Image by armennano from Pixabay

You could think of the Qixi Festival as the Chinese Valentines Day, but the legend behind it is far older, more complicated, and definitely more fantastic than its Western counterpart. Think Romeo and Juliet meets Die Hard, set partially in outer space, and you will have some idea of the scope of this sensational narrative.

Here is a summary of a love story that is written in the stars, as well as some tips on what to do and what to eat during the Qixi Festival.

Scene 1 – Lonely Farmer

Niu Lang is a lowly male cowherd whose best friend is a talking cow. The cow regularly gives him color (i.e. berates him) about not being married yet.

A fringe benefit of being a cowherd is that you are always not far from a pond. Image by Suman Maharjan from Pixabay

Scene 2 – Seven Sisters hit the Pond

One warm, sultry evening Niu Lang hears the sound of seven young and beautiful women playing and splashing about naked in a pond. They are actually sisters, princess daughters of the Sky King and Queen, including the most beautiful and beloved of them all, the very beautiful Zhi Nu.

Zhi Nu, the goddess of weaving and knitting, was said to be responsible for making the clouds of heaven. Photo by Christophe Van der waals on Unsplash

Niu Lang, peering through the reeds in fear and ecstasy, is convinced by the cow to steal their wings and clothes from the shoreline. All but one of the celestial sisters escape. Niu Lang captures Zhi Nu.

Scene 3 – Sky Monarchs on the Fury Road

The Sky King and Queen learn about Zhi Nu’s fate and are furious. They dispatch Sky Soldiers to retrieve her.

If you abduct the favorite daughter of the Sky King and Queen, there will be consequences. Photo by Garth Manthe on Unsplash

Scene 4 – Happy Family

Years have passed. Niu Lang has now married Zhi Nu with the cow as best man, and they have two kids. They are very happy together. This ends on the night that the Sky Soldiers come and re-abduct Zhi Nu and take her back to the Heavens.

Scene 5 – That’s what friends are for

Niu Lang is devastated to find his wife gone. The cow tells Niu Lang to kill him, because his skin can be used as a magic carpet that he can fly to the Heavens on. Niu Lang hesitates but finally agrees. He slaughters and skins the cow.

Some versions of the legend have the cow dying of old age, rather than by his best friend’s hand. Photo by Kseniya Konovets on Unsplash

Scene 6 – Once a Year

Niu Lang attempts to fly to the Heavens on the cow hide, but all manner of obstacles get in his way. The final blockade is the Milky Way constellation, which the Sky Queen slings in his path as an insurmountable river of stars.

Before flocks of birds cooperate to create bridge structures in outer space they look just like regular flocks of birds. Photo by Jan-Niclas Aberle on Unsplash

A flock of magpies, who happened to have been watching this failed rescue attempt, decide to help. It is a big flock, and they lock together beak to wing to form a bridge over the stars for Niu Lang to cross. The Sky King and Queen are impressed by his tenacity, and permit him to be reunited with Zhi Nu once a year.

What to do

Obviously, get in touch with your significant other. A date would be a good option rather than a text message. Get outside in the moonlight if you can. The need for gifts may still be negotiable, but this may change in 2023.

Most of the behaviour of couple’s during Qixi is similar to Valentine’s Day in the West. Photo by Matthieu Huang on Unsplash

Zhi Nu was also known for her weaving prowess. It is customary for women and girls to thread needles in dim light and sew in honor of her. If you have any relatives, friends, or neighbors that are into this tradition, this is a good time to get any repair work done on your clothes.

What to eat

A cultural treat to savor is qiaoguo, a simple pastry moulded into a flower or animal design. It is thought that eating this will help the lovers to meet on the bridge. The crumbs that you bat off your shirt will hit the ground, and birds will gather once you are gone.

Animal crackers and qiaoguo have a lot in common, although qiaoguo are a lot more elaborate. Image by Miroslavik from Pixabay

If you can’t get a hold of qiaoguo, any flaky snack will do the trick. As long as the birds get fed you will be playing your part in the lover’s rendezvous.

