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My visit to "Number One Middle School of Taizhou Municipality" was the highlight of the day; an eye-opening experience, reminiscent of my childhood of the 50's, i (n Germany. Taizhou College offered me to observe the instruction in several of that school's English classes, and to collect thoughts and ideas for some in-service training for Chinese teachers of English during the month of July at the college. This Middle School is very proud of honoring Chinese President Hu Jintao as one of its former students and alumni. I was impressed by the beautiful and inviting landscaping of the school's campus. The students are young teenagers, never shy to yell a friendly hello, and eager to great even an older yet "handsome" Western face. :-)
The teachers looked young, perhaps in their twenties and thirties, and both were enthusiastic and serious and demanding of their teaching-profession. Their students loved them, and one spoke of how he hopes to be like his teacher. They were gracious and kind in letting me sit in back of their classes, no doubt anxious about their foreign guest. Each of the classes had some "55" STUDENTS, paired on simple and functional wood-desks, sitting on humble benches. I was happy to make use of one, offered by a student. It afforded me wonderful interaction on their "level".
Each 100 minute period consisted of two 45 minute lessons, split by a 10 minute break for teacher and students. There are two 100 minute periods in the morning, and another two 100 minute periods in the afternoon. I was informed, that many students also have evening classes, while most attend classes on Saturday as well as on Sunday. (... I'm very serious).
Tuition is about three thousand Yuan per year, a healthy sum for Chinese standards, though it is a public school. Education in China is based on the family's desire and aspirations for their children, who in turn will help their parents in their Golden Years. The education is afforded by the parent's hard work and sacrifice, and the students seem seriously aware and sincerely appreciative of their parent's hardship on their behalf. There is much pressure from school, parents, and society to succeed, a difficult challenge for those still quite young, but not so different from our own expectations.
Classrooms were fully utilized, leaving some room for the visitors. As the teacher entered the class, all students stood, greeted the teacher and guest with a promt, and sat only when the teacher asked them to do so. All "55" faces were absorbed in the lessons of the teacher, and he had their total focus and attention. When he posed questions, students would half raise their hands, and upon being called by the teacher, would proceed to stand-up, give their responses, and only by permission would resume their seats. There was no unnecessary talking or passing of notes or text-messaging, no chewing gum or eating, no IPods, no ear-phones, no distractions, no speaking out of turn, each student sat in ready for the next response or activity. During group assignments there was gentle and encouraging support from their fellow-neighbor. Group co-operation is highly valued and emphasized, and reminders of those less fortunate in their culture are frequent themes.
Each eager class followed the script of their English text, which the teacher supported through power-point. Much value was placed on communal activities, and many of the lessons are carefully memorized. In fact, emphasis is placed on committing much of a text to memory, reflected in similar-sounding responses of the pupils. The teachers made great effort to call on a variety of students, with time and size of the class as the great limiting factor.
Each mid-morning, all students assemble on the sports field, and are lined in rows by their teachers to engage in physical exercise and hear the morning announcements. This morning instead, the vice-principal gave a 1/2 hr. speech from a raised podium on the "dangers of summer", and hundreds of regimented students listened in the melting sun to his enthusiastic speech, their teachers seeking the shade of the trees. None of the students moved from their positions until the end of the presentation, though I was ready to administer CPR to any collapsing student. They politely applauded, all survived a potential heat-stroke, and my CPR skills were left for another day, and instantly, all were in ready for their next lesson. The morning left me with much to ponder.
For the first time, this afternoon, I visited the cafeteria of Taizhou College alone. At 11:30 a.m.
I was one of the first teachers in line for lunch. The College has provided me with a card, offering paid meals at the teacher's mess-hall. The room is not very large, with metal tables and benches for easy cleaning. A mounted TV provides additional entertainment. Each teacher takes a metal tray and chop-sticks from a "sterilizer". At a window, the cook takes my tray, and I point to a selection of up to 12 Chinese dishes. I am amazed at the amount of food individual teachers consume, and still they stay trim?? I'm ready to learn their secret, quite a challenge. Offered are a variety of vegetables and stirred meats, ie. chicken, pork, beef, with various distinct but pleasing seasonings and flavors, and of course some steamed-white-rice. A bowl of soup, rather than any drinks, facilitates the smooth transfer of food into each tummy. The adjustment to my new diet and it's ingredients has enabled me to become somewhat more aquainted with and more appreciative of my apartment's Western-style toilet.
Several of the local English teachers have been sitting with me, and for Thursday evening I have been invited, with my foreign-collegue Sue, to enjoy a presentation of their version of Romeo and Juliet. The actors are quite proud and exited about their play, as I am to see it.
During the afternoon, I walked alone through some of the oldest sections of the city of Taizhou:
On top of very narrow streets, lined with the humblest of one-floor housing, many remaining as typical old village architecture, is scattered the new harvest of wheat. It is being separated from the dry-straw-stalks by the feet of every pedestrian or every other moving vehicle to come along, directly on and over the harvest, while it baked in the heat. The straw is then repeatedly brushed free by the attending and experienced hands of it's owner, until only the wheat-seeds remain on the concrete streets. These are then swepped into sacks for later use in feeding the family and much of the straw is burned. It was the first time in my life, that I have been encouraged to walk on top of wheat with my shoes, and let me tell you, it was easier than "walking on water", and before I entered the apartment, I picked the last seeds from my new "Hush-Puppies". Feet have been quite a useful tool for centuries, I never realized in how many efficient and useful ways. I have been reminded of this by the friendly locals, who enjoyed me enjoying them.
My old email address: s_hans@bellsouth.net is still my best Internet address to reach me.
It provides useful and immediate access. Hope very much, that everyone is having a spectacular summer.
I am still wanting to resolve the photo situation soon, I wish I had some of my techno-cyborg-students here to resolve the difficulty. But I have been told: "Patience is a Virtue".
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Thomas Scianmarello
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Classroom
I could only imagine that this enviroment is that of a teacher's dream?