American teacher finds different ways to make connections with her students
By Li Huacheng and Xu Wei |
November 28, 2011, Monday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
BORN into a family of teachers in Orlando, Florida, USA, Jessica Lynne Carter came to Jiading District this summer on her own and was employed as a foreign language teacher at a primary school.
Carter's Western education methods have added vitality to English classes at the local public primary school. Her American teaching style has also become quite popular among her students.
Carter is very active in class. "Louder please," she says to students while pretending she can't hear clearly. Sometimes she gesticulates with her hands and postures joyfully with the children.
"These children are very young, so I need to nurture their abilities in listening and speaking to stir their interest in English," Carter says.
Her students are allowed to leave their seats, laugh loudly and talk in class.
With the help of her exaggerated movements and vivid facial expressions, Carter's students are more likely to understand the meaning of each English word. Carter dubs the approach the "Total Physical Response (TPR) method." Chinese translations are not allowed in the class. The PPT presentation has also replaced traditional blackboard teaching. Any student who gives a right answer will be praised and receive a hand clap with Carter.
During class intervals, Carter always talks with her Chinese colleagues to learn Chinese and local customs. In return, on the weekends she teaches them English and gives other English teachers in Jiading District the training courses of Western education methods.
In her leisure time, Carter enjoys reading, dancing and traveling. She has also bought a scooter to get around easier in Jiading.
"The pace of life in Jiading is much slower than the downtown areas of Shanghai, but the place has every function a big city has," Carter says. "The customs and culture here are appealing to me. I have fallen in love with China and Jiading."
Sometimes Carter goes shopping at supermarkets. With the help of her local roommates, she manages to cook some Chinese dishes. But she still keeps her Western eating habits.
Because of the time difference, Cater has to contact her family in the early morning or late evening. Carter will switch on her computer and talk with her family through Skype. She misses her family so much, especially in the early days of her arrival in Jiading, and her family offers her strong support whenever she needs. Also, she shares her new working experience and problems with her parents and her elder brother through the Internet. Sometimes she would present her students the photos of her family through PPT, which is heartwarming for both the students and herself.
Carter adds that the main reason she came to China was to learn about different English teaching methods in other countries.
"That will give me new inspiration for my teaching approaches," she says. "I believe that my days in Jiading will be the most unforgettable experience in my life."
Carter's Western education methods have added vitality to English classes at the local public primary school. Her American teaching style has also become quite popular among her students.
Carter is very active in class. "Louder please," she says to students while pretending she can't hear clearly. Sometimes she gesticulates with her hands and postures joyfully with the children.
"These children are very young, so I need to nurture their abilities in listening and speaking to stir their interest in English," Carter says.
Her students are allowed to leave their seats, laugh loudly and talk in class.
With the help of her exaggerated movements and vivid facial expressions, Carter's students are more likely to understand the meaning of each English word. Carter dubs the approach the "Total Physical Response (TPR) method." Chinese translations are not allowed in the class. The PPT presentation has also replaced traditional blackboard teaching. Any student who gives a right answer will be praised and receive a hand clap with Carter.
During class intervals, Carter always talks with her Chinese colleagues to learn Chinese and local customs. In return, on the weekends she teaches them English and gives other English teachers in Jiading District the training courses of Western education methods.
In her leisure time, Carter enjoys reading, dancing and traveling. She has also bought a scooter to get around easier in Jiading.
"The pace of life in Jiading is much slower than the downtown areas of Shanghai, but the place has every function a big city has," Carter says. "The customs and culture here are appealing to me. I have fallen in love with China and Jiading."
Sometimes Carter goes shopping at supermarkets. With the help of her local roommates, she manages to cook some Chinese dishes. But she still keeps her Western eating habits.
Because of the time difference, Cater has to contact her family in the early morning or late evening. Carter will switch on her computer and talk with her family through Skype. She misses her family so much, especially in the early days of her arrival in Jiading, and her family offers her strong support whenever she needs. Also, she shares her new working experience and problems with her parents and her elder brother through the Internet. Sometimes she would present her students the photos of her family through PPT, which is heartwarming for both the students and herself.
Carter adds that the main reason she came to China was to learn about different English teaching methods in other countries.
"That will give me new inspiration for my teaching approaches," she says. "I believe that my days in Jiading will be the most unforgettable experience in my life."
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