Whether you are single or part of a couple, here’s to a happy Qixi Festival day. Follow the links  to read more about other highlights in the Chinese cultural calendar.

The post Qixi Festival User Guide appeared first on Dipont Education.

In the past three years there has been a huge decline in the ESL private education market in China. COVID, policy change, and general economic shrinkage have placed enormous pressure on this once lucrative and booming industry. As a result, a lot of ESL teachers are facing the end of their China dreams.

Photo by Tom Parsons on Unsplash

At the same time many international and bilingual schools in China are now filling the last of their vacancies for an August 2022 start.

Here are some tips on making the leap from training centers to the big league.

1. Align with your subject knowledge

If economics was not your major at university, don’t apply for an economics teaching job. You do not want the stress of trying to learn the topic between classes. Like a predator’s instinct to smell fear on the hunted, most students can detect a knowledge gap within the first 15 minutes of a course. A bitter victory it would be to bluff your way into such a classroom.

Photo by Joshua Hoehne on Unsplash

You will need subject knowledge. What was your major? Literature, History, and, to a lesser extent, Political Science are fields that are applicable to an English subject teaching role, and should be highlighted in your CV.

Look into options to undertake a PGCE (Post Graduate Certificate in Education), which effectively upgrades your qualifications to be classroom ready. Enrolling in a PGCE will also demonstrate your commitment to career development.

2. Emphasize your unique strengths

You may have been an awesome ESL teacher, but there are a lot of awesome ex-ESL teachers flooding the market these days. What makes you stand out from the crowd? Brushing up your CV is an opportunity to reflect on your achievements and your growth, and also to articulate the benefits you can bring to a new employer.

Photo by Jess Bailey on Unsplash

What is it about your classroom management style that supports autonomous, student-centered learning? Have you any experince with safe-guarding protocols? What have you learnt about the unique perspective of Chinese learners? What experience do you have with cross-cultural communication? Have you ever organized an extra-curricular activity? What made it great? What did you learn from it?

3. Be prepared to move

Back in the day you could throw a rock* in downtown Shanghai and it would bounce off a couple of ESL schools before hitting the ground. There were a lot of training centers. The daily commute was a breeze. You could live in the thick of the CBD, taking your pick of workplaces. It was easy to find a job.

Photo by Alessio Lin on Unsplash

These days it is not so easy. You may need to change cities to find a position that matches your qualifications. This is not to say that any reputable school will accept inadequately skilled teachers, but there is a greater likelihood of being accepted into a non-ESL academic role away from the extremely competitive job market in top tier cities.

If you have the ability, the determination, and the willingness to grow, a second or third tier would be the ideal place to launch your career renaissance.

*note that this is a metaphorical rock. It is never a good idea to throw stones in the inner city.

4. Prepare a killer demo lesson

You may not always have the opportunity to use it, but preparing a demo lesson is a good way to focus your intent and refine your pitch for the job. In addition, many classes are being taught online these days, albeit temporarily, so preparing a great demo lesson in this format could make a huge difference to your application.

Photo by Tumisu on Pixabay

You should aim for a snapshot of your teaching persona that highlights your mastery of the medium as well as your comfort in the subject area. The question for your audience is: Is this person able to deliver a curriculum with confidence and discernment? Charisma is not king in this situation.

5. Persevere or perish

Failure is inevitable on the road to change, but the road is long and forgiving if you give yourself the chance. Every application is an opportunity to hone your message. Every interview is a chance to practice delivering your brand to the market.

Photo by Marten Bjork on Unsplash

China has always been a land of opportunity for teachers. The difference now is that the stakes are higher, and the rewards are greater. The end of your ESL days need not be the end of your China life. You could make it the start of your education career.

Dipont Education has had a few last minute positions open up for teachers currently residing in China for an August 2022 start. Now is the time to get started on your career revival.

