Week 14: Professional Blog (28/4/12)

“A teacher affects eternity, he can never tell where his influence stops”- Henry Brooks Adams.

With teaching in full swing for both Heather and I, and subsequently each of us finishing our days with endless stories about the children in our class, it is safe to say that we are loving our time in school! Both of my classes wrote about me in their weekly journals this week and I’m not ashamed to say that some of their responses literally had me on the brink of tears (and that wasn’t because of the comments about my ‘big, pointy nose’ or receding hairline!) with most of them talking about my patience, my sense of humour, or their amazement that I managed to learn all their names in the space of fifteen minutes!

Paul from 5A was very please with his weekly journal entry about me!

It’s a very strange concept to get used to teaching a class for an hour, at the most, each day, and in between times going to a designated room to do planning in preparation for the next day’s lessons. At home, it takes no time at all before close relationships are built between the teacher and the students, due to the fact that they spend all day with each other, but here, it takes longer as children have different teachers for each subject within the curriculum. Heather and I have both recognised this as one of our personal struggles, so interacting with the pupils during recess, in addition to class time, has been our biggest priority of the week. It has been amazing to see how well the students react to our additional efforts with them. The children also respond very positively to the variety of teaching resources and lesson ideas that I have used during my lessons. I think versatility is such an important quality for a teacher to possess, and using a variety of teaching methods can help keep children more interested and engaged in what is being learnt.

We got the chance to visit some students at their homes this week. On Thursday, I went home with Jackie Chan (not the actor) and his two brothers Henry and Charles, and I spent the evening just playing games with the boys, and enjoying a lovely meal with the family. The school also organised for us to have a tour of Tai Po, which was an incredible experience as we were able to see some of the sights, that we would have never dreamed of visiting, if it wasn’t for the company of the local students and parents who acted as our tour-guides for the morning. Interacting with the children in a situation outside of the walls of the classroom was an invaluable experience in getting to know them as individuals, and it also allowed them the chance to use their English skills to communicate with me. At first, some of the children were quite shy, reserved and unwilling to engage in a conversation with me, but, just like in a classroom by building up their confidence, they opened up more and I learnt a lot about them. The PTA of the school have been really supportive in helping us to really concrete meaningful relationships with the children by organising opportunities like this for us to participate in. Both Heather and I will visit two other families next week, and I really look forward to sharing my experiences of Hong Kong with them. 

Henry, Jackie and I exploring the gardens before dinner.

The Chan family prepared some typical Chinese dishes for me.

Some of the children and I at the Tai Po Railway Museum.

Experiencing the Tai Po Market.

Some children in our school were participating in a modern-day adaptation of Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ this weekend, in which five schools from the local area came together to demonstrate how Shakespeare’s work can be used to create a ‘worldwide classroom’. Our school’s part was amazing, and I was blown away by the talent of the pupils who took part. The fact that these children, who speak English as their second or third language, were able to recite Shakespeare so well was amazing. Both Heather and I stood proudly in the wings, while the children performed, with two ridiculously cheesy smiles from one ear to another. We’ve been able to build such close relationships with these children in the short time that we’ve spent with them, and I was honestly so proud of them after the show. Looking at it from a more professional viewpoint, it struck me how teachers can very easily under-estimate the potential that children have, and pushing children to succeed and to aim high in life in general, is a key quality which I will definitely make a focus in my future classroom. I think at the same time that drama has a massive potential for the primary classroom in not only attributing to the children’s creative development, but also in allowing the children to express themselves as individuals, and it plays a significant role in their holistic development. Above all else, I’ve been reminded that my job is not restricted to the four walls of the classroom, and to a specific list of academic subjects, but to the education of the whole child, and in preparing them for future life, as a member of a global society. 

All the cast and crew of 'Shakespeare: A Worldwide Classroom'.

Zach, Adrian, Edmund and I backstage during the show.

Watching from the wings- the cast take their final bows.

Shirley, Jackie’s mother, asked me on Thursday night, what I had wanted to work as when I was younger.  When I told her that I actually always wanted to be a teacher, and that I used to pretend that my teddies were children in my class, she smiled and said “so you’re actually fulfilling your dreams now?” My time in the Hong Kong classroom has been so rewarding both on a personal and a professional level, and I have no reservations to say that I will be returning to Northern Ireland as a much better-rounded teacher than I was when I left. I have one more week in the primary school, and I am expecting it to be a very emotional one indeed… I don’t want it to end! 

我想這將持續到永遠! (If only this could last forever!)

Jackie and Henry called me their big brother!

Andrew Scott

Week 13: Professional and Personal Blog (21/4/12)

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement, nothing can be done without hope and confidence”- Helen Keller.

This week marked the beginning of our school placement at the Jockey Club Primary School. Our university classes are finally completed, and all that is left to do, is what we initially came here for… to teach! I will be teaching year 5A and 6B, which are Northern Ireland’s equivalent to P6 and 7. The past week has literally been such a learning experience, and I have learnt so much, from both observing the teacher interact with her pupils, and also in doing some teaching of my own- as expected, this experience has enriched me professionally so much, but I never expected the extent of this development to be as substantial as it has been!

