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Shen Ping and Shen Ting, twin sisters in SCNU, both got master's degrees in the School of Chinese Language & Literature in 2023, and they work as Chinese teachers in Shenquan middle school in Jieyang currently, a relatively underdeveloped city in the eastern of Guangdong.
"We have a special bond with education." they say. Teachers in their early school years sowed the seeds of aspiration to becoming a teacher in their minds.
During their senior high school years, they met "Grandpa Zeng", an old teacher well beyond his retirement years. Though in poor health, he insisted on staying with students and enlightened them with his experiences. The twins were so impressed by him that their choices to become a teacher was also influenced by him.
"It's a blessing for teachers to go to where they are needed.” the twin sisters believe.
In their senior year, they happened to learn about the policy of publicly-funded normal student in Guangdong Province, which allowed normal students in certain educational institutions to receive financial aid or tuition waivers in exchange for a commitment to work in designated public schools or rural areas after graduation.
Thus, driven by their dream and supported by the policy, they worked hard and were successfully admitted to SCNU, where they met excellent tutors helping them lay a solid foundation for their teaching career.
Guo Haoyu, Shen Ting's mentor, once said in class, “Actually people can see themselves and their lives through words.” Guo's words influenced her deeply. Now, Shen Ting encourages her students to express themselves more through various activities, helping them to build their full personalities. For them, it's not just the exam that needs to be learned in class.
The twins are photographed in front of the School of Chinese Language & Literature.
“Teaching is also nurturing.” according to the twin sisters.
Shen Ping tells about a girl in her class who loved music but often got poor grades because she frequently slept in class. Instead of blaming her, Shen Ping gave her some advice and encouraged her to work hard towards her dreams. Her sincerity and tolerance touched the girl. Since then, she has stopped sleeping in class. “We live in a tolerant and open society, we should provide children appropriate guidance according to their own personality,” says Shen Ping.
Shen Ping talks with her students.
For the pre-service teachers who are about to embark on the road of teaching, Shen Ping and Shen Ting suggest to live well and teach well. "Carrying out education in underdeveloped areas will encounter all kinds of problems." Therefore, they advise them to be psychologically prepared, adjust their mindset and solidify their professional skills. In the future, the twin sisters will stick to their educational dreams and continue to explore better teaching methods.
Source from SCNU News Center
Translated by Wu Jiadan, Zhu Ying
Proofread by Edwin Baak
Edited by Li Jianru
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