Hello! My name is Christina Gao, and I’m one of the newer English teachers here are Sunshine Home. I am a graduate of the University of Toronto with a degree in English. I have taught students from elementary to high school and each experience has greatly increased my passion for teaching. Being at Sunshine Home is no different! Though I have only been in Xiamen for three months, I feel excited for my journey to continue. I have gotten to know many talented and hard-working teachers, intelligent and lively students, and hands-on and caring parents. The amazing efforts of this extended Sunshine Home family inspire me to be the best teacher I can be! In this article, though I’d really like to tell you about my personal experience with learning English as a second language. Like my new friends at Sunshine Home, this experience has really influenced how I teach.
This isn’t my first time in China. I was born in Guangzhou, but was whisked away to Canada at the age of five. Growing up in a Chinese household while simultaneously attending English schools really confused me at times. At home, I was surrounded by Chinese literature. My parents encouraged me to read idiomatic stories and were always by my side whenever I had a question. Home held a relaxed atmosphere that let me pace my reading.
School, however, was a different story. English did not just exist in one class for one hour of a day. English was everywhere. I felt overwhelmed and scared. It was intimidating being in a class full of peers whose conversations I couldn’t understand. It was a constant struggle during my elementary years to keep up with the rest of the class when it came to pronunciation and spelling. As a result, from grades three to four I was placed in an ESL (English as a Second Language) class.
As a child, this switch felt like a rejection, a failure. This was especially because many people acted as if ESL was for remedial learners. As an adult, I am appreciative of the patient teacher who encouraged my progress and supported me through difficult moments. I am appreciative of the small bookshelf tucked into the corner by the window that held books I could enjoy.
I now understand the benefits of going at one’s own pace. I learned to slow down and take time to enjoy English as a language and a method of storytelling rather than look at it as a subject to be mastered. My favorite books to read and reread were all somewhere to be found in that classroom, notably, The Chronicles of Narnia, Wayside School, My Anastasia, and Raven Quest. I enjoyed all different genres and my confidence from always reading helped me pursue my curiosity and creativity. This experience greatly fostered my interest in language and I was soon at the top of my class when I reached high school.
One of the most important aspects of learning is to keep finding interesting topics. One of the most important aspects of teaching is to keep topics interesting. My experience with English greatly informs how I approach my students. I want them, and their parents, to know that it is absolutely okay to slow down and take a breath. Parents, students, and teachers can work together to create an interesting and productive learning environment. Teachers, parents, and students together, with lots of love and support, can absolutely accomplish great things!
Ruijing Christina Gao
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International Sunshine Home is Xiamen’s premier bilingual Montessori school. Our qualified teachers and small class sizes help your child grow up in a safe and happy environment. We welcome you to visit us in person to find out more. Simply reply to our WeChat and send us your name and your child’s name along with your phone number.
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