The post Time for your career revival appeared first on Dipont Education.

Here she talks about what makes Zhenhai a great place to live and work. Tanya also shares her vison for creating a holistic learning environment.

1. What is life like in Zhenhai?

It is very peaceful. It’s got that small town vibe, even though it’s a fairly big district. What struck me when I first arrived was how quiet the streets are, with these big overhanging trees lining the roads, and nice, shaded walkways.

I would say it’s not for people who like the hustle and bustle of the big city but, even so, there is a subway line about 20 minutes walk from the school that can take you into Ningbo in about 40 minutes.

And it’s getting closer and closer. When I first arrived (in 2018) the nearest subway station was a 15 minute taxi ride away!

2. What has been your experience of working as a teacher at Zhenhai?

It has been very positive. The Center Principal when I arrived was very enthusiastic and supportive, and he was very engaged with the students. We are a small staff. Next year we will have 14 expat teachers, so there is definitely a community vibe to the team.

The school itself has about 200 students, so it’s not a huge school by any means. The advantage is that you can engage easily with the students, and get to know them quite well.

Another advantage of this relatively small size is that, if you have an idea for an activity or an initiative, you can get the support to see the idea into action.

Making changes is not always easy, but I found that if you can prove that you are willing to work hard and get things going then, gradually, you can get there.

3. What is an example of a new initiative that you have been able to implement?

I had an idea about getting more culture into the school, something in addition to the usual sports and clubs. So I started with the idea of a Thanksgiving Day event, which was popular.

Although it is American, I knew from experience at other schools that it was familiar to everyone, so it would be a good starting point.

The next direction I can see it taking is building a calendar of cultural events that really expresses the great cultural diversity we have within the teaching team. We’ve got teachers from all over the world, from places like Ghana, Kenya, USA, the UK, Malaysia and Pakistan, so through these cultural sharing events we really can give our students a unique international insight.

Events like these can also provide students with the opportunity to develop leadership skills, which we can then refer to when writing recommendation letters for them. Real life skills like organizing events, planning, implementation, reviewing and cleaning up afterwards, all serve to make the school more colorful, and the education we provide more holistic.

4. How has the transition to the Center Principal role been for you?

I have always felt that working in a school is more than just arriving at 7:15 and leaving at 4:30. For me what is important is the whole school life.

Education doesn’t end at the doorway to the classroom, or start and end when the bell rings. I am really passionate about education outside the classroom.

I have only recently been promoted to the role of Center Principal. In fact, today is my first officual day! My path to this role really started when I was promoted to the position of Dean of Students, last year.

In that position I was doing pretty much what I had been doing anyway, but with a recognized title. This gave me that bit of authority to organize things more effectively, and also to communicate more directly with the management team.

5. How have you grown professionally in your time at Zhenhai?

Besides the professional development courses offered by Dipont, such as the marking course that I took last year, I have grown a lot in my career. There are a lot of opportunities available, and you can get the support that you need if you persist and persevere. It takes ambition and dedication. What is important is that, in Zhenhai, your ambition is recognized.

For example, the Dean of Students role wasn’t even a role that existed at our school. It was a role that was created in recognition of what I had been doing. It gave me the opportunity to transition into the position I have now.

I am really excited about the coming academic year, and what our great team at Zhenhai can achieve together.

The post Holistic Education at Zhenhai High appeared first on Dipont Education.

The Dual Diploma Program (DDP) at Tianyi High School, Wuxi, in partnership with the prestigious Shattuck-St. Mary’s school in the US, combines project management, career counselling, software design tuition, leadership, collaboration, creativity and community engagement.

Here Mark talks about the DDP, and what he has gained in this part of his career journey.

1. How does the course relate to the idea of 21st century learning?

The traditional model for education is like a factory system, what you could think of as a cells and bells model. This is where you keep students in a cell for a certain period of time, until the bell rings, and then they move to a different cell. It is very teacher-centered, with the teacher being the primary source of the learning experience.

