Teacher Training Workshop in 2019

In collaboration with ESS’ longtime partner, the Changsha Training Charity (春雷公益), a teacher training workshop for rural teachers was held in Changsha in the summer of 2019. The objectives of this four-day workshop were: 1) to enhance music and Chinese language teachers’ general knowledge as well as teaching skills; 2) to help teachers better understand the developmental characteristics of their students; 3) to provide a platform for rural teachers to exchange ideas and share mutual supports; and 4) to offer professional counseling to prevent teacher burnout. A total of 131 rural teachers from 35 counties of 5 provinces attended the workshop. Among them, 69 were Chinese language teachers, 31 music teachers, and 31 fine arts teachers.

The instructors of the workshop were: Ms. Feng Tao (冯涛), Deputy director of Sihai Confucius Institute; Ms. Zhou Peiyi (周佩仪), expert in Counseling from the Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Mr. Zhao Guohua (赵国华), expert in Chinese curriculum development for elementary schools; Ms. Huang Jianjun (黄建军), teacher training expert and master teacher; Ms. Hu Honglian (胡红炼), principal of Lushan Lanting Experimental School in Yuelu district, Changsha; Ms. He Juan (何娟), model teacher of fine arts; Dr. Yang Dan (杨丹), Associate Professor in music and dance of Hunan First Normal University; and Ms. Zhao Ren (赵韧), master teacher in music education.

The inspirational lectures, combined with practical demonstrations, delivered by these instructors were well received by all workshop participants. All the participants were highly motivated to share what they learned from the workshop with their colleagues and students in their own schools.

Many thanks go to Tin Ka Ping Foundation (田家炳基金会) for its generous financial support for the workshop.