Teach English In China is an award-winning provider of English teaching placements and homestays across China, offering placements in cities across China, including Beijing, Chengdu and Shanghai. The looming pressure of this exam becomes apparent from an early age in China; students as young as 6 are conscious of the need to work towards success no less than 12 years later. See our, Read a limited number of articles each month, You consent to the use of cookies and tracking by us and third parties to provide you with personalized ads, Unlimited access to washingtonpost.com on any device, Unlimited access to all Washington Post apps, No on-site advertising or third-party ad tracking. Constructivist teaching methods: Contemporary teaching styles tend to be group-focused and inquiry-driven. The factors that lead to success in their studies for Chinese students studying in American universities fall into three categories: strong motivation, a good language skill, and a good accommodation of the culture. A Chinese person’s entire educational career centres around success in the notoriously difficult College Entrance Exam (gaokao). The Chinese believe that students learn best by memorising information supplied through repetition and note-taking. The importance of education can be seen in Emperor Zhenzong’s (968–1022 AD) poem A UK maths primary teacher delegation recently visited Shanghai to investigate why Chinese children score 30 per cent higher on international tests than children in the UK. Things like the squat toilets, questionable driving and complex dining etiquette don’t go unnoticed by foreign tourists. Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The student-led approach used in the West arguably equips learners with better critical thinking and problem-solving skills, useful in both an academic and non-academic sense. Students develop the … Constructivist teaching methods embrace subsets of alternative teaching styles, including modeling, coaching, and test preparation through rubrics scaffolding. When compared to the notoriously bad behaviour in some western countries, the advantages of the teacher-led approach become apparent. The differences between Western and Chinese teaching methods may come as a surprise to first-time TEFL teachers. Motivation. This content is currently not available in your region. Here, a teachers’ expertise makes them the most important person in the classroom and gives them higher status than their students. The participant's story is presented in his own voice, as constructed from interview transcripts. By clicking “I agree” below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. Fourth, teaching methods. In this post, you will get complete information on teaching methods and its important aspects. This pressure to succeed plays a key role in effective classroom management in China. Other measures have cen… Due to the widespread of Coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) in China, following the government's requirements of “nonstop teaching and learning,” most Chinese universities have started online education. Learning for exams is still dependent on memorization. then this post is for you. Khalida Tanvir Syed . Though, ask a foreign teacher what they noticed, and you’ll probably receive a different answer. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. With the largest population in the world, one could also argue that China has the largest education system in the world which entails that it trains the largest number of teachers to take up teaching positions in schools. All of these are designed to promote student participation and necessitate a hybrid approach to teaching. Their ‘expert’ status in the Chinese classroom means the teachers instruction is considered the most efficient route to achieving this. Five Chinese teachers took over the education of a class of fifty Year 9 pupils at Bohunt School in Liphook and taught them (in one class of 50!) Through long-term endeavor, the provision of educational has taken on a prosperous process. Maintaining in an adequate motivation and passion during the study process all the time is hard for every Chinese student in the American universities. However, the reality is that people are all different and they all have different characteristics. Students should not feel like their future success is determined by a single exam score. On the other hand, the Chinese deem exam success to be of utmost importance. Now teaching English to children has become a mainstream view in society. The reasons the teacher-led approach is the favoured Chinese teaching method can largely be attributed to cultural values and beliefs. education is only open to middle school and high school students; it also only focuses on grammar and vocabulary teaching. Memorisation is widely regarded as the primary route to successfully acquiring the large volumes of knowledge tested in the gaokao. Chinese teachers, like American teachers, need to meet specific teaching qualifications. As a native speaker of English, you are an expert and students are generally very grateful for your presence. Education in China is characterized as the “true religion of the people” and has always played an important part in Chinese tradition with learning always being highly valued and respected. You may even find many of your students cheating in tasks! Chinese teachers arrived at the school in Hampshire with the aim of proving that Chinese teaching methods could be successful in the UK. Living in China is not easy. Chinese students usually excel in science and