A goal of 21st century learning  is that students become the  drivers of their educational journey

Central to our approach is that students should be the primary drivers of their own educational experience. We facilitate this by giving them lots of opportunities to try new things, to experience new things, to take actions, and then reflect on those actions.

That way they can discover more about themselves: their strengths, weaknesses, and their own interests, and then use that to grow and inform their next actions.

2. What facilities do you have to support the course?

The design of our initial setup came from our partner school, Shattuck-St Mary’s.  They developed what they call a “WeCreate” space, which is an environment dedicated to self-directed exploration and learning. This space includes things like AV rooms, sewing machines, and even 3D printers.

Industry professionals visit the school to share their expertise

This year, we polled our students to see what other types of equipment or material they would like to have or use, so they have input on the facilities that are provided.

3. How do students choose the goals of their projects?

We give students a fair deal of independence, but there is also structure. In our WeCreate classes, there is a dedicated teacher who assigns specific tasks to get students familiar with the idea of project management.

A good example of this is the board game design project. At a practical level they learn about industry standard software, but they are also learning about managing their time, setting deadlines, resource allocation and sharing ideas with others. This part of the course serves as an introduction to the skills they will be applying later.

Students get hands-on experience using industry standard design software

Beyond this the projects become increasingly more open-ended. For example, we’ll tell students that we expect them to use the design software tools they have learnt about, but what they create is really up to them.

We definitely want them to develop their own creativity, so they can go crazy, but there is some structure.

4. How do you assess students during this course?

As the focus is on empowered, student-centered learning, we have our students set goals for themselves. We work with students to make weekly plans, and monthly plans, and on defining their final targets.

Every two weeks, they write a reflection on how their studies are going, what issues they have been having, what progress they are making, and what they can improve on.

5. What kind of progress have you noticed in your students?

It’s a very new experience for many of our students, so they are a bit shell shocked at first.

Although we do scaffold the process, it still takes them a while to adjust and to realize that they do have a voice and that they are expected to be the drivers of their own experience.

The WeCreate classroom allows students to explore their own interests and develop new skills

I’ve seen a lot of kids take that on beautifully. By the time we got to the independent projects in spring, I feel like many of the students really have their feet under themselves. They took on the responsibility really well.

6. What has been the most satisfying thing for you as a teacher?

For me, it was also a brand new experience. Like the students, I also just had to jump in.

I remember when we returned after the Spring Festival break, I had been worried that all the projects would be behind schedule. But then I found all the students had beautiful plans written up, and they had used the time really well.

Each semester students receive exclusive presentations from industry professionals

When I walk around the lab and see my students really into their projects, I think it really is the ideal of what you want to see in school: kids who are really engaged by their work, and excited about their learning.

The post 21st Century Learning Comes to Wuxi appeared first on Dipont Education.

Here Sasi offers some advice on being a successful principal and shares his experience as a community volunteer during the recent Shanghai lockdown.

What are the most important skills to be a successful Center Principal?

The most important thing is having regular, open and transparent communication. Keeping your center director updated with all the academic or pastoral problems you may be having will ensure that you are supported and get what you need.

The other important skill is listening. You need to be able to understand what your Chinese colleagues want while also respecting the host nation’s culture. Then you can make suggestions, rather than being a barrier or an obstacle to anything that they say.

How would you describe your own management style?

It all starts with earning the trust of your center director. Once they recognize that you can do the job, they usually just let you get along with what you’re good at.

I treat my teachers and heads of departments in a similar way. While you still need to drop in on them from time to time to provide support and guidance as needed, you are not going to be micromanaging them. They are the experts in their area. I trust them to do what they are experts at.

