Foreign Professors II: Different Education Concepts

A: I enjoy working with students who have a sense of enquiry, students who are willing to question received wisdom; students who are willing to contribute and make "dry" material interesting by applying and evaluating the concepts; students who are willing to "take risks" and think beyond the textbook and their marks, students who are creative in their thinking, students who demonstrate compassion and sensitivity towards others, students with a good sense of humor.

I hope they get the skills and knowledge they need to live fulfilling, meaningful lives, and to improve the quality of life for others. As they get older, I hope they will understand that a good education and a "good brain" are "blessings", and that their good fortune brings responsibilities as well as opportunities. I hope they will develop confidence in their own abilities. Many Chinese students seem to lack confidence in themselves and their abilities.

Q: Could you tell me about the achievements you have made and difficulties you have met in your teaching here?

A: In personal terms, thats easy. I retired from the University of Birmingham in July 2011 and started work at GDUFS in August 2011. In doing so, I left my job (of 16 years), I left my home, my family, my friends and came here alone. I had dreamed for years of working in China and when the opportunity arose, I took it. For many people, that's quite a big step to take?shy;.and I see that as quite an achievement. In Europe, we talk about the University of the Third Age, which means continuing to learn, after we have retired.

Dealing with the language and food is probably the most obvious difficulty: learning how to "read" what people are meaning, or thinking is quite a struggle. Trying to avoid accidentally causing offence is a daily concern; it is only too easy to cause offence by mistake; On a more specific level, being in hospital in china is a HUGE shock and a HUGE problem for westerners.

Q: As is known, you gave lectures for a training program for immigrant workers in June 2012 and April 2013. Why did you decide to give lectures there?

A: Ms Kang Lei and I were discussing her extremely interesting and innovative research: I mentioned that in Scotland, my father and grandfather were heavily involved in an old organization, "the Workers Education Association", in which people with particular knowledge and skills (including teachers) voluntarily gave lectures and seminars (for free) to workers who had not had the benefit of an education. It was explained to me that many migrant workers in Guangzhou had not had the luxury of education, and I wondered why GDUFS was not offering voluntary classes to workers who wanted to improve their skills. Ms Kang Lei has now established a program for migrant workers, in conjunction with the Labour Movement, and she invited me to give a couple of lectures. It is an interesting and worthwhile project and I am honored to be invited and to contribute.

Q: This April, you hurt your feet. Please tell us why you still persisted in giving lectures? And what makes you work as a teacher here for such a long time?

A: There is a shortage of UK lecturers at GDUFS, my absence would place additional pressure on my colleagues and I do not want to give them extra stress and pressure. I am very professional regarding my work. My foot hurts, but my brain is still ok?shy; as long as I can be collected and taken to/from lectures, I can continue to do my job. If I am not working, Id be sitting at home all day, getting very lonely and miserable, I need to work. Im like a shark – I have to keep moving, otherwise I die.