moss

(Qing) Yuan Mei

Daylight is everywhere, and youth is just coming.

Moss flowers are as small as rice, and they also learn to bloom peonies.

  In August 2019, when I was first assigned to teach at the Chinese School in Myanmar, I taught the students this poem. I told them that the moss is tiny and does not have the pride of peony flowers, but it has its own life instinct and life intention, and it will not lose its courage because of the bad environment. Now reading this poem, I will think of the children who stayed at home because of the epidemic.

  Before the expedition, my two favorite TV programs were "Chinese Poetry Conference" and "Classic Songs". Through these two programs, I deeply felt the profoundness of Chinese culture. After coming to the Mandalay Yucai School in Myanmar, facing with a pair of eyes hungry for knowledge, I especially want to share the excellent Chinese culture with these children.

  Through a semester, I have established a deep relationship with the children.

  "Teacher added my WeChat, did you see me? Teacher, I am in Dongzhi, I am in Old Street, I am in Meimiao, I am in..."

  "Teacher, do you have mangoes to eat? There are many in my house, I want to send them to you!"

  "Teacher, my family is very poor and I can't find a computer in the whole village, but in order to let me have a teacher's WeChat, Mom and Dad sold Little Pig and bought me a mobile phone."

  "I like to listen to your texts, I like to tell you stories about China..."

  As the epidemic spread globally, all schools in Myanmar closed. The epidemic has separated us, but love and education cannot be isolated, and the teacher-student relationship cannot be separated.

Data map: Chinese and Burmese singers sing the song "One Piece with Water · Hands Together". Photo courtesy of the Propaganda Department of the CPC Dehong Prefecture Committee

  I teach Chinese language courses in Secondary Two, Senior One and Senior Two at Mandalay Yucai School in Myanmar. Considering that most students do not have a computer at home, but will use mobile phone WeChat videos, I and the outgoing teacher Yi Jinlan decided to use WeChat to teach students.

  In order to let the children learn Chinese well, I first sent the recordings of famous texts to the students, told them to listen to the text three times, and then told me what they heard. They can speak multiple times and do not repeat what others have said. More than 40 students in the second grade are actively speaking, and the content of the speech is thoughtful and deep. Then I sent them the courseware. I will ask the students to take notes and send pictures, and ask them to read the contents of the notes by voice, and then help them correct the wrong words.

Courseware used. Photo courtesy of interviewees

  Some classmates have no electricity or internet during class time, they will ask me to teach individually. Although very tired, but I am in a good mood. I will also share the wonderful works of the students with my family and friends in China, and they are all amazed.

  "Teacher, I look forward to your Chinese class every day." The student's words made me feel very happy! I love these cute children. During the class, their humorous language, hard-working spirit, meticulous attitude and determination to overcome difficulties all moved me.

  In addition to the content in the textbook, I also give some extra-curricular knowledge to the students, and recommend the Burmese version of "The Story of Time-Congbo Friendship", "My Hometown and My Years" to the children, and cultivate them to love labor and family , Love the quality of the country, establish a correct outlook on life values, have faith and pursue.

Data Map: On April 8, at the invitation of the Myanmar government, a group of 12 Chinese government experts went to Kunming to travel to Myanmar to assist the local epidemic prevention and control work. China News Service reporter Liu Ranyang

  I sent the long picture "China Anti-epidemic Yearbook" to my classmates and told them about the academicians Zhong Nanshan and Li Lanjuan of China; I also told them the story of the anti-epidemic of Chinese overseas students and overseas Chinese...

  Teacher Jinlan taught biology classes, and explained the knowledge about viruses, including the way and the way of transmission of the virus, and repeatedly emphasized to the children about hygiene, washing hands, ventilating and wearing masks, so that they can be good individuals While protecting, it also spreads the knowledge of epidemic prevention to family and friends.

  As Chinese expatriate teachers, we are happy. We give our students love and encouragement, and students return to us with love and emotion. In a foreign country, we encountered a sudden epidemic, but we are not alone or afraid. Backed by a strong motherland, we have the confidence to do a good job in epidemic prevention and strive to do our job well.

  Author: Li Xiaolin expatriate teachers