My China Adventure: Week 3

Week 3: Professional

08/03/12

We spent this weekend in Shenzhen, which is about 2hours away from Guangzhou. It was an incredible cultural experience. We stayed in Zou’s house which turned out to be an extremely posh apartment. Zou’s mother does not speak any English so Zou had to translate everything for us. A huge feast had been prepared for us to eat. I tried shrimp for the first time and got to eat Chinese sausage. Over this weekend we tried many other new things. We had a Chinese massage; this only cost £4 which is very cheap compared to Northern Irish prices. We also had the experience of trying Chinese afternoon tea which is known as ‘Dim Sum’. This is an experience I will never forget. I had porridge with beef in it and I actually tried CHICKEN FEET!! Before coming to China I promised myself I would never eat chicken feet but in China it is rude not to try food that has been bought for you so I had to try the dreaded chicken feet. I definitely will not be rushing to eat chicken feet again anytime soon. We also got to try our hand at making dumplings. In China dumplings are very popular and Jing invited us to her family home to make them with her grandmother – who turned out to be a dumpling expert!!

This week was also the beginning of school. From the moment I found out that school in China begins at 7.50am I knew this was going to be a completely different experience from placement in Northern Ireland. For my first batch of placement I am in a Middle School which is equivalent to our Year 8 – Year 10. I am teaching Grade 8 which is the same as Year 9. At first I was quite nervous to be teaching in a Middle School but all of my fears where quickly relieved as I met the teachers whose classes I would be teaching. I was so overwhelmed by their excitement and enthusiasm about me coming to teach. They told me that the students were so excited to be having a foreign teacher helping them with their English. I was applauded as I entered each room and at the end of the class I was surrounded by very enthusiastic pupils who wanted to know everything about me.

Later on in the week I returned to 113 Middle School and began teaching. My first lesson was about Northern Ireland and my family life back at home. The teachers took notes on my lessons of ways in which they can improve their teaching and the students were so eager to learn English from me. The student’s English is exceptional. Most of them have been learning English since Primary School. I wish I had been given this opportunity in Primary School to learn a second language and continue it on through Secondary School.

In China the relationship between pupil and teacher is very different to Northern Ireland. I was asked for my mobile number and email address by a young boy in class. April – one of my class teachers said that in China this kind of communication is acceptable. Teachers can personally contact their pupils via mobile or email if there are any problems or issues that may arise with regards to their work. It is also common for teachers in China to go and visit the homes of their students so they can meet their students’ families. This approach is a fantastic way for teachers to understand the family situations and backgrounds that their students are coming from. It is essential for the teacher to be aware of these issues that may affect the pupil’s they are teaching and the way they learn.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this week, especially being in school. I am learning skills and gaining experiences I would never have got if I had chosen to stay in Northern Ireland this semester.

Xaoshang hao – Good morning. I use this phrase to greet my class in the morning.