Student Sharing - NIE X HKU e-Practicum Buddy Scheme (2021-22)
Wang Yaxuan
Wang Yaxuan (group representative)
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education in Language Education - English
This HKU x NIE e-Practicum Buddy Scheme (2021-22) has been a very fulfilling experience for me. Though the current pandemic situation has prohibited us from physically traveling to Singapore and meet with the NIE students face to face, this virtual learning opportunity has enabled us to gain a much deeper understanding of not only the Singapore culture but also the similarities and differences between the education in Singapore and Hong Kong. As one of the HKU student representatives, I am very honoured to have the opportunity of co-designing the 8-week program schedule with Vera Wen and the NIE student representatives. Though we all initially had concerns regarding how we may work together to come up with a schedule that can provide a more fruitful cultural exchange experience and facilitate more in-depth discussions on educational issues for everyone participating in this program, through active preparations and communications, I believe we have successfully carried out our mission and at the same time become close friends with each other.
Throughout the 8 weeks’ meetings, we have gone through not only the general educational systems in Hong Kong and Singapore, but also the more specific educational topics like sex education and shadow education. In addition, we also prepared sharing and reflection sessions that every participant had the opportunity to share his/her personal learning experiences, teacher aspirations and consolidate what he/she has learned in the previous meetings. Furthermore, a buddy scheme was also launched to help students from both HKU and NIE to better connect with each other. In fact, to strengthen the bonding between the participants, different warm-up games were prepared at the beginning of every weekly session to facilitate deeper cultural exchange. It is because of everyone’s active participation and efforts that we can finally create such a fruitful virtual exchange experience.
Finally, I would like to express my sincere thanks to Angela and all the HKU staff who have always been very supportive of us throughout the whole collaboration program. It is with your supports and active communication with NIE teachers that we are able to carry out such an amazing exchange experience for everyone.
Wen Rong
Wen Rong (group representative)
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education in Language Education - Chinese
Participating in the HKU x NIE e-Practicum Buddy Scheme (2021-22) is an unforgettable memory for me, my leadership, professional knowledge, and critical thinking are well equipped through this program. I really appreciate our teamwork between me and Yaxuan, moreover, without the support from NIE leaders and HKU members (especially Angela and Ms P Leung), our program cannot be achieved as smoothly as expected. This collaboration taught me the importance of cooperation, such as how to trust your teammates and provide chances for teammates to shine through their potential. The whole program involves each participants’ efforts and talents so that we all gain the chance of growth through participating this collaboration. Brainstorming the details of each session, preparing presentations with teammates, or putting forward valuable suggestions, all the memory is so sweet that remain in our minds and encourage us to be open-minded to various perspectives presented by different people.
During the 8 weeks of learning, we discussed the education system in Singapore and Hong Kong. I was impressed that Singapore's education system provides so many diverse education pathways for students, who receive more opportunities to pursue their interests and discover their potentials, such as Polytechnics and Junior College. Students’ future possibilities are not ‘boxed’ by their academic achievements in school. Compared with Hong Kong, public exam to a large extent determines students’ future development with limited choices, and there is a stigma if students are unable to be admitted to a university. Therefore, it is time for Hong Kong to rethink how to reform more diverse education pathways for discovering and preparing talented students. Moreover, the teaching experience and the education manifesto shared by our participants indeed inspire me a lot. I am deeply amazed by their overwhelming passion and enthusiasm for education, which encourage me that our education in the future will be full of hope when we are all devoted to teaching and strongly connected together with the same goal.
Thanks to the support from NIE and HKU members, and really appreciate each participant’s devoted efforts. This is such a fruitful experience for me, and I hope that one day we can meet face to face! Although our meetings ended, our friendships will last forever!!
Choi Sin Sum
Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Science
This HKU x NIE e-Practicum Buddy Scheme (2021-22) offered me a precious opportunity to meet with like-minded pre-service teachers from Singapore. I was glad to know more about the lives of Singaporean, their education system, and most importantly, their aspirations in education. It was encouraging to share our enthusiasm in education and brainstorm solutions for various dilemmas. I felt like one was talking about Hong Kong when an NIE student presented how shadow education was like in Singapore, while I felt totally different when another student discussed the multiple academic pathways available there. Hong Kong and Singapore were such alike in some perspectives while being totally different in some other areas, yet both education systems were dynamic, responsive to the global challenges and evolving continuously. This reinforced my belief that international collaboration is of paramount significance, even in the field of education where each district’s localized culture and history take up an important role. I will continue to open my eyes, learn from the great minds all over the globe and rethink whether they can be adapted into my daily teaching practices, or even a potential solution to a much bigger problem in Hong Kong. I think this is also one of the many areas that teachers’ expertise and professionalism shine.
Although I may not have the opportunity to carry out my teaching practicum in Singapore due to the pandemic, it is my pleasure to join a series of the virtual workshops with Singaporean students. During the sharing, I heard various stories about how we struggled with COVID-19 – social distancing, emergency online teaching, and many more plans that we could not execute. Nevertheless, the news was not all bad. I noticed that in both Hong Kong and Singapore, the restrictions in face-to-face teaching stimulated many creative solutions to facilitate students’ learning. Some students shared tips on how to engage students behind the camera and build a trusting relationship with them. These exciting ideas may not pop out without the catalytic effect of the pandemic. Teachers often have to deal with sudden and critical incident, but perhaps it is more important for us to learn to ‘rejoice in bitterness’ and turn this bitterness into creativity that we embrace in the future. I wish to help build up such a teacher community with shared enthusiasm and positive attitude in supporting each other and contribute ideas that make education better worldwide.
Kim Jinseong
Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Science
The HKU x NIE e-Practicum Buddy Scheme