We started today with individual and group photos. We then had some more survival Chinese training, teaching English as a foreign language, more classes on how to teach writing and roundtables with some previous China teachers. In the roundtables they showed us how they taught and shared some of their teaching aids. I got some really good information on how to teach my writing class.
In the evening we had classes on using PowerPoint. We really learned a lot. Unfortunately, there may not be facilities to use PowerPoint on our campus. I guess we'll know for sure when we get there.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Today is the 3rd day of our training. Someone in the group said that if we can survive the training we should be able to survive China!
We started the day with computer information class (e.g., where to find teaching materials on the Internet). We were told that Facebook, Twitter and BlogSpot are currently blocked by the Chinese government. We will try to keep this blog current by emailing information to Stephanie to post for us. There was also some concern that Wikipedia is also blocked.
We had another survival Chinese class, another teaching English as a foreign language class, Chinese history class and a class how to teach writing. In the evening all of the China teachers attended a session in the Provo temple. It was another long, but very enjoyable day. We are getting more and more excited and more and more nervous every day.
We started the day with computer information class (e.g., where to find teaching materials on the Internet). We were told that Facebook, Twitter and BlogSpot are currently blocked by the Chinese government. We will try to keep this blog current by emailing information to Stephanie to post for us. There was also some concern that Wikipedia is also blocked.
We had another survival Chinese class, another teaching English as a foreign language class, Chinese history class and a class how to teach writing. In the evening all of the China teachers attended a session in the Provo temple. It was another long, but very enjoyable day. We are getting more and more excited and more and more nervous every day.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Today is the second day of our training. We left home at 7:00 a.m. and got home after 10:00 p.m. It was a long day. Today we had a "survival" Chinese class, a class on teaching English as a second language, a class on Chinese history and a presentation from the BYU travel department. They are the ones who are arranging our travel. We found out that the formal invitation letters for us have finally arrived and the visa request has been made. They feel confident we will have our visas by next week. The plan is to leave for China on August 24 at 9:20 p.m.
During the day we met with Eric and Christine Sorenson. They will be living in the apartment next to ours and will be teaching at the same university. Lugene and Christine will teach on the campus where we will live and Eric and I will commute to the second campus (about a 50 minute commute) to teach. They are really nice people. We are lucky to have them as our co-teachers.
In the evening we met with the other teachers who will be in Ji'nan as well as some couples who have previously taught there. It was very interesting and informative. Jay and Dana Thelin, a couple who are returning for the second year were there as well as the Sorensons. Other couples teaching in Ji'nan are Mac and Marilyn Nelson and Richard and Paula Watkins. They are all nice individuals. It should be fun to live, work and play together.
During the day we met with Eric and Christine Sorenson. They will be living in the apartment next to ours and will be teaching at the same university. Lugene and Christine will teach on the campus where we will live and Eric and I will commute to the second campus (about a 50 minute commute) to teach. They are really nice people. We are lucky to have them as our co-teachers.
In the evening we met with the other teachers who will be in Ji'nan as well as some couples who have previously taught there. It was very interesting and informative. Jay and Dana Thelin, a couple who are returning for the second year were there as well as the Sorensons. Other couples teaching in Ji'nan are Mac and Marilyn Nelson and Richard and Paula Watkins. They are all nice individuals. It should be fun to live, work and play together.
Monday, August 3, 2009
China Teacher's Program Training
August 3, 2009
Today is the first day of our China Teacher's Program Training at BYU. We started at 7:30 a.m. (which meant we had to leave home at 6:30 a.m.) and ended at 8:00 p.m. (home by 9:00 p.m.) It was a long, tiring but very productive and enjoyable day.
There is a limit of 70 people who can participate in the program each year. This is a limit established by the General Authorities who supervise the program. Elder Oaks is the primary contact. This year about 1/3 of the participants are returning for a second (or third) year. It must be a good experience if this many return. In our training today, there is one single brother. The rest are couples. Most of the couples come from Utah with a few from California, Washington, Arizona, Wyoming, etc. One couple is from Canada.
Today we had classes on Chinese history and culture, learning to speak Chinese (we studied sounds and tones), how to prepare a lesson plan, basic medical concerns, etc. In the evening we had a Family Home Evening where we were able to get better acquainted with the participants. Everything was very positive. We are getting excited about our new experience.
Today is the first day of our China Teacher's Program Training at BYU. We started at 7:30 a.m. (which meant we had to leave home at 6:30 a.m.) and ended at 8:00 p.m. (home by 9:00 p.m.) It was a long, tiring but very productive and enjoyable day.
There is a limit of 70 people who can participate in the program each year. This is a limit established by the General Authorities who supervise the program. Elder Oaks is the primary contact. This year about 1/3 of the participants are returning for a second (or third) year. It must be a good experience if this many return. In our training today, there is one single brother. The rest are couples. Most of the couples come from Utah with a few from California, Washington, Arizona, Wyoming, etc. One couple is from Canada.
Today we had classes on Chinese history and culture, learning to speak Chinese (we studied sounds and tones), how to prepare a lesson plan, basic medical concerns, etc. In the evening we had a Family Home Evening where we were able to get better acquainted with the participants. Everything was very positive. We are getting excited about our new experience.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Ji'nan, China
This is a good site for information about Ji'nan. This is the city where Lugene and Brian will be teaching.
http://www.chinajinan.com.cn/
The following site has a good video about Ji'nan.
http://www2.china-sd.com/Video/2006-11/6_239.html
http://www.chinajinan.com.cn/
The following site has a good video about Ji'nan.
http://www2.china-sd.com/Video/2006-11/6_239.html
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
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.
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.
Friday, June 26, 2009
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.
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.
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