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| Dr Cheng of Nanjing Normal University |
| Ms Sheng, Party Secretary |
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Before leaving for their visit to Nanjing Normal University, student ambassadors Angus Lam and Chen Lusi did a great deal of detailed research. With the help of Chen Xi, an exchange student from Nanjing Normal University currently studying at HKIEd, they obtained a list of teachers and related staff at Nanjing’s top primary and secondary schools and made plans to visit them. After completing their tour, the two HKIEd ambassadors couldn’t wait to share their experiences with the Joy of Learning. The hard work and the practical working style, diligence and dedicated spirit that they witnessed at the University resulted in an overwhelming study experience.
At the Nanjing Normal University Affiliated School, Angus and Lusi interviewed Athena Huang, a soon-to-be teacher, majoring in Chinese, in the fourth year of her studies. During their visit, Athena was in the process of filming oneof her “micro-teaching” sessions. All practising
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| teachers are required to video their body language and gestures during lessons – these include their facial expressions, body movement and eye contact, for subsequent review. A mentor system is also used. Every student is assigned to a frontline teacher who observes the performance of his or her mentee in class, making comments and suggestions for improvement. In addition, all practising teachers record every lesson taught with an MP3 to facilitate later reviews which focus on the clarity and volume of their voice, the classroom content materials, as well as student reactions. This rigorous training approach has created rock-solid foundations for Nanjing’s student-teachers, helping them to better prepare for the challenges ahead. |
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Angus was deeply touched by what Ms Sheng, Party Secretary at Nanjing Normal University Affiliated Primary School, had to say about the “education of love”. Secretary Sheng is working to ensure that “love can be integrated into education, so that every student can grow up in happiness”. This is in fact a universal core value of education. Angus thinks that Hong Kong students often lack enthusiasm when learning because they do not have such feelings of love. Living in an affluent society, Hong Kong’s young people enjoy a great deal of freedom and can correspondingly be rather self-centred. On the Mainland, students may lag behind materially, but they are generally more respectful and grateful to their teachers, showing greater humility in their attitude towards learning. |
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Growing up in Guangdong, Chen Lusi feels that education on the Mainland tends to stress the collective interest and promote team spirit. Total commitment of the individual is regarded both as an obligation and a source of pride. During the Cultural Revolution, teachers were dismissed as unimportant. Time has since gone by and under the present generally accepted belief that “Knowledge changes life”, education has become a key priority and long-term mission for China today. To achieve top-quality economic standards and broad cultural horizons, teacher education is now seen as being of the utmost importance.
Lusi received 12 years’ training in basic education in Shenzhen and also attended military training three times. She has thus acquired the ability to bring fellow students together, cultivating a fraternal spirit and injecting a positive learning attitude amongst them all. As Lusi’s name rhymes with “teacher” in Chinese, she has always been known as “Teacher Chen” by her friends and relatives. Becoming a good teacher has thus been a cherished dream since childhood. She has actively been involved in numerous different activities since her first year at HKIEd. She is currently Executive Editor on the Editorial Board of the Student Union, taking a proud role as part of our large HKIEd family.
Apart from deepening their understanding of the Mainland education system, the trip to Nanjing has greatly broadened both Angus’ and Lusi’s horizons. Looking ahead, the two HKIEd ambassadors will stride forward with increased dedication towards their goal, to become highly proficient language teachers. |
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| Dinner with Michael and Thomas |
| From left: Ka-hang, Chriss and Xu Jie |
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Yuen Ka-hang and Xu Jie, both majoring in English Language, compared themselves to backpackers in a travel adventure programme, as they explored Switzerland with indescribable excitement and enjoyment. In their ten days there, the two met Professor Huber from Padagogische Hochschule Zentralschweiz – ZUG, enjoying a fruitful exchange with him on the current education scene in Switzerland; they attended dinner at the invitation of the very hospitable local students; and visited various educational institutions – ranging from international, state-run, as well as organisations catering for wealthy and gifted children.
The most memorable experience for the two girls was the visit to the home of Chriss, a masters' degree student. Chriss’ mother is an art teacher in a local secondary school. Reflecting her tremendous commitment to her students and her art, her study is full of both teaching materials and the artwork of her students. Although Chriss’ mother had no class on the day of the visit, she still went back to school for a meeting with the student journal’s editorial team. Ka-hang and Xu Jie were touched by the immense passion of this lady, who has been a teacher for 27 years. |
| Chriss, on the other hand, is more interested in international relations and politics. The module he is currently studying in university focuses on how international interplay affects economic development. Chriss’ younger brother is in upper secondary. Interested in metal design, he has joined an apprenticeship scheme. This work/study combination satisfies his interests while giving him some income at the same time. As a result, he has become more independent. Although each member of the family has his or her own work and interests, they are all realising their own dreams and aspirations.
The Swiss take education very seriously. Young people who choose to become teachers demonstrate immense personal commitment and an intense interest in teaching. Both students and parents show great respect for and trust in their teachers. In the western tradition, a primary mission of education is to inculcate the attitude that every individual must be responsible for his or her own life. Apart from seeing it as a duty for teachers and an obligation for parents, education in Switzerland expects students to be proactive. “When teachers have already done their best, they should not feel guilty for the unsatisfactory scores of their students,” Professor Huber explained.
An interesting experience took place at Padagogische Hochschule Zentralschweiz– Luzern, where the young ladies met a “freshman” named Thomas. Already holding a degree in economics and with two years of working experience behind him, he did not think the commercial sector fitted him, so he decided to return to university for a bachelor’s degree in education. Thomas is committed to becoming a good teacher and he regards the next five years as crucial. In Switzerland, a secondary school teacher must be proficient in four languages – German, French, Italian and English. To Thomas, this is one of his challenges. Despite the fact that it was just a brief acquaintance, Ka-hang and Xu Jie were invited to dinner by Thomas and his classmate Michael. Over dinner, the young men agreed with the establishment of a university for education, and wished the HKIEd every success in our quest for a university title. At the same time, Ka-hang and Xu Jie extended their best wishes to Thomas, hoping that he will sustain his hard work, as he turns his dreams into reality.
What Ka-hang and Xu Jie discovered on this trip was that whether a person’s aspirations are large or small, they are respected in Switzerland. The Swiss believe that there is always a way to put one’s talents and abilities to good use. The role of a teacher is to maximise the student’s potential, not simply teaching them to score high marks in public exams. No wonder Swiss teachers regard the well-being and happy upbringing of their students as the most rewarding gift on earth! |
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