after students have finished the novel (or completed specific chapters). These activities support reading comprehension, vocabulary building, critical thinking, and creative writing.

1. Novel Study: Vocabulary Review

Ask students to keep a vocabulary log while reading. They can record:

  • New words or expressions

  • Their own original sentences

After finishing the novel, have students work in small groups to compare lists and teach one another the new vocabulary they found. You can also turn their lists into:

  • vocabulary quizzes

  • flashcards

  • matching games

  • short-answer questions

2. “Favorite Part” Discussion or Presentation

Students choose one scene or chapter they found particularly interesting, shocking, or funny. They prepare:

  • a short oral presentation,

  • a written paragraph, or

  • group discussion points.

Encourage them to explain why they chose this part and how it relates to the novel’s major themes (identity, authorship, ethics, fame, etc.).

3. Write a Diary Entry from a Character’s Point of View

Creative writing is a powerful ESL activity. Ask students to imagine they are one of the characters—June, Athena, or even a minor character—and write a one-page diary entry.
They might write about:

  • the day Athena dies

  • June’s first book event

  • the moment accusations start trending online

  • Athena’s perspective from earlier in her career

  • a “deleted scene” that could have happened off-page

This activity helps students deepen their understanding of the characters while practicing past tense, feelings vocabulary, and narrative writing.

4. “Be the Character” Interview Role-Play

Students work in pairs: one is a journalist, the other is a character from the novel. Possible characters include June, Athena, Mrs. Hayward, or someone from the publishing house.
Partners prepare:

  • Questions (journalist)

  • In-character responses (interviewee)

This exercise encourages fluency, creativity, and speaking confidence.

5. Social-Media Reaction Activity

Because the novel is heavily influenced by online culture, students can create fictitious:

  • Tweets

  • Instagram posts

  • TikTok scripts

representing how characters or the public react to key events in the story. This activity helps students adjust register, tone, and informal English expressions.

6. Debate: "Was June Justified?"

Divide students into two groups—one defending June, one criticizing her—and hold a structured debate. This fosters critical thinking, persuasive speaking skills, and deeper engagement with the ethical issues in the novel.

7. Chapter-by-Chapter Review

After completing each chapter, you can use the following prompts for quick reviews:

  • “Summarize the chapter in 5 sentences.”

  • “Give a title to this chapter.”

  • “Choose one quote and explain why it is important.”
    These short tasks help ensure comprehension and promote consistent writing practice.

Conclusion: Why Yellowface Works So Well in ESL Teaching

R.F. Kuang’s Yellowface offers a unique combination of modern relevance, engaging narrative, and rich language learning opportunities. Its exploration of identity, social media, and the publishing world makes it ideal for sparking discussion among ESL learners—while its accessible but challenging English supports vocabulary growth and reading development.
With the right activities—including vocabulary study, diary writing, character role-play, and debates—teachers can transform this bestselling novel into a dynamic and meaningful ESL classroom experience.

If you would like, I can also create:
✅ a full lesson plan
✅ reading comprehension worksheets
✅ vocabulary lists and quizzes
✅ discussion questions for each chapter
Just let me know!







Location: New Jersey, Stati Uniti

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