Joe Yow had no formal education. He spoke the local Xianhu dialect, and probably could speak Cantonese. He could have learnt English thru living in Australia, and would had some broken spoken English. His son Martin recalled him saying the word ‘government’ as ‘gup-tem-men’.
When Joe Yow had the resources, and could afford sending his children to formal education.
His sons Chau Gun, Chau You, Dawson and Martin were educated in China, in the traditional Chinese system.
The formal school education of the time was based on traditional method, where text was based on Chinese literature, history, Confucian teachings which formed the bases of Chinese culture.
His first son (Chau Gun) had the most opportunities for education. Chau Gun studied in Guangzhou city. At one stage he was a teacher in the village – the ancestry house was in fact a small informal school.
By all account Chau Gun was a good calligrapher. Some of his works still survive, in different extended clan member’s home.