The United States under the Epidemic: The opening season for Chinese educators

　　China news agency, San Francisco, Sept. 8 -

　　China News Agency reporter Liu Guanguan

　　Teacher Zhang of a public Chinese school in Oakland, California, ushered in another year of the fall school season as scheduled in front of the computer screen.

　　"No school starts on the Internet." Teacher Zhang said with a smile, "There is a saying this year that some teachers have rich teaching experience and some teachers have just joined the job, but this year is like the first year for all teachers."

　　Teacher Zhang is responsible for the teaching of Chinese, mathematics and science courses in the fourth grade. This year is her fifth fall school season as a teacher.

At 11 o'clock on September 4, Teacher Zhang sat on a table between the living room and the kitchen and started the last class of the morning.

In front of the screen, she took an apple as a prop to explain the Chinese "part of speech" to students.

From time to time, Teacher Zhang gave a thumbs up or lightly applauded at the screen to encourage students.

　　Teacher Zhang attaches great importance to the good relationship between teachers and students in teaching. Through her "space" interaction with students, it is not difficult to see that the relationship between teachers and students is very harmonious.

Teacher Zhang said that establishing a good relationship between teachers and students at the beginning of the school year is the foundation of a good school year.

But before school starts this year, those teachers who are in contact with freshmen will feel a little "unknown".

　　After the outbreak, California public schools have switched to online teaching, while most private training institutions have experienced more unknowns and attempts.

　　In March of this year, after the San Francisco Bay Area began to implement the "Home Order", Song Pu's "Nobel Education" training organization in Alameda County stopped working.

For art education, the new teaching method of online class made him and his parents have doubts.

However, after trying for a while, more parents have successively signed up for their children.

　　On August 31, Teacher Yang of the training institution placed the phone flat on the table with a stand, and the camera was facing the painting she was demonstrating.

On the phone screen, a girl of about 10 years old is standing at the table concentrating on drawing.

　　Teacher Yang said that although online courses "always have to be delayed" and the efficiency is not as high as face-to-face teaching, it can exercise students' independence.

"Students have to wash their pens and mix paints at home." Teacher Yang said, "In addition, students must learn to be punctual during online classes."

　　Next door to the training institution is a restaurant that is providing outdoor dining services. Its owner is Song Pu's landlord.

During the epidemic, the landlord reduced the rent from US$3,000 to US$1,200 per month, reducing the financial pressure on training institutions.

　　The Lisa Dance Art School, also in Alameda County, has been running in the San Francisco Bay Area for 16 years.

In March, after a two-week suspension of classes, the dance school also started online teaching.

　　Dong Lan, the founder of the school, said that during the online classes, some students who are not convenient for dancing come to the classroom to learn. Therefore, the school pays great attention to epidemic prevention.

On the floor of the classroom, a few tapes were put on by the teachers to ensure that the students in the classroom maintain “social distance”.

After each get out of class, the teachers must disinfect and clean the handlebars and floor in the classroom.

　　In front of the huge mirror in the dance classroom, there was an LCD screen on which more than ten students studying at home appeared.

Teacher Dong said that this combination of on-site and online teaching sometimes makes teachers more difficult.

　　Jin Ying, who teaches Chinese in a high school in Silicon Valley, also said: “This year there are too many classes and many chores. I really feel a little breathless. After teaching for so many years, I have never felt such a pressure.”

　　Although she no longer met with the students, Mr. Jin was very pleased by a small incident during the epidemic.

There is a tradition in the high school where Mr. Jin teaches that students who take the introductory course of painting must give a portrait of a teacher.

The art teacher will select 12 paintings and make them into the wall calendar for the next year.

This year, Mr. Jin's portrait was lucky to be "on the list", and it was accidentally arranged in the month of her birth.

　　At the beginning of June, Mrs. Jin returned to school. The quiet classroom made her sigh.

"The date on the whiteboard is fixed on the day when the school is suspended in mid-March," Mr. Jin said, "I look forward to returning to the classroom as soon as possible, seeing smiling faces and hearing the sounds of children playing and playing." (End)