TEACHING THE TEACHERS IN CHINA

Helping China improve the English skills of its citizens was a key objective of a recent IEF-sponsored training program last July.

For the American English Teaching Seminar, IEF arranged for six teaching specialists from the United States to meet with more than 120 college professors in Nanjing and Shanghai, China.

A key objective was to encourage Chinese instructors to create a learning environment that more closely mirrored language classrooms in the United States. Currently, the typical English language class in China uses a lecture format with a great deal of memorization.

US trainers introduced a number of ways to make language classes more interactive and encourage retention, such as role-playing and games. The instructors also provided traditional and online resources to allow Chinese teachers to further explore this type of classroom environment.

Although the teaching method differs greatly from the Chinese approach, US trainers found participants very enthusiastic. Chinese professors frequently sought out instructors for further discussion and to gain suggestions for their individual needs.

As one US trainer remarked, "The open-mindedness shown by the Chinese participants is a very positive sign for the future."

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