Chinese Visitors at Ashby to See Successful Learning

09 Mar 2010

Teachers from China have been sitting in on lessons at Ashby School to see successful learning at first hand.

The seven teachers spent two days at Ashby School as part of a three-week visit to the UK to find out more about the successes of the English educational system.

The visitors, from Nanjing International Language School, focused on ‘active learning’.

Chinese visitors spent time in the school's flagship Sixth Form Centre.

Jacqueline Zhang praised the interactive elements of lessons at Ashby School. She said: "In our schools, it is very different. Chinese students tend to be quieter.

"Here, lessons are more interactive. Students ask and answer questions without being prompted. Teachers have good resources - the whiteboards, in particular, are very useful - and very organised teaching plans for every lesson. There is good communication between students and teachers."

Wei Dong was impressed by the amount of information covered in each lesson. He said: "It has surprised me how extensive lessons are, compared to those in China. A topic might take up four hours of lesson time in China; here the topic is covered in an hour."

Teacher Sheila Dennis said: “Our Chinese visitors were in school to see examples of ‘active learning’, as lessons in Chinese schools tend to be more passive. They have lots of ideas to take back to their own classrooms.”

The visit was organised by Warwick University, which has partnership links with Ashby School.

The visitors, who are all studying for a postgraduate award in teaching and learning, were in school in March. They also spent time at schools in Birmingham, Warwick and Coventry.

 

 

 

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