43
Exchange of ideas: A Chinese educator has come a long way to share his knowledge
The Vindicator (Youngstown)
Photo
Deng Zhongqing, signs a holiday card that Chelsea Begeot is making in an English class at Girard Junior/Senior High School for overseas service personnel. Deng is in the United States through the Chinene Exchange Initiative, which allows 12 Chinese and 12 American educators to spend two weeks in each other’s country. Louise Mason, junior high principal, will go to China in the spring.
The Vindicator (Youngstown)
Photo
Deng Zhongqing, an educator from China, second from left, shows Girard Junior/Senior High School students a friendship scroll that he brought as a gift. Deng is being hosted by Louise Mason, junior high principal, who will visit China in the spring. Seventh-graders are, from left, Ben Norman, Nick Walker, Destiny Brenna, Alexis Leedy and Lea Buonavola
The Vindicator (Youngstown)
Photo
Throughout Girard Junior/Senior High School, signs in Chinese named a teacher and subject as part of a welcome gesture for its Chinese visitor, Deng, Zhongqing. This group of Chinese letters is on describing nouns.
A Chinese educator has come a long way to share his knowledge
By LINDA M. LINONIS
GIRARD
Deng Zhongqing, a Chinese educator, doesn’t speak English, and Louise Mason, junior high principal at Girard Junior/Senior High School, doesn’t speak Chinese, but they’re communicating nonetheless.
They’re using computer technology to translate Chinese to English and vice versa. Assisting is interpreter Judy Toropal of Austintown, who was born in the United States and grew up in a bilingual household. She and Deng communicate in Mandarin Chinese. In China, the surname is placed first.
Deng is here through the Chinese Exchange Initiative, which allows 12 Chinese and 12 American educators to spend two weeks in one another’s country. In April, Mason will travel to China and be hosted by Deng.
Deng made the 12-hour trip from his home in Hubei Province in the middle of China. He arrived in America last week and spent time in Columbus, visiting schools and Ohio State University. On Dec. 4, Mason traveled to Columbus to bring Deng to the Mahoning Valley; he will be here through Thursday.
On Tuesday, GHS students and staff welcomed Deng to the school at a morning assembly. They presented him with gifts including a painting in honor of the year of the tiger. Mason also gave Deng an OSU jacket, which he loves. Deng is principal of Yincheng Experimental School in Yincheng City.
Deng presented GHS with three handwritten scrolls with poems and a drawing by a student.
Mason said Deng will monitor classes and see how students interact with teachers. “We want to show him what GHS students are made of — integrity, respect and drive.”
Though Toropal, Deng answered questions about Chinese education. Monday’s assembly was canceled because the snowstorm forced school closure. “The weather rarely closes schools in China,” Deng said, adding his province doesn’t get much snow.
While GHS uses technology in part to provide security, Deng said four staff members patrol the halls of schools, which also have security cameras. The two buildings he oversees are five stories and four stories with about 3,800 students in grades seven through nine.
Deng said the students remain in one room, and the teachers of various subjects travel from class to class. “Students are responsible for the upkeep of the classrooms and take responsibility for their own learning,” Deng said.
There may be up to 65 students in one class, though 30-40 is the norm. “The better schools have more students,” Deng said. Schools are established according to geographic needs.
Though academic requirement ends at the ninth grade, mostly all students progress to high school. “There’s about a 80 percent graduation rate,” Deng said.
Chinese students attend school five days a week from 7:15 a.m. to noon, go home for a two-hour break and then return from 2 to 5 p.m. The school year is 240 days as opposed to Ohio’s 180. Chinese students will have a break soon, as they follow the lunar calendar and the new year will be celebrated.
He noted that teaching English is part of the curriculum and begins in the lower grades. Deng said he hoped “to learn new techniques” in teaching. He added that American instruction is “more hands-on.”
Deng said he was impressed by the newness of GHS and its technology.
Mason is giving Deng a taste of American life through family, friends and school activities. They attended Mass at St. Rose Church and have dined on haluski and pasta. Tuesday night, they went to the GHS varsity basketball game and also have tickets to a Cavaliers game in Cleveland. “He really wanted to go to a NBA game,” Mason said.
Joe Jeswald, Girard superintendent, said the opportunity for students to learn about another culture was valuable and helps them understand the global environment.
Mayor James Melfi said Deng’s visit was a “learning experience” for everyone.