The differences between the Hong Kong primary school we are placed in and with the placements which I have completed in the past (in Northern Ireland) have been among the biggest challenges which I have met this week. These have included the difficulties associated with teaching children English as a second language, as well as the actual teaching styles which are in place over here. One of the biggest struggles which I’ve experienced is the children’s reluctance to participate in teacher-led discussion, and I’ve came across a whole new meaning to the phrase ‘it’s like pulling teeth’. I always forget that these children speak English as their second language, and I am constantly amazed at their language skills and abilities. The language barrier is very slight between the pupils and I, with most of the blame for confusion and misinterpretation being down to my Northern Irish accent. I am learning to slow down and become a lot clearer in my diction with certain words, as well as changing my pronunciation of certain words to sound more like an English accent- this has allowed the children to understand me better.

Teaching 5A some information about Ireland.

The class structure differs from schools which I am used to also. The classes are laid out in rows, where children sit by themselves. This does make group work more difficult. Fortunately however, Miss Mak, the teacher who I am placed with encourages a more interactive approach to learning, and so the children in both classes are used to turning their tables around so they can engage themselves in group discussions etc. In addition, the actual structure of the lessons is much more structured and formal than it is back home, with English lessons focusing on the development of grammar, comprehension and listening skills.

The rows of tables in the classrooms.

Transitioning, rather unexpectedly, back to chalk for my lessons was quite strange. I expected that, being in Hong Kong, the school would have very technologically advanced and well-equipped classrooms, but this was not the case. None of the classrooms at the school have an interactive whiteboard. They all have overhead projectors installed however, which has allowed me to prepare PowerPoint presentations, as I aim to make my lessons as enjoyable and as engaging as I can, with as much help from the available technology as possible. I think that as a teacher, it’s important to make the most of what is available to you as after all, my future classroom may not have an interactive whiteboard, or even a projector, but it will still by my responsibility to deliver creative and exciting lessons to the learners in my class.

The week of teaching practice that we have now got behind us, has already began to shape me into a better and more well-rounded teacher. I feel that I am in such a great position now to teach children with EAL in my future classroom, which is a very important quality in a teacher, particularly in an increasingly diverse Northern Ireland. I’m looking forward to seeing how my professional development progresses as I spent more time teaching, and getting to know the children more on an individual basis.

Working with Jason, Emma and Angel.

On a more personal level, we met up with Dan, Keith, Sophie and Dani at the weekend, and it was great to spend time with them and just hear about their experiences from their study in China so far. They even commented on how much they appreciated certain home comforts that existed in Hong Kong, such as British food products and also the decreased language barrier which is present in Hong Kong in comparison with China. Throwing myself off a 233 metre building was by far my highlight of the weekend, even though the sheer volume of my scream was a little embarrassing. It is no exaggeration to state that Hong Kong has given me the opportunity to do things which I never would have imagined doing before. I will never forget that feeling as I plummeted of the Macau Tower (the world’s highest bungee jump), but it was an amazing experience, and which I will never forget!

Before our jump: nervous and excited!

過後談話!(Talk later!)

Andrew Scott

Week 12: Personal Blog (14/4/12)

“There are hundreds of languages in the world, but a smile speaks them all”- Anonymous

It is such a refreshing and satisfying feeling when showing someone around Hong Kong for their first time. Both Heather and I have become so accustomed to certain aspects of our lives out here, that we have almost forgotten what our first impressions of the place where we’ve spent the last twelve weeks were. This week Heather’s boyfriend, Mark, came to visit, and we used this opportunity to see some of our most loved sights again, such as Victoria Harbour, Ladies Market and The Peak. We also were able to explore new ‘places of interest’ with him, including the Big Buddha, Tsing Ma Bridge, and Stanley Village.

Me enjoying the Tsing Ma Bridge, the longest road-rail suspension bridge in the world!

Heather, Mark and I at the Big Buddha.

Fortunately, Mark’s visit coincided with the repair of the cable car system, which brings visitors up Ngong Ping, to the site of the Tian Tan Buddha, or the Big Buddha as it is more affectionately known by locals and tourists alike. Not letting the recent malfunction deter us, or compromise our visit in any way whatsoever, we opted to travel up in the crystal cabin, complete with a glass floor, which allowed us to gain a 360 degree view of the surrounding area. Hong Kong is such a beautiful place, and the contrast between the populous, concrete jungle of the city, the ranging mountains and the open sea is unbelievable- the views are spectacular! Personally, it also amazes me just how much the local people here value culture in their society, and even though the Buddha is a very touristy spot, the area is still sacred and meaningful to those who go there to pray. 

Our cable car had a glass bottom!

The views as we made our way to the Big Buddha- stunning!

Mark, Heather and I enjoying the cable car ride.

