Teaching at Dao Tian Middle School

I came to China to teach for many reasons. First and foremost， I wanted to explore teaching， but I also wanted to explore new cultures， travel and see what else the world had to offer outside of the U.S. During high school， I wrote a research paper on the differences between Chinese and American education systems and wanted to see for myself how Chinese students were like. As I said my tearful good-byes to my parents and I stepped through the airport security alone， not knowing what to expect. As a college sophomore， I was leaving behind my family， my friends and my education； travelling to a foreign country alone for the first time. As I write this article， it has been less than two months since I arrived in China and everything has been somewhat of a whirlwind. I do not speak the language and I am not very familiar with the culture. What I do have is a passion to learn and thus far I think my teaching has been more of an effort to share that passion with my students， rather than spoon-feed them the English language.

I remember the first day walking into Dao Tian Middle School. I was both terrified and excited to meet my students for the first time. Terrified that the students would write me off as an imposter. As soon as I walked into the classroom， the students started whispering to each other in Chinese. They were probably asking the same question， “Who is this Chinese girl and why is she teaching our class？” The school had promised them a real-life English teacher from America and they had anxiously been expecting someone to fit their perceived notion of the Western stereotype—tall， Caucasian and knowledgeable about all things concerning American football. As I explained to the class， my complicated mixed ethnic background， I was anxious that the students would mock me. The reactions from the students were exactly opposite of my expectations. My first day of teaching proved to be successful.

Teaching English in China has proven to be difficult. Teaching is especially challenging with an enormous language barrier. This working experience thus far has taught me to face challenges head on. I know I will never understand my students completely， but I can make them understand me through teaching. I have many more English classes to teach， many more dishes to try， many more people， places and things to visit and experience. When my alarm goes off now， there is no need for the snooze button because I wake up every day excited about the new possibilities. I am grateful to the wonderful teachers， students and staff at Dao Tian Middle School for helping me adapt to life in China. I also hope I can continue to learn and grow as a future educator and an individual at Dao Tian Middle School.

（Sunny曾经是长沙市稻田中学聘请的美国外教）

我到中国教英语有多种原因，首要的原因是想尝试一下教学，当然也想了解一种陌生的文化，走一走看一看美国之外的异域风光。还在读高中的时候，我就写过一篇有关中美教育体制差异的小论文，并一直向往着有一天能到中国了解一下中国学生是什么样的。当我含着眼淚向父母道别，独自一人通过机场安检区的时候，不知怎的，我的脑子里有些茫然，未来于我充满了太多的未知。作为一个大二的学生，这还是我第一次离开家人、朋友，暂时搁下我未完的学业，来到中国。写这篇文章的时候，我来到中国还不到两个月，一切还没理出个头绪。我不会说中文，对中国文化也不太熟悉。我有的就是一股学习的热情，我觉得我的教学更多的是在跟学生分享这种热情，而不是填鸭式的灌输。

还记得来到稻田中学的第一天，我既害怕，又激动，害怕的是学生们会不会把我看作一个冒牌货。走进教室的那一刻，我看到学生们相互间窃窃私语，他们可能在问同一个问题：“为什么是个中国女孩呀？怎么是她来教我们呢？”后来我了解到，学校曾答应给他们安排一个真正的美国外教，他们期盼着一个符合他们心目中对外教理想要求的人——一个身材高挑，皮肤白皙，知识渊博，连美式足球都了如指掌的人。在向他们介绍我自己复杂的混血家庭背景时，我很担心学生们会嘲笑我，然而他们的反应却完全相反。我这第一天的教学算是成功了。

我感觉，在中国进行英语教学很不容易，因为语言的障碍，它对我就更有挑战性。这种经历教会我直面挑战。或许，我永远也不会完全了解我的学生，但我会通过教学使学生们听懂我。未来，还有很多课等我来上，还有很多美食等我品尝，还有很多人、很多地方、很多事物等我探访和体验。此刻当我的闹钟响起时，没有必要按下那小睡按钮，因为每一天我都异常兴奋，不知会出现什么新的惊喜。我感谢稻田友善的老师、学生、职员帮助我适应中国的生活。我也希望能在稻田中学通过不断的学习实践而成长为一个成熟历练的人、一个合格的教育工作者。