Teaching Again.

Our driver picked us up from our hotel at about 8.15 and rushed us to the school to set up our first skype class.

The Chinese technicians and teaching staff were very well organised and soon we could see Mrs. Stratford on the big screen. Ms. Cameron and Carol Hale also waved as they walked past. And then Ms. Young’s Year 7 Maths class appeared on the screen.

Some of the Chinese students were very nervous about using their English skills, but pretty soon the students sitting in  both classrooms were chatting, asking each other questions and having a lot of fun.

Thanks to the Year 7 students at Mooroolbark who helped us with the project. You were wonderful, mature, and we were very proud of you.

We then spent some time discussing education and life in Australia with the English teachers at the school. They wanted to know lots about our daily lives and how we teach. They also were very interested in our students.

Lunch was in the school canteen, where we had to line up with the other teachers and choose our food. Of course it was all Chinese food and very good. I wonder if our Canteen will start serving food like this?

After lunch Ms. Williams, Ms. Cooper and Mr. Cameron taught a big class of students – around 200 kids – for 2 hours. We showed them a fantastic video made by Casey and Steve, and the Chinese students were really impressed by our school. During this class we gave out prizes – toy kangaroos and other animals. These were very popular and even some of the teachers wanted some. We taught them some English, and some Australian English, before we got to the most important part of the lesson. We had an AFL football with us, and after we showed them a video of some footy, we taught them how to handpass a ball.  Many students and teachers lined up to have a go, and it was a great success.

We had another session discussing Australian Education with a group of Chinese Humanities teachers (who gave us heaps of food) before Principal Li and his staff took us out for dinner.