Also this week, it was my groups turn to present in our educational development class. Our chosen topic was quite relevant to me personally, as it was based on the growing popularity of studying abroad in mainland China. I was able to give a personal reflection on why I came to study abroad, and also to share with the class what I thought I had gained through this experience. I shared with them, very honestly, that although Hong Kong was not initially my first choice of places to study this semester, I am actually so thankful that I got placed here. If I think back to this time last year, Asia would not have featured heavily on my places to visit list, however, now that I have experienced it for the past three months (with two more to go) I have developed a hunger to learn more, to visit different countries within this continent and have even considered moving out here for a prolonged period of time to teach.

Developing close friendships has definitely been something which I have been so thankful for. In addition to growing closer with Heather, I also feel that my relationships with the other Stranmillis students studying in China, Dan, Keith, Sophie and Dani, have grown substantially, as we’ve spent some time with one another, and keep in regular contact through email. Heather and I are both really looking forward to spending next weekend with them in Hong Kong and Macau and to celebrate Sophie’s 21^st birthday with her also.

Heather and I went to Tei Mei Tuk this weekend. There we rented some bicycles and spent the afternoon cycling around and enjoying the views which the reservoir provided. The day also allowed us some time to reflect on our trip so far. It is so hard to believe, that we will start our teaching practice this week for three weeks, which also marks our last three weeks that we will spend in Hong Kong before embarking on our travels. This opportunity has been amazing, and with the end of our stay here in sight, it’s saddening to think of all the people who we will miss, and that this incredibly journey is going to end- we remain focused on optimising our time left and just making the most of every opportunity that arises!

Heather and I out for a cycle!

The view of the reservoir- beautiful!

Ci di gin! (See you later!)

If anything ever happens to the Big Buddha... I could step in?!

Andrew Scott

Week 11: Cultural and Professional Blog (7/3/12)

 “By three methods we may learn wisdom: reflection, imitation and experience”- Confucius.

This week, tragedy and sheer heartbreak descended on the walls of room 830, as rather stupidly I decided to carry my laptop with one hand. This move soon transpired to be my biggest mistake of my stay here so far, as my grip loosened, and the laptop plummeted to its death on the hard floor beneath me. Although this story may sound a little dramatic, it was very true, and I was without a laptop for the week. As I composed myself and began to really think if I actually needed it, I realised, that Hong Kong was the electronic capital of the world, and sourcing a computer repair shop, for a competitive price was not a difficult task at all!

It really hit me this week how advanced technology has become over the years, and I am constantly amazed at how easy it is to stay in contact with people on the other side of the world via Skype or applications on the iPhone. It also occurred to me how the very culture of Hong Kong is shaped by technology, with almost everyone having a smart phone (mainly iPhone 4Ss) in their possession. There was one occasion whilst waiting on a train, when Heather and I witnessed a young child crying in his pram. I was very shocked when the child’s mother handed him her iPad and he proceeded to open up the game ‘Angry Birds’, his crying subsided rather quickly around this point. If I was asked three months ago to compile a list of what constitutes or what defines a countries culture, technology would almost certainly not have made the cut. Being here though has really opened my eyes, and not talking about something which plays such an important part in the lives of the people who live here would be naïve of me.

Heather embracing the Hong Kong culture...

I was even able to Skype with my cat this week!

We experienced rain in Hong Kong for the first time since arriving here this week. We were warned in church by a man originally from Ballymena that when “it rains in Hong Kong…it really rains”. Sure enough, it did. I took the opportunity (laptop free) to sit in my room with the windows opened and to enjoy the sound of the rain as it bounced off the road outside. It was surprising to discover that the sound of rain was actually something I missed about Northern Ireland, and it was lovely just to think about ways in which the Hong Kong culture and N. Ireland’s differ. Since being here I have developed an appreciation for my own culture and that of other people around me, and I feel this is such an important value to have to pass onto the children in my future classroom.

Rain: the view from my room (apparently it doesn't photograph well).

A rainy day in Central!

We were also really excited to go to the Hong Kong Jockey Club Primary School (located on campus), this week and to receive some information about our block placement that will be commencing around this time next week. It was a great feeling to be within the walls of a primary school and we are counting down the days until we can begin our teaching! The school itself has around 500 students, and is similar in set-up to secondary schools in Northern Ireland, in that they have different teachers for different subjects. Interestingly, the children remain in the same classroom throughout the day, and it is the teachers who come and go from each class. This will take a little getting used to, and I feel this will make it a little harder to really get to know the children in each class, as we will only be spending a selected amount of time with them. I am definitely going to make the most of my time in the classroom, to really get to know the children so that I can tailor my lessons to meet their own individual learning styles and needs.

The teacher who I am paired with, Mrs Candy Mak, told me that Hong Kong primary schools are very focused on assessment, mainly due to the pressures of regular examinations, and from the pressures of parents who seem very hands-on in the education of their children. It was also useful to learn a little about the Hong Kong Curriculum, this knowledge will only deepen as I see it in practice for myself next week. I’m really looking forward to seeing how Northern Irish schools differ from Hong Kong ones, and I’m hoping that the children will learn a lot from me also.

Baai baai! (bye bye!)

Andrew Scott