I will always ask for their suggestions when it comes to implementing changes or dealing with issues. I like to think that I have created an atmosphere in my school in which everybody’s voice can be heard. It is always worth hearing from multiple perspectives, especially when you have teachers from different nationalities and different educational backgrounds. All success comes from team effort, because only together can we truly thrive.

▲ Sasi’s close knit-team of teachers and staff is made up of many different nationalities

A lot of people stay with Dipont for a long time, why do you think that is?

For me, it’s about respect and inclusivity. Some schools have an inclusion policy but aren’t actually that inclusive when it comes to recruitment. When it comes to Dipont, however, once they find someone who is correct for the job, they will hire that person. This attitude of respect makes people loyal to the company.

You volunteered as a tester during the COVID lockdown. What motivated you to do that? And how did you find the experience?

I love Shanghai, it’s been my home away from home. To my mind, if you are in a city that has kept you and given you what you needed, you need to give back. So I wanted to do what I could to help my community.

Before the lockdown, no one knew my name. They only knew that I’m a foreigner. But now everybody knows me by name. Volunteering kind of made me popular! The local people in my community all started calling me S.A.S. Now, if I go for a walk in the evening, people smile and say hello. My experience of being a volunteer has been very positive.

▲ Sasi didn’t hesitate to volunteer as a COVID tester in Shanghai

How have you been supporting your teachers during this time?

People can sometimes forget being together during easy times, but they will never forget the time that you were together during hardships. As an IB school, and as a leader, we supported the wellbeing of our staff to the best of our ability.

As a school, we kept in regular communication with staff members and helped in any way we could. For example, we coordinated community WeChat groups to help them to buy things, or just keeping staff up to date with any instructions that they needed.

The same as with my housing community, my team is there for each other, and we all do what we can to help each other through this special time.

Imagine the supermarket is open, and you are the only customer. What is the first thing that you put in your basket?

I would start by putting a few beers in my basket, because I have a lot of food at home already, to be honest with you. My community has been great in this regard. We had Mcdonald’s a few times, we had KFC a few times, and we even had pizza a couple of times. Getting food has never been a problem.

▲ Sasi is keen to return to school to see his teachers and students

While the lockdown has been difficult in a lot of ways, it has also created some unexpected benefits. The community is stronger than it’s ever been before, at least in my experience. It’s almost like an extended family. There is even a discussion that after the pandemic is over the entire building should go out and have a party together. That side of it has been quite nice.

For now, I am just patiently waiting. I just want to get back to school to see my students and teachers in their classrooms. That’s the most important thing to me now.

The post Meet Sasi Antony: Principal and Volunteer appeared first on Dipont Education.

Here are five fun Dragon Boat Festival facts that you can drop into conversations while you are tying up a tetrahedron of sticky rice during this long weekend:

1. It’s all about a dead poet

Qu Yuan was a poet and statesmen from 2300 years ago, remembered as a great patriot and a tragic hero. He got mixed up in the political malarkey of the Warring States Period. This didn’t work out well for him, as he wrote in the largely autobiographical poem, Li Sao:

I marvel at the folly of the king,
So heedless of his people’s suffering.
They envied me my moth-like eyebrows fine,
And so my name his damsels did malign.

Despite his excellent moth-like eyebrows, he eventually lost his own kingdom. In protest at the corruption of the times, he threw himself into a river in an act of ritual suicide.

Onlookers were dismayed, and rushed to their boats to either save him or retrieve his body. They also threw sticky rice into the water to distract the fish from nibbling at him. Hence dragon boat racing, and hence zongzi.

2. You are not meant to eat the leaves or the string on the zongzi

The shape may vary, but the essentials are glutinous rice, bamboo leaves, and string. Wrapping zongzi is a family event, like dumpling folding at Spring Festival. If you get invited to join in, you are doing well at a community level.

Eating zongzi can be a bit like Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates, you are never sure what you are going to get. There are a multitude of filling options at the heart of your zongzi: pork belly, duck egg, taro paste, or even custard. Be ready for a delicious surprise.

