Au Chin Ying, Faculty of Education

Programme: Exploring Mainland Classrooms: Teacher Training Education Workshop (2023/24)

Partner Institution: Southwest University

Period: May 25 - June 1, 2024

It is my pleasure to be one of the participants of the "Exploring Mainland Classrooms: Teacher Training Education Workshop". During this incredible journey in Chongqing, I was glad to make new friends from Hong Kong, Macau and Southwest University and deepen my understanding of this beautiful city.

From the perspective of a future educator, Southwest University provided me with precious opportunities to experience mainland education and discuss with experienced local teachers. Unlike my previous impressions of merely focusing on scores, mainland education nowadays involves interdisciplinary elements and has become more student-centered. For example, the content of an art lesson could include music. In addition, mainland teachers from key schools encouraged students to think creatively and guided them to actively explore subject knowledge instead of only giving them model answers to memorize. Moreover, when lessons ended, I had the chance to interact with experienced teachers. Through discussions, I have learned more about different views on education, ways to design suitable student-centered lessons, and tips on preparing high-participation lessons. I was particularly impressed by the teachers from West Elementary School and Chongqing Chaoyang Middle School, who strongly emphasized the importance of recognizing students' efforts and enhancing students' sense of gain, respectively. Their sharing allowed me to think deeper about what kind of teacher I want to be in the future.

From the perspective of a tourist, I was able to discover the distinct beauty of Chongqing. We visited different well-known sites, including the Chongqing Three Gorges Museum, Chongqing People's Liberation Monument, Liziba station, Hongya Cave and the Dazu Rock Carvings. Before visiting, what I knew about Chongqing was the ubiquitous stairs. However, after I went to these spots, I was amazed by the commercial development of Chongqing, captivated by its magnificent night view and impressed by its rich history. These all constitute the uniqueness and beauty of this attractive city.

In this weeklong workshop in Chongqing, I encountered interesting peers, friendly volunteers and guiding teachers. I truly cherish every enjoyable moment we spent together and will look back on these unforgettable memories. In the future, I hope that I have the chance to join similar programs to explore more cities in China and continue meeting interesting people.