Guangdong English Teaching Adventures

CWEF partnered with Hong Kong International School (HKIS) this past month to bring a group of eighth grade international students to teach English in the countryside of Guangdong Province. They taught preschool through sixth grade ranging in topics and activities.  The younger kids practiced their alphabet while the older kids learned about occupations and food.  

More Than Just English

On these English teaching trips, our main purpose is not only to teach English but to introduce different teaching techniques.  We focus on bringing games and creative activities into the classroom that is not common among Chinese schools.  For many of the countryside school children, these trips might be the first time they have seen a foreigner and hear English spoken from a native speaker.  The first day is always filled with laughter and curiosity but the Chinese students are always very eager to learn English. 

Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes

This trip not only helped the young countryside Chinese students, but it opened the eyes of the international students teaching.  They saw how different a lifestyle the Chinese students lead and how motivated they are to learn English and change their lives.  Many of the middle school students  learned how hard and exhausting it is to be a teacher but also how rewarding and fulfilling it can be when you see the change you are making in a students life. 

This little boy stayed in during his recess time to finish writing his letters

This past week, I had the privilege of attending the ALEA (Asia Lutheran Education Association) conference in Hong Kong.  It was very empowering to hear about all the services happening around Asia and how international school systems are incorporating service into their curriculum.

Learning body parts

So attentive

Playing games while learning the alphabet

Learning animals

All the English books HKIS brought and donated to the schools small library

HKIS in front of the Confucian Temple in Guangdong