As part of established collaboration since 2007, the UNC Greensboro School of Education (SOE) hosted a group of 12 pre-service teacher candidates and two faculty members from Shanghai Normal University in China for a short-term, training program from January 14 to Feburary 1, 2019. The SOE has hosted this pre-service teacher training program for more than 5 years.
The visiting pre-service teacher candidates were all majors in English Education (elementary and middle grades), and the three-week long program included their participation in a university seminar course (Education In A Global Context), observations and lesson demonstrations at local schools, and project-building in the UNCG SELF Design Studio. During their visit, the pre-service teacher candidates experienced a trip to Washington, D.C., attended STEMergizing Saturday for professional development with local teachers, and enjoyed a UNCG basketball game.
Thanks to support of Guilford County Schools, the Shanghai Normal University students spent five days in local schools and had the opportunity to observe Chinese language instruction in classrooms and carry out lesson demonstrations on Chinese culture. At Northwood Elementary and Ferndale Middle Schools in High Point, the visiting students observed primarily Chinese language classes and shared lesson on Chinese tea culture, which helped the Northwood students prepare for their Chinese New Year festival (see a video of the Chinese tea culture lesson here). They also had the opportunity to visit and tour Greensboro Day School.
Shanghai Normal University’s visit culminated in final presentations that described their reflections of similarities and differences observed in Chinese and US education systems, and a celebration during the SOE International Social on January 30. We are already looking forward to hosting them again next year!
