Teach to Decorate the Dreams of Our Kids
Observing class and teaching in Mexico local schools is one of the best part of my Study Abroad program. Through the engaging learning experiences with local colleagues and those lovely children in the past week, I have learned more about why and how to be an excellent teacher to empower students and improve students learning outcome ultimately despite the tough learning and teaching conditions.
I observed the classes of Grade 2 in a primary school in Guanajuato nearby our language school. Based on my observation, I think it is a relatively illy-equipped classroom with around 33 kids, where there is no computer, no Electronic board, no projector, no other technology tools for learning and teaching, and even no watercolor pens for kids to draw. Students in the classroom sit in crowd at poor-conditioned desks. Teachers’ desk is very simple and small too. At the first sight of these little kids’ learning environment, I was shocked and felt sorry for them. I thought they might feel discouraged too. However, much to my surprise, they never complain but take very earnest attitude to learning. Thought they are just 7 to 8 years old kids, they are able to attach all their attention to what teacher is teaching. For example, in Spanish grammar class, their teacher gave a relatively academic lecture without games or other relative activities, few of them felt bored and every one of them take notes and were very active to answer questions about the infinitive and imperative verbs learning. When I taught them knowledge concerning environmental issues and the solutions in China (I was given this global topic by their homeroom teacher), they keep curious about everything they hear and see.
What’s more, what impressed me most is that, with no internet, no projector, or other advanced or powerful teaching and learning facilities (while teaching, with my instructor’s help, I held my own computer to play the PPT and video for them and inform them of environmental pollution and the solutions to it), these little kids still have great passion for acquiring knowledge and have fascinatingly positive zest to find out answers to the questions they have. When I asked questions, I could tell most of them were thinking. They raised hands to tell me what they saw and experienced in their daily life. Though they are not provided with many powerful tools to expose them to more vivid real world learning beyond their own world, they do have learned more than I had expected. When I showed them the video of the environmental pollution and climate change in the world now, some of the kids could well illustrate the impact of the pollution with clarity and critique. Through this, I can see that in the school curriculum, their critical thinking and problem solving skills are emphasized on the top, and teachers are also required to apply problem-based inquiry method as well as the interactive and collaborative method to engage students in learning. Learning by rotes and just monotonous drills are not central to the learning process.
More surprisingly, while teaching, I observed that students’ motivation to learning are stronger than I had expected. They take more initiative to ask and learn. I was told that, it is values and virtues in Mexican culture that are the main pillars to keep them confident and resilient in their life and learning——their deep respect for knowledge, wisdom and teachers, the positive and resilient attitude to tough living environment, and the dedication and commitment to what they are doing, etc. For teachers in Mexico, though they shared with me their big challenges with lack of teaching training and development, unsatisfying income and other poor insurances, and their great concern about the education issues in Mexico, they are still pleased with their career as teachers. They told me that they love teaching and would like to continue to guide and facilitate their kids to realize their dreams.
Through the lesson observing and teaching myself, I have learned from the kids and their teachers and intend to share with my students and colleagues in China that learning happens anytime and everywhere, and there is no excuse to stop learning especially in affluent learning conditions, and that teaching is a sacred career which can help as many kids as possible to make their dreams come true and should be respected with dedication and commitment. More importantly, advanced teaching approaches should be gained to provide students with a wider exposure to real world learning———communication skills, critical thinking skills, collaborative skills, and creative skills.
I observed the classes of Grade 2 in a primary school in Guanajuato nearby our language school. Based on my observation, I think it is a relatively illy-equipped classroom with around 33 kids, where there is no computer, no Electronic board, no projector, no other technology tools for learning and teaching, and even no watercolor pens for kids to draw. Students in the classroom sit in crowd at poor-conditioned desks. Teachers’ desk is very simple and small too. At the first sight of these little kids’ learning environment, I was shocked and felt sorry for them. I thought they might feel discouraged too. However, much to my surprise, they never complain but take very earnest attitude to learning. Thought they are just 7 to 8 years old kids, they are able to attach all their attention to what teacher is teaching. For example, in Spanish grammar class, their teacher gave a relatively academic lecture without games or other relative activities, few of them felt bored and every one of them take notes and were very active to answer questions about the infinitive and imperative verbs learning. When I taught them knowledge concerning environmental issues and the solutions in China (I was given this global topic by their homeroom teacher), they keep curious about everything they hear and see.
What’s more, what impressed me most is that, with no internet, no projector, or other advanced or powerful teaching and learning facilities (while teaching, with my instructor’s help, I held my own computer to play the PPT and video for them and inform them of environmental pollution and the solutions to it), these little kids still have great passion for acquiring knowledge and have fascinatingly positive zest to find out answers to the questions they have. When I asked questions, I could tell most of them were thinking. They raised hands to tell me what they saw and experienced in their daily life. Though they are not provided with many powerful tools to expose them to more vivid real world learning beyond their own world, they do have learned more than I had expected. When I showed them the video of the environmental pollution and climate change in the world now, some of the kids could well illustrate the impact of the pollution with clarity and critique. Through this, I can see that in the school curriculum, their critical thinking and problem solving skills are emphasized on the top, and teachers are also required to apply problem-based inquiry method as well as the interactive and collaborative method to engage students in learning. Learning by rotes and just monotonous drills are not central to the learning process.
More surprisingly, while teaching, I observed that students’ motivation to learning are stronger than I had expected. They take more initiative to ask and learn. I was told that, it is values and virtues in Mexican culture that are the main pillars to keep them confident and resilient in their life and learning——their deep respect for knowledge, wisdom and teachers, the positive and resilient attitude to tough living environment, and the dedication and commitment to what they are doing, etc. For teachers in Mexico, though they shared with me their big challenges with lack of teaching training and development, unsatisfying income and other poor insurances, and their great concern about the education issues in Mexico, they are still pleased with their career as teachers. They told me that they love teaching and would like to continue to guide and facilitate their kids to realize their dreams.
Through the lesson observing and teaching myself, I have learned from the kids and their teachers and intend to share with my students and colleagues in China that learning happens anytime and everywhere, and there is no excuse to stop learning especially in affluent learning conditions, and that teaching is a sacred career which can help as many kids as possible to make their dreams come true and should be respected with dedication and commitment. More importantly, advanced teaching approaches should be gained to provide students with a wider exposure to real world learning———communication skills, critical thinking skills, collaborative skills, and creative skills.