Week Three: Professional Blog (11/2/12)

“You can’t open a book without learning something”- Confucius

This quote gives a very fair representation of what our week was like. With classes now back in full swing after the Lunar New Year, and after a recent change in one of our modules, we had to put our life in the fast lane of tourist sight-seeing and cultural immersion at a standstill, albeit a temporary one!

The fact that both Heather and I had to stay in Northern Ireland until the middle of January, as we had to complete our semester one examinations, meant that the other students had a three week head start in settling into their classes and getting familiar with their schedules. There were times this week that we both felt like we had just jumped into the deep end feet first, but this gave us the motivation that we needed to spend this week getting caught up on the work that we missed over the past three weeks, making the library our second home.

Me outside the Mong Man Wai Library on campus.

Studying in the library was a big part of our week this week.

I really enjoy our three classes that we are taking here. They are all directly relevant to our degree, and we are already picking up on new strategies, and lesson ideas which we will be able to implement within our own classrooms in later life. The classes we are taking are: ‘Ethnic Identity, Multicultural Society and Cosmopolitanism’; ‘Self and Personal Identities’; and ‘Educational Development’.  On the whole the classes are very interactive, and involve a lot of discussion in small group settings, with the exception of lectures. Heather and I presented our ideas on the importance of a global education, and on promoting cultural awareness in schools to the rest of our class. It was great to share and reflect our personal experiences in the classroom with our fellow classmates, and also to listen to some of theirs.

Heather and I during our presentation to the class.

Thankfully, the classes all use English as the primary form of instruction and our lecturers can all speak English to a pretty high standard, which was a real relief. It was interesting watching how the local students respond in lectures, and to compare this to how we respond at Stranmillis. On the whole, local students seem more reluctant to engage in discussions and in responding to questions in lectures, often getting embarrassed when their number (which corresponds to their name on the class register) is randomly selected by the lecturer. I have even found myself getting nervous when this selection is taking place, as I wish under my breath that she doesn’t pick number sixty one (that’s me). Desperate times do call for drastic measures, and if this method wasn’t used by the lecturer, then the only people who would be responding to her questions would be the international students. At the same time, students seem to talk amongst themselves while the lecturer is speaking, which although can happen sometimes at home, it is not to the same extent. Sometimes, Heather and I find ourselves struggling to think, and as time has passed, in true studious style, began to sit further to the front in an effort to hear what is being said.  

Heather and I hard at work in class.

The ‘Educational Development’ module looks at the concepts, issues and perspectives of education systems across the world. This week, we gained an understanding about the system in Japan, China and Taiwan. We were able to compare the kinds of schools and the kinds of curricula which exist at these countries with Northern Ireland. We have a tutorial class every two weeks with this module, in which a group of three students presents on a designated topic to the rest of the class, each time. I am in a group with two local students. I’m really looking forward to working with them, and in learning more about their personal experiences in schools here in Hong Kong, as well as here at the university. Developing better communication skills with others, and also in trying to make my voice clearer, and easier to understand, are amongst the various skills which I am already seeing myself build and progress in.

I was reminded this week, of one of the main reasons why I submitted my application to participate in the international programme: to develop myself professionally and to gain an invaluable experience in teaching children from a different culture, and ultimately returning as a more competent and well-rounded teacher. I can already see myself building on skills and competences as a result of my active participation in the classes which I am taking. These skills will continue to develop as the time I spend here passes, and as I gain more experience in the education system which exists here in Hong Kong.

I am honestly loving every minute of the time I am spending here, and long may that continue! 

Ci di gin! (See you later!)

Andrew Scott