maths, while their western counterparts in those that require creativity and critical thinking. However, the beginning point in this cycle is not the same for every teacher. Foreign teachers are there to expose students to native English and introduce western teaching methods to the Chinese classroom. They are closely linked to teachers’ strategies for cop ing w ith challenges in their daily professional life and to their general well-being, and they shape students’ learn ing environment and influence student motivation and ach ievement. The gaokao is said to place unhealthy amounts of stress on Chinese students, which causes some to take extreme measures towards success. This makes it one of the most important events of a Chinese person’s life and places extreme stress on even the brightest of students. Understanding these differences is key to successfully helping your students adapt and opening your eyes to alternative teaching methods. You’ll be surprised at how similar it is to the education systems you’ve grown up with. This inspires an admirable work ethic in students of all ages and acts as a strong incentive for good behaviour. This idea, while it has morphed and been distilled throughout the centuries, still exists in the minds of many Chinese teachers. Thus, many Chinese teachers and professors teach in a lecture … By establishing the basics and spending more time on teacher-led style, Chinese teaching methods lead to educational success. Literacy Education . Primary education (小学; xiǎoxué) is what we typically call elementary level education. That’s not to say classroom management won’t be a concern, but it’s certainly distinct from the West. report researched the teaching of Chinese at school level in the four nations of the UK. School is mandatory for nine years, six of primary and three of junior secondary, but many students continue on to complete the following three to four years of senior secondary. You may find some students are reluctant to ask or answer questions, shy from participating in activities or struggle with tasks that require them to use their imagination. The most notable government policy, the 1986 Law on Nine-Year Compulsory Education, called for achievement of the ‘two basics’ (liangji): universal enrollment among school-aged children (6-15 years) and full literacy among those under the age of 20. Ben Pearce recently returned to the UK after four years living and working in Haining. Testing. The reasons the teacher-led approach is the favoured Chinese teaching method can largely be In this blog, he shares some of his top tips to help you get started with learning Mandarin. Despite such behaviour, you can expect to receive high levels of respect and enthusiasm from your student. Therefore, students passively receive information from the teacher and rarely engage in group activities or challenge the knowledge provided. This method equips students with knowledge and skills useful in an academic and non-academic setting. Instructional coaching in EL Education schools is focused on evidence of student achievement and engagement connected to the instructional choices of the teacher. ABSTRACT: This paper presents the teaching and learning experiences of a Chinese literacy teacher in narrative . Chinese students‟ surface rote learning style within a large class and highly authoritarian teaching context are easily assumed to produce poor learning achievement. Historically China‟s traditional education is examination-oriented. Teach English In China Kemp House, 152 - 160 City Road, London EC1V 2NX. It is estimated that in 2007 China had a total of approximately 11 million teachers for its education system (Song, 2007). My wife and I visited some elementary, middle, and high schools, as well as several community colleges. Focusing almost entirely on the teacher, this approach requires few classroom resources and allows for little to no student engagement. Abundant research into approaches to learning has shown that such an approach to learning should lead to poor learning … Though Chinese teaching methods receive criticism from the West, they consistently produce outstanding academic results in certain subject areas. Western teaching methods view students as contributors rather than recipients and focus on group interaction. Consequently, there is little room for students to develop the skills viewed as important in the West. However, by appreciating the difficulties that arise from the Chinese system and employing certain techniques, you can help. Ten equally skilled university students from the Faculty of Education (University of Macau) were trained to teach the pupils by two teaching methods: Chinese kids, though, are quite ready for such a challenge because their hard work starts with the very first year at school. It is also recognized that education is the driving force behind … By taking the time to understand your students and their background, you’ll soon build trust and help them flourish. participations in classroom activities. This idyllic setting characterises learning and teaching methods favoured by most schools across China; the ‘teacher-led’ approach. When there are more than 1.5 billion people like you in a country with no social guarantees, you don't have a choice other than to fight and claw your way up. When teachers assume ownership, it is difficult to ask more of them than they ask of themselves. Instead of training … Students in China believe that success is conditional upon a high test score. Secondary school is split into Lower and Upper, called 初中 (chūzhōng) and 高中 (gāozhōng); these are equivalent to middle school and high school respectively. Successful education systems in this moment will do whatever it takes to develop ownership by the teaching profession. A classroom full of students obediently taking notes and only breaking their silence for a prompted chorus of repetition is nothing but a fantasy for most teachers in the West. Palestinian teacher Jihad Abu Sharar leads an online class at home while schools are closed due to the coronavirus outbreak, in the West Bank village of Dura near Hebron on March 17, 2020. You can take in a whole new culture and broaden your horizons, all while teaching English to students of all ages. Exams in the Chinese education system hold most substantial weight, and this pressure comes from both the home as well as the country. However, as the society develops, more and more parents and educators realize English teaching should be available to young children as well. Teachers therefore use a systematic approach to planning and delivering information-packed lessons to students who passively receive information. Though exam success is remains important, methods focus more on in-depth understanding and the development of creative and critical thinking skills. For years, Western countries have been trying to move away from the teacher-led approach in favour of student-focused methods. In a short time period, millions of faculty members started to teach in front of a computer screen, and their students have to stay at home and take the courses through the internet. Four Chinese middle schools participated in this study during the summer of 2004. He has reached an excellent standard of Mandarin and is now teaching the language to students of various ages in London. A Chinese Teacher’s Perspective on Professional Development in Literacy Education. Both methods have their strengths and weakness and it’s hard to say which is best. So, how do they differ and how will it affect you? The importance of this exam influences Chinese teaching methods. China’s education system has three main levels, composed of Primary, Secondary, and Post-Secondary. using Chinese teaching methods for a month, and then tested in English, Maths, Science and Mandarin, and the results compared to other students who remained receiving a more typical British Education. This belief, combined with a widespread respect for teachers in Chinese society, inspires a keenness among students to listen to the teacher. If you’re looking to teach in a new country, China could be the option that appeals the most. Such is the sense that the teacher knows best, few students ask questions and some consider group discussion a waste of time. One of their main aims was to instil a Chinese-style work ethic in British teenagers to help them fulfil their educational potential. The classroom is involved, but driven by the teacher rather than the students. Here’s everything you need to know about how the Chinese Education system works. The answer could lie in the Confucian concept mentioned earlier—teachers have the ability to lead others toward knowledge and a better life. They view memorisation as a route to understanding and believe the most effective way of achieving this is through direct instruction. We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. Challenges and . participating Chinese schools in Macau, China. Believe it or not though, this scene represents classrooms across China, from primary school to university. However, with the foundation of modern China the new order introduced a fresh approach to education and brought is into a new phase. These are results of Chinese teaching methods and as a foreign teacher it’s important you understand this. So why can’t these Chinese professors change their teaching methods? Therefore, there is a bias for student-centred activities that involve group discussion, problem solving and thinking outside the box. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. It’s easy to forget that such differences may exist, but as a foreign teacher it’s important you’re aware. There is a common perception that Chinese students have a tendency towards rote learning. In an effort to promote sustainable development, Chinese leaders have sought to improve educational quality and increase access across the country. Teaching Method- Are you a student of D.el.ed or B.ed?Are you looking for types of teaching methods and their advantages and disadvantages? A lot of people have commented on this topic. Teachers’ beliefs, practices and attitudes are important for understand ing and improving educational processes. Coaching involves an ongoing cycle of goal-setting, learning, observation, data collection, and reflection. The main features of the Chinese School … In addition to its primary function testing may still serve as a diagnostic tool of the difficulties of language material for students, a measure of the level of training and the way to predict the success or failure of learning. Though classroom management remains important, it consumes far less time, allowing the Chinese teacher to focus on delivering the lesson. We rely on readers like you to uphold a free press. Culture and societal beliefs undoubtedly influence teaching methods, however it’s certain that both systems could learn a lot from one another. Overcoming the barriers created by Chinese teaching methods in the classroom is not always easy, but it’s certainly rewarding. Whether or not you plan to begin a teaching career, this is valuable experience that shows you Chinese culture in ways that tourism cannot. Some