Teaching Assignments

This week Lugene and I received some more information from Sun Quanzhi (Toby), Section Chief of the Office of International Exchange and Cooperation at Shandong Normal University. Toby (many of the Chinese have given themselves English/American names for interfacing with us English speakers), said Lugene would be teaching at the Foreign Language Training Center and Brian will teach at the English Department.

Shandong Normal University has two campuses about 50 minutes by bus from each other. The Foreign Language Training Center is on the campus where we will have our apartment, so Lugene will not have to travel to the other campus. As we understand it, she will be teaching English to government officials, not students. Her classroom is on the 7th floor of a university building that does not have elevators, so she will get lots of exercise.

Brian will have to ride the shuttle that goes back and forth between the campuses so he can teach at the English Department which is on the other campus. He will teach oral English and English writing to students. Many of the students are studying to be English teachers once they graduate. They will then teach English in primary and secondary schools in China.

CTP Get Acquainted Barbecue

On June 25, Lugene and I attended a China Teacher's Program "get acquainted" barbecue in Provo. All of the new teachers for 2009-2010 who could attend were there. There was one couple, the Thelins, who are going back for a second year and will also be teaching in Ji'nan, although at a different university than the one where we will teach. The Sorensons, who will be teaching with us at Shandong Normal University, were not there because they live in the state of Washington. They are also going back for a second year. We met many nice people. Most of them had concerns like we have. Mostly it is concern about the unknown. Brother and Sister Evans, the couple missionaries in charge of the program, reassured everyone that it would be a great experience. We are sure it will be.

Jeffrey Ringer, Director of the China Teachers Program and also Director of the David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies, spoke also spoke to us. He talked about how important our assignment is to Brigham Young University, the Church and to the people we will be teaching in China. He talked about how important it is that we set a good example for everyone we meet.