New Foreign Teachers at GDUFS

In sports facilities, cafeterias and teaching buildings around GDUFS, one can see foreign teachers everywhere. They must all have a wonderful story to tell. I met and talked with some of the newcomers. Here are their stories.

Ann and Richard Ray: A Big Heart

Most foreigners who come to teach in China are more interested in getting life experience than simply wanting to contribute to Chinese education. Ann and Richard Ray, a new foreign couple at GDUFS, however, are among the minority who truly give priority to helping the Chinese students improve their English in all aspects. "We're not here for a vacation," they said during the interview. More than 11 years ago, they applied to teach in China through the China Teaching Program, a US organization which requires special training besides certification in English teaching and teaching experience.

With a rather big family, they have a big heart. Several years ago one of their sons, a doctor, adopted an orphaned Chinese baby boy who suffered from cleft palate. The lucky little boy, after receiving surgery, now is a lovely healthy child. This probably best shows their special care and love for Chinese.

Ann and Richard Ray with a family photo

The adopted baby boy

Three weeks ago Mr. and Mrs. Ray came to GDUFS from Arizona, USA, and were assigned teaching positions at the International College. They are looking forward to being more than teachers of their students, they want to be friends. They're interested in learning as much as they can about the students, such as their goals in life and families. "Chinese students have a good vocabulary," they added, "but sometimes they just don't speak correctly, which is the opposite of American students."

So far, they've been very satisfied with life on campus and GDUFS' service to foreign teachers. Attentive help from student-volunteers and members of the International Office is very much appreciated.

Zhou Qingfeng: Transfer the Sparks of Life Experience

Born in Chengdu, China, Ms. Zhou has lived overseas for 20 years. She acquired a Master's Degree and a Doctor's Degree in the field of Community Health, in New Zealand and Australia respectively. She worked in the Population Development Research Center of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Japan, having to deal with people of various social classes and officials as well.

Zhou now embarks on another meaningful journey in her life: go back to China and transfer the sparks of her life experience as a teacher. "After all, my roots are in China," she said. "I intend to share my cross-cultural insights and international education with my students at GDUFS."

Transfer the sparks of life

Zhou has been teaching at GDUFS since the beginning of this semester. She teaches Profiles of Modern Britain and Reading of Foreign Newspapers to junior students in the Faculty of English Culture and Language (FECL). Education, in Zhou's eyes, depends more on students' self-motivated learning than teachers' efforts. Accordingly, her teaching method focuses on cultivating students' deliberate participation and exploration of the unknown.

According to Zhou, GDUFS has been very considerate and well-managed, offering guidance and services to her in both life and work. Last Saturday, for example, the International Office organized a shopping tour downtown in Guangzhou for all the foreign teachers.

Samuel Forrest: Expand Students' World of Experience

Sam, coming from a small town in Virginia, USA, brings glamour to students by sharing with them his high-drama life experience. Having worked as a juvenile probation officer who gave group therapy and made the lowest recidivism rate record, he has deep understanding of juveniles. He also spent 10 years designing modern interior furniture. One of his designs was even internationally published in Decorative Art, a London magazine. Besides, he managed to cross the Atlantic Ocean twice alone and "partly circumnavigated the globe," by living in Spain, Israel and several countries around the Mediterranean Sea. All these unusual experiences have greatly shaped his mind to one belief: "We must pay attention to life, and listen to the universe and then act at the right time." Sensitive and inspirational as he is, he has decided to expand the students' world of experience, more particularly experience which cannot be learned in books.

Expand world of experience

He started working at the beginning of this semester, teaching Debating Skills to sophomores of FECL. Based on his observation in class, he has discovered one of the most common weaknesses of Chinese students: they are too shy. Therefore, he focuses his teaching on encouraging students to get rid of shyness and feel free to speak on their feet.

Every foreign teacher may have different feelings and opinions about life at GDUFS, but they all agree on two things: GDUFS enjoys very beautiful surroundings, and students and staff are always ready to help.

Text and Photos by Li Jiaqiao