parents allegedly hire professional exam takers to pose as their children and ensure good results, behaviour that would be frowned upon in the West. Teachers constantly ask and answer questions, invite students to demonstrate solutions on the board and quiz students about their thinking. One of the problems of modern methods of teaching Chinese language is the development of objective and independent control. As a foreign teacher, you should be encouraging the use of English in context and independent thinking through engaging activities. Rote learning has been associated with a surface approach to learning, which is normally envisaged as less desirable than a deep approach, particularly in higher education. It is designed to provide a picture of current provision for Chinese to serve as a baseline for future developments and to set out the opportunities for Chinese within developing educational policies. This makes the teacher an authoritative figure who is the sole source of subject-specific knowledge. The teachers’ passion for education was clear to see. Adjusting to a new teaching method isn’t always easy. Bring dull academic concepts to life with visual and practical learning experiences, helping your students to understand how their schooling applies in the real-world.Examples include using the interactive whiteboard to display photos, audio clips and videos, as well as encouraging your students to get out of their seats with classroom experiments and local field trips. The teachers … With my interest and background in education, my teaching in China placed me in a unique position to do the firsthand observation of Chinese education at all levels, which was one of the primary purposes of my original sabbatical request and my subsequent trips there. English as a second language was the chosen subject. If you know anyone who’s visited China, you’re likely to have heard a common list of bizarre cultural disparities. form. Chinese parents and teachers are not generally inclined to develop their children to be as independent as their American counterparts. You also agree to our Terms of Service. Working within one of the worlds most successful education systems, foreign teachers experience a new realm of disparities that exist between China and the West, most notably in Chinese teaching methods. Researchers argue that such exams promote surface learning. Learners of this method develop a more well-rounded skillset, though evidence suggests they retain far less information than their Chinese counterparts. Rather than acting as an authority figure, western teachers take the role of ‘facilitator’, guiding students through the learning process. Chinese students usually do works by themselves, Western education often make students take part in group and do teamwork (Liu, 2008). After that, China's education system fell into something of a state of confusion due to the changes in national government. €5 every 4 weeks or just €50 €20 for the first year, €7 every 4 weeks or just €70 €30 for the first year. The expectation for high grades has become ingrained in the Chinese culture, and all citizens take letter grades and standardized test scores seriously. In this crisis, even the best education minister cannot do justice to the needs of millions of students, hundreds of thousands of teachers and tens of thousands of schools. Although you will get the teaching method definition and examples. China’s strict education system and widespread respect for teachers encourages behaviour that most in the West can only dream of. Since Chinese students are unaccustomed to this way of learning, you’re likely to notice some common behavioural trends. Due to the rather large population of China, their education system is the largest one in the whole world. November 25, 2014 at 6:00 AM EST Seventy teachers from the United Kingdom were sent to Shanghai to study classroom methods to investigate why Chinese … (3) Which parts of Western education can use for improve Chinese education and how to use those information to improve Chinese education Considered one of the toughest exams in the world, gaokao results determine a person’s future career prospects and earning potential. Students are key participants in the learning process and are encouraged to ask questions and challenge ideas and concepts. According to guidelines introduced by the education ministry, Japanese children should have learned how to read 1,006 kanji – Chinese characters used in the modern Japanese writing system – … By clicking “I agree” below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. And focus on group interaction is determined by a single exam score of knowledge tested in Chinese. 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Process and are encouraged to ask more of them than they ask themselves... Take the role of ‘ facilitator ’, guiding students through the learning and. People have commented on this topic English and introduce western teaching methods embrace subsets of alternative methods. Chinese Literacy teacher in narrative among students to native English and introduce western teaching methods its! Common perception that Chinese students are key participants in the Confucian concept mentioned earlier—teachers have the ability to others! Allowing the Chinese classroom the answer could lie in the gaokao is said to place unhealthy amounts of stress Chinese! Education is only open to middle school and high school students ; it also only on... Hard for every teacher moment will do whatever it takes to develop ownership by the teacher rather than students!