3. Dragon Boat racing is not an Olympic sport, yet

In the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Dragon Boat racing was included as a demonstration sport in a bid to have it upgraded to medal status.

If synchronized swimming, or skateboarding, curling or even boomerang throwing* is considered an Olympic sport, it’s only a matter of time before dragon boats get the nod.

*note that one of these sports is not actually an Olympic sport.

4. It’s actually quite an unlucky time of year

As the tale of Qu Yuan might suggest, the fifth lunar month is quite unlucky in the Chinese calendar. As summer rolls in, insects spring to life. Mosquitoes boom. Frogs creep out of ponds. Humidity is on the rise.

There are some actions you can take to safeguard against bad luck. If you can balance an egg on its end at midday, you’ll be fine. To keep the bugs away you might also consider hanging mugwort leaves above your door and windows. Insects hate that stuff.

5. Realgar wine can help you identify if someone is actually a snake

Realgar wine is a traditional alcoholic drink that is thought to drive away evil spirits and kill insects. The first sip will verify these details, but it gets better after the third cup.

In the Chinese fable The Legend of the White Snake, the hero uses realgar wine to confirm that his wife is actually a snake in disguise. If you are a snake in disguise, don’t drink it. If you suspect your spouse or significant other is in fact a were-snake, have them try some and watch what happens.

Ganbei!

The post Dragon Boat Festival Facts appeared first on Dipont Education.

He shares his first impressions of life and work in Dalian, and how he prepares his students to be powerful lifelong learners.

1. How did you find out about Dalian No. 24 High School?

I asked around in my network, and three different people directed me toward this place. To me, that’s a good indicator, when you hear about a place from a wide variety of sources who are not necessarily connected to each other.

2. What are you teaching now?

I teach English as a Second Language for their IGCSE program, and EAP or English for Academic Purposes. In addition, I’m also teaching Global Perspectives, which is kind of a social studies course designed to give the students a more holistic education, one that is not just about tests and exams.

▲ The international center in Dalian provides a holistic education to students

3. What skills, in particular, do students develop in Global Perspectives?

For a lot of these students, it is the first time they have been introduced to academic research. They learn by doing. They have a team research project and an individual research project. The stakes are lower than they would be if they were in university. There’s more guidance, and there are more explicit examples given. For many students, this is their first exposure to this important academic skill.

4. What kind of improvements have you noticed?

You can definitely see significant progress as students go from Grade 10 to Grade 12. The first drafts are often either absolutely terrible or, conversely, absolutely perfect, which is also not good. This is where we can say, “Hey! We noticed that these might not be your words. Let’s talk about what plagiarism is!” and “Let’s talk about what I expect from you.”

When we ask Grade 10 to resubmit, what we get back is often not pretty. But that’s OK, because it’s a work in progress, and they are learning. Once they get it, that light bulb goes on. Then you know you have made a difference. Once it clicks, it is an amazing thing to see.

▲ Dalian No. 24 High School has a collaborative and supportive atmosphere

5. How is the environment at Dalian No. 24 High School?

The school does a great job of fostering a collaborative and supportive atmosphere. On my first day, as I was trying to figure out what I needed to do, I probably had six or seven different teachers come up to me and offer little tips. Even now, colleagues say, “Good Morning” when you walk into the office every day. I really appreciate that.

Mutual respect is part of the school culture, where you greet each other and you treat each other with respect. This is not only among staff but also between teachers and students. I’ve been extremely impressed by the culture here.

6. What was your first impression of life in Dalian?

The winters are cold! But Dalian during spring, summer and fall is a beautiful, beautiful place. I think it’s big enough that there is something for everyone, but it’s also small enough that you don’t feel the rush or pressure that you might in some of the bigger cities.

Dalian has a little bit of everything. It has some mountains nearby, and some places you can go hiking. It’s got the seaside. It’s not necessarily a sandy beach, but you can certainly go swimming in there. Well, I have, anyway!

