Chinese teachers learning language skills at Whanganui school

KIWI CULTURE: St John's Hill School students Livi (left) and Ashton talk with visiting English language teachers Sophia Sun (second left) and Livia Zhang.

The New Zealand approach to literacy and language lit up the faces and minds of two young teachers from rural China who have just spent a week in Whanganui.

Sophia Sun and Livia Zhang from the small mountain city of Bazhong, in Sichuan province, teach after-school English classes for primary pupils and are in New Zealand with the support of the New Zealand China Friendship Society.

Jan McLeod, of the Whanganui branch of the society, said the visit to Whanganui, including classroom time at St John's Hill School, was part of a project that began in 2012.

" 'John' He Jianxin, who set up the school where they teach, came to New Zealand in 2011 and saw what we were doing in classrooms with literacy and language learning," Ms McLeod said.

"John and my late husband Graham Jackson [a former teacher who worked in China] were concerned that Chinese kids learning compulsory English at primary school had nothing to read for pleasure and also that English teachers in China's 'third-tier towns' are underskilled for the children's needs when they enter secondary school where poor English can be a serious disadvantage in gaining access to further education.

"From 2012 John offered his school as an experimental site and funded several Kiwi teachers to workshop with his whole staff. Last year John sent two of his teachers to see for themselves Kiwi teachers and children at work on language and literacy and this year we welcome another two.

"Especially pleasing this year is that the Chinese teachers' visit coincides with Book Week in our primary schools so the rich variety of activities our teachers devise around reading is available for them to experience.

"For my own part, I am very proud of the brilliant work that so many Kiwi teachers, primarily women, have done on reading - teaching and learning - over so many decades and the terrific explosion in stories for children in recent years.

"I want my Chinese friends to know that many of the 'advanced methods' they're now rushing to adopt from the US, Canada and UK have been worked out in Kiwi classrooms first by New Zealand teachers and kids and parents.

"In China, parents are only now learning to read to, and with, their kids. It's been wonderful to watch Sophia and Livia's faces light up as they see the children and teacher working together in the classroom."

Ms McLeod said the society was working with the Women's Federation, a Chinese national body, on other progressive initiatives.