This handbook is designed to assist California's public school teachers of limited-English-speaking native Cantonese-speaking students in understanding this minority group. The first two chapters address general background factors concerning this language group: immigration history, educational background, and historical and sociocultural factors of the group in general and also specifically in Hong Kong, the People's Republic of China, Vietnam, and California. Chapter III outlines linguistic characteristics of the Cantonese language; Chapter IV recommends instructional and curricular strategies for Cantonese language development, teaching students to read in Cantonese, writing Chinese characters, writing skills for expression of thoughts, motivating students to write, introducing oral English instruction, reading in two languages, developing proficiency in Cantonese, and acquiring fluency in English. A glossary and a four-page bibliography are included, and appendices contain: (1) data on the rank order of school districts by enrollment of limited-English-proficient students who speak Cantonese, (2) a list of educational resources for Cantonese language materials and Cantonese bilingual teacher training, (3) lists of relevant community and government organizations and media services, and (4) descriptions of significant Chinese festivals. (MSE)