In China, 10 September is Teachers' Day. It's a day dedicated to expressing gratitude to teachers for their hard work and contributions to society.
Dr Deng Yuhui, an Associate Professor of the Division of Science and Technology (DST) at UIC, received an Guangdong Excellent Teacher award as part of province's 2021 Teachers' Day celebration.
Dr Deng Yuhui (fourth from left) with UIC students
Dr Deng has been teaching at UIC for seven years and teaches courses in the Statistics Programme. He has devotedly optimised teaching methods, enhanced communication with students, and paid attention to students' needs and growth.
Dr Deng is highly respected by students and won the President's Award for Teaching and Service in UIC for the 2017-2018 academic year.
Below are some new teachers who were students of UIC but are now qualified and professional teachers. Here are their stories.
Sun Xiaoqian
Applied Translation Studies programme, 2018
Now a headteacher as well as an English teacher in one Shenzhen middle school
Smile is what UIC teachers impressed Xiaoqian the most, so she now is a person who believes in the power of a smile. She said the days in UIC shaped her into who she is today.
Last September, Xiaoqian officially became a teacher in Shenzhen. Not only is she an English teacher, but Xiaoqian is also a headteacher of the grade. She recalled feeling so nervous about her first-time open class that she couldn't remember much about that.
The new semester is around the corner, Xiaoqian can manage to handle things calmly despite being busy. Her students are attracted by Xiaoqian's vivid tones and gentle manner.
Sun Xiaoqian in her class
While studying Applied Translation Studies at UIC, Xiaoqian initially planned her career as a simultaneous interpreter but later changed direction as her interest in English teaching raised. UIC's abundant after-class activities and summer programs provided Xiaoqian with opportunities to know more about education and experience teaching. That was where her interest started. After graduation, Xiaoqian went to the University of Edinburgh to pursue her master's degree in Teaching English as a Foreign Language.
After returning to Shenzhen, Xiaoqian participated in the recruitment of public teachers by the Shenzhen Education Bureau. Although in the fierce competition, Xiaoqian never gave up facing many difficulties, eventually her persistence touched the principal who interviewed her.
Xiaoqian's colleagues said she is too gentle to be a headteacher, but she believes in the power of being gentle. Moreover, Xiaoqian never stops the pace of self-improvement. No matter how busy she is, she always squeezes some time to study, like reading education-related books.
Xiaoqian hard work paid off with a complete sense of achievement. More students like English because of her class, and their grades are constantly improving. The international class she teaches ranks first in English among the whole grade.
Xiaoqian believes that being a teacher is a lucky and happy thing. She explains that teaching is a complicated but pure job, filled with love and hope, as well as heavy responsibilities. However, as long as her students are smiling and are on the right track, it's all worth it.
Yan Yuqi
Statistics programme, 2019
Now a volunteer teacher in Hongchang Hope Primary School at Chaonan in Shantou
Yan Yuqi said he was lucky to have met many teachers who profoundly impacted him during his college years. The positive energy he gained from them will continue to influence his life in the future.
Yuqi, born and raised in Yunnan Province, witnessed the gap between urban and rural education resources. So, after graduating from college, he chose to volunteer teaching to contribute to rural education.
In September 2019, Yuqi came to Xiahu Primary School in Chaozhou City in Guangdong Province as a teacher of the Teach For China Programme. He served as a headteacher and a math teacher of the third grade and took charge of the football courses of the school.
Yan Yuqi (middle) and his football class students in Xiahu Primary School
Yuqi fell ill in his first month due to the new environment and the pressure of teaching. However, the students' care for him soon cheered him up. Although Yuqi was busy with 20 courses a week and communicating with parents, he expanded the children's horizons and developed their thinking patterns and practical skills.
Yuqi said that he was inspired by UIC's liberal arts education and whole-person education experiential courses. He had come up with many new ideas; hence, he successfully set up Chinese Handicraft, Ancient Poetry, and Chinese Language courses. Yuqi is responsible for project approval, application for funds, giving classes all by himself.
He gets tired sometimes, covering work, but he hasn't given up on any project. On the contrary, these projects have been well-received among the students and parents, and some of them even have been awarded.
Yan Yuqi set up quite a few experiential courses
Yuqi harvested fully of students' appreciation. His students wrote to him saying how he had helped them improve their grades and taught them many exciting and innovative courses. They invited him to come back.
After two years of volunteer teaching, Yuqi applied for another year of service and was assigned to Hongchang Hope Primary School in Shantou. He was in charge of mathematics in grades 4, physical education, and information technology in grades 5 and 6. After his volunteering experience, he planned to enrol in a master's degree programme.
Yuqi hopes that more graduated students could join the volunteer teaching programme. Xiaoqian explained that the impact on children might not be evident in the short term, but education is like sowing a seed. Therefore, a good education is always worth devotion.
Li Zhiyuan
Computer Science and Technology programme, 2009
Now a UIC Assistant Professor in Computer Science and Technology Programme
Many students met excellent teachers and received a good education in UIC. Zhiyuan believed that he wouldn't have made it this far down the road without them.
Zhiyuan transformed from a student at UIC to a teacher at UIC. As the first graduate of UIC, he has a deep understanding and strong feelings about "Grow with UIC".
When Zhiyuan enrolled at UIC in 2005, it was a college that not many people knew. At that time, Zhiyuan had no intention of becoming a university teacher. He explains that he was still confused about his future. Soon, however, he found his purpose and direction.
Zhiyuan says he was fortunate to meet excellent and responsible teachers. They offered him professional academic guidance and raised his interest in the educational field.
Li Zhiyuan (third from right) at the Professor Xu Jialu Whole Person Education Award ceremony in 2009
Zhiyuan said that his genuine desire to explore computer science probably began when he and his teacher at that time discussed whether a computer was science at all. Apart from the study, many other issues were also addressed. This equality awakened his enthusiasm for self-researching.
After graduating from UIC, He received a full scholarship to study for a master's degree in research at Brock University in Canada and a PhD in Computer Science from Concordia University in Canada.
In 2018, after more than a decade of study, Zhiyuan returned to teach at his alma mater, recalling his college memory. It's delightful for Zhiyuan to blend in with the young generation.
Li Zhiyuan in class
Zhiyuan teaches Discrete Structure, Database Management Systems, Design and Analysis of Algorithms. He gives lectures in a way that students can easily understand and analyse abstract concepts by analogy with vivid and interesting examples.
Even if Zhiyuan was so busy during the daytime, he could talk with students who came to him late at night. Zhiyuan said, only when he becomes a teacher does he know how hard being a teacher could be. He was very grateful to the teachers who gave him training and care before. Now he felt satisfied to grow up with his students.
From MPRO
Reporter: Li Ruifeng
Editors: Samuel Burgess, Deen He
