Feeling the China Love

It’s getting towards the end of my first semester and I am starting to reflect on and truly appreciate the amazing opportunities I have here.  Therefore, I’ll take some time to post about it.

Who knew being a westerner in China could be so great for the self esteem? Every presentation I do, everywhere I go, people here are telling me how great I am! What  a confidence booster! Yet no one will let me compliment them back, so I’ll do it here.

For example, last Saturday at the Beijing American Center, I had the pleasure of giving a workshop to 150 amazing Chinese English teachers from all over the area. Four fellows presented; my workshop was about foldables and how you can use them in the classroom. The teachers were super attentive. Taking notes, taking photographs of my PPT, asking questions, volunteering.

Every teacher was so engaged in making their foldable. It was almost unbearable to tell them the workshop was over! Dozens added me on wechat right away to tell me how inspired they were and how excited they will be to use this technique in their classrooms. Wow! 75 minutes and I’m making changes to the Chinese education system! I even had four teachers ask if I could work at their school. These teachers blew me away. They are so eager to learn, to receive new information, to apply methods that are unknown in traditional Chinese English teaching. They drenched me in praise but it is I who has to commend them, for taking initiative to develop as a teacher outside the norms here.

Next example: my students. I’ve had some ups and downs this semester with adjusting to teaching Chinese students in China. I’ve had lots of experience with NYC Chinese students but it’s quite different here. I’ve had to adapt my questioning techniques, think about how to use more interactive strategies in the class that don’t make students anxious about speaking, and create new curriculum every week that is fun, interesting, and focuses on oral English (which I actually have never taught as a course before!) So ups and downs. One lesson flops, another is fun. They stare at me like potatoes with eyes one minute, next minute I can’t get them to stop talking… It has been hard to gauge both their levels of English as well as their level of interest in my class. Until now.

 I assigned every student a final presentation of his/her choosing instead of a final exam, in groups or individually. I’ve sat through about half of them now and WOW. They have blown me away. From analysis of Game of Thrones to travel tips in Tibet to the policies of LGBTQ in China to a comparison of western and chinese teaching styles…. And anywhere in between.  The language, the preparation, the effort has been unbelievable. I am so impressed by these students who, at times, I found lazy earlier in the semester. Yet when I tried to give them compliments at the end of their presentations they said, no Rose, we love you and love your class. We can’t believe it’s over! I was so surprised! I had really no idea that these kids enjoyed themselves so much. Now it’s hard to get them to stop messaging me to come visit their hometowns over vacation!

I am feeling fortunate to have these experiences. My eyes, ears, and heart are open, I’m so happy I can learn about the real China, instead of the China you read about in western newspapers. It’s only been 4.5 months but I have already learned so much about this culture and about myself. Let’s see what the next few months bring! I’m ready!