My Sweet Story as a Volunteer Chinese Language Teacher in UK

From the moment that I came to UK and became a volunteer Chinese language teacher, I was deeply motivated more by the strong senses of belonging to my homeland and the responsibility on my shoulders than the feeling of freshness and curiosity in the new life.

See my student's Chinese dream coming true

I taught at the University of Nottingham and was responsible for several classes of adult students. Most adults learned Chinese out of their own strong interest; some had been to China, either for travel or work, and therefore loved it; others had met their Chinese friends through work and became interested in Chinese language and culture; and there were also some people who wanted to confront the challenge of learning a totally different but interesting language.

Adam, one of the students in the first class I taught, was a very special student. He came to learn Chinese was mainly influenced by his father, who had visited China many times and often praised China in front of him. Besides, Adam had studied some Chinese history in college before, and with a strong interest in Chinese culture, he started to learn Chinese.

At the first meeting, I brought students some gifts with Chinese features, such as panda bookmarks and panda pens. What touched me was that on Christmas Eve, Adam gave me a delicate Christmas gift. This heartfelt kindness made me feel that the cold and wet British winter seemed to be warmer and brighter.

Now Adam has quit his previous job because he is about to embark on a new journey to his beloved China ---- to become an English teacher for a group of children in Shenzhen. Adam said he wants to visit Chinese cities, taste Chinese food and make Chinese friends, and he is looking forward to the warmth of southern China where the seasons are always in spring.

Volunteer Chinese language teachers as a window to China

During the Spring Festival, we held a series of cultural activities within the University of Nottingham that were open to the public for registration. There were tea art performances with Guzheng (similar to zither) playing, Chinese calligraphy learning, Chinese knot and Chinese lantern making, dragon and lion dance performances, light show combining technology with culture, and different kinds of workshops in collaboration with local primary and secondary schools.

In my eyes, each activity is a window, even if it only attracts some people to participate, but they get to know China and Chinese culture better anyway. I think these activities are very meaningful.

When I saw people carefully and happily copying "福(Fu)" and writing their Chinese names with writing brush, when I saw the children's smiling faces as they drew their own pandas, when I saw the audience in the tea art workshop excitedly discussing with the teachers, and when I saw the audience applaud for the brilliant performances, I was too deeply touched to hide my excitement and happiness.

Focus on language teaching, organize cultural activities, and open more windows to help more people know China. In fact, without too much explanation, just "knowing" itself is enough to let many people understand "Chinese people do things like this" and "Chinese culture is so interesting".

Connecting the world with Chinese language

As volunteer Chinese language teachers, we hold passionate love for Chinese language teaching and devote to enlightening flames in this career. We long to see the outside world and eagerly present our culture to the whole world. We'd love to try our best to present our language, culture and friendliness to people overseas.

Teaching, communicating, and mutual learning is what I gain here. Here, I teach the students Chinese, tell them the stories behind Chinese characters, traditional Chinese culture, and also share with them Chinese songs, food, beauty, and the convenient lifestyle of contemporary China. Students follow me to study Chinese language carefully, which makes me feel very satisfied as a volunteer Chinese language teacher and also urges me to keep learning. Their attitude towards life has influenced me and guided me to enjoy life and to follow my heart to make life choices.

The story on my journey to the UK is beyond what I wrote here. I cherished this experience, and my story in UK shall continue.