▲ Perfect city fengshui: leaning against mountains and facing the sea

7. What do you like to do in your free time?

In my free time, I love to get outside and be in nature, and when I’m home I love to read. I’m kind of a bookworm. Within the expat community here there is a group for everything. If you want to be in a book club, they’ve got a group for that. If you want to go hiking on the weekends, they’ve got a group for that. Do you want to go cycling? Do you want to go paddleboarding? Do you just want to get together with a group of friends, and meet some new people? They’ve got events for a whole range of interests. There’s something for everybody. You don’t have to look too hard.

8. What would you say to someone to encourage them to go to Dalian and work in No. 24 High School?

If you want to work with a collaborative team at a school that promotes and encourages professional development with a group of highly-motivated students in a great city in China, and you are willing to work hard, this is a great place to be.

We still have positions left in Dalian for an August 2022 start. Visit our careers section to find out about these and other great jobs within the Dipont network.

The post Destination Dalian: Arthur’s Tale appeared first on Dipont Education.

Here she talks about living in and traveling around China, and about her experience of working in a truly international learning community.

You have worked as a teacher in a few different countries around Asia. In which country have you enjoyed working the most?

“I’ve actually enjoyed China the most. I think Thailand is brilliant for a holiday, but probably not so great for working. Japan was great. I mean, Japan is an amazing country, but the cost of living is quite expensive. But China has been great, because I’ve been able to save a lot, and I’ve also been able to travel a lot. Even with COVID, not being able to travel outside of China so easily, but being able to travel around China itself, has been incredible. So I’ve definitely enjoyed China.”

What qualities do you think you need to succeed as a teacher in China?

“Open-mindedness. Acceptance. Communication. Humor. Just to be aware of the fact that you are stepping into a different culture. As a teacher at RDFZ you just need to talk to people. Communicate. Get to know people. Work hard. No-one likes a shirker!”

Visible learning in a wall of words

Is it hard work?

“Yes, it is. We have quite a few classes. There are high expectations. This is fine, there should be high expectations if you are teaching children anyway. It’s nothing that you wouldn’t expect from a school that really values positive student outcomes.”

Are there any teachers or educators who have influenced your teaching style?

“I think I’m probably influenced by a great range of people. We have quite a few really good teachers here, and when I’ve gone in and observed them I’ve picked up some really good teaching tips.

“Thinking back to my own primary school teachers I remember a couple of teachers that were really horrible to me. You always remember the horrible ones. But then I remember another one who was really funny, and he was kind, and he was a good teacher.”

How would you describe your students?

“They are great! They are really good. I wouldn’t say that I’ve got any naughty students. I’ve got some that can get a bit hyperactive sometimes. In my experience, most of my students are quite hardworking, and they enjoy studying, and they enjoy succeeding, so it’s not hard to get them to do their homework. Every now and then someone forgets, but it’s never on a consistent basis of not doing the work.”

You can tell how much the students love Rebecca’s classes by the smiles on their faces

How do you interact with your Chinese colleagues in your daily work life?

“We have tutor group every morning, and so my co-tutor is Chinese. Some of our English teachers are Chinese as well. So we work together quite closely. We have a teacher from Singapore. We have teachers from all over the place. America, UK, Turkey, Serbia, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa. It’s interesting, to get to learn about different countries, different cultures.”

What would you say to someone to encourage them to come to RDFZ Hangzhou to work?

“I would say that you will never be bored here. It’s a really stimulating environment. You will learn a lot. You will develop as a teacher. And there are always opportunities for leadership so, if you want to develop in that area, there will be opportunities for that. The school has got a really great professional development program. Also, if you start doing some post-grad studies, they will also help you out with the cost of that as well depending on how long you have been working for the school. It’s a really good salary. All in all, it’s a great place to work.”

Can you give an example of some kind of professional development training that you’ve taken?

“We have regular PD days. For a whole day, there won’t be any students here, and there will be a series of PD sessions that we can choose from. For some of them, we get Dipont instructors to come in, and others are from our internal teachers who want to develop their training skills and share their ideas. The last PD session I went to was about Socratic Questioning. It was really good. That was led by Leanne Grundy, from Dipont HQ.”

What do you like to do in your free time?

“I love walking around where I’m living. There are little tea plantations, and I went for a long walk one day, just roamed endlessly, and I ended up in this tiny little village surrounded by tea plantations. And there was a big reservoir, and I almost stepped on a snake. It was great.”

What is a special memory that you have of traveling around China?

“Last summer I went on an Amdo art tour, that’s a place on the Tibetan plateau. It was with a very small group. We started off in Xining, and we ended up going to a far-off Tibetan city that is basically considered the home of Tibetan art. We went there, and we did a two-day workshop on how to paint in the style of Tibetan art. That was really special. And then we did a little hike in Ganan, so we were up quite high.

“I also went to Shangri La. I did a great hike into Yubeng village. That was pretty special as well. Just to see a small place like that. It was amazing.”

Yubeng village in Yunnan province with Meili Snow Mountain in the distance

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We have positions available for qualified and energetic teachers at RDFZ King’s College School Hangzhou for an August 2022 start. Visit our independent schools jobs section to review these and other open positions across our broad network of exceptional schools in China.

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Everyone here is gearing up for round two. Longer. Louder. Loads more food. Spring Festival is coming soon.

One of the delights of living and working in China is experiencing cultural events like Spring Festival first hand. Like Christmas, it’s a time for being with family and is rich with tradition. Like New Year’s Eve in the West, there is a midnight countdown as one year gives way to the next. For the expat teacher living in China, it is holiday time as the culture blooms around you.

Here are some tips for getting the most out of this most auspicious of Chinese festivals:

DO

Give a gift to your gateman: That guy in the uniform in the booth by your gate has been watching you walk past all year. Why not give him something? Bonus points if you give him a calendar from your home country. You win the key to his eternal gratitude if you give him a plush toy, also from your home country, that he can give to his kids or grandkids.

Give a hongbao* to your ayi**: Red is lucky. A red envelope with money in it is luckier. If you give your ayi a hongbao with the equivalent of a month’s salary in it, she will think she is the luckiest cleaning lady person ever. Satisfaction guaranteed.

Get a haircut: Hit the salon on Chinese New Year’s Eve for a full blast of cultural immersion. Shampoo? Check. Trim? Check. Shoulder massage? Check. High energy pop music blasting from the stereo? Obviously.

Get some new clothes: Splash out on a fresh ensemble and strut it out on New Year’s Day. If the new year coincides with your Chinese Zodiac animal you need to get red underpants also.

Clean your home: This is a good idea most of the time, but if you give your apartment a thorough sweeping on New Year’s Eve you are also observing a centuries-old tradition that represents getting rid of the old and making way for the new.

DON’T

Set off fireworks: Fireworks used to be a mainstay of the Spring Festival experience that reached a berserk crescendo on New Year’s night. The air was so thick you could chew on it. Fun. Exciting. Loud. The fireworks from different nights were associated with different agendas. Scaring away bad luck. Attracting good luck. Honoring relatives who had passed away.

In recent years, however, this custom has been outlawed due to the heinous pollution it caused. The air is now chilly, crisp, and pollution-free on New Year’s night, perfect for walking off the inevitably heavy and sumptuous meal. If you meet anyone, say “Gong xi fa cai!” You will surely get the same in return.

*A hongbao is a red envelope containing a gift of money. Multiples of eight, such as 888 RMB are especially auspicious.

**Ayi is the informal name for a cleaning person, usually a mature woman who is reminiscent of an aunt. As a teacher in China, you will have the disposable income to employ an ayi to help with your household chores.

Visit our careers section to find out about teaching positions currently available for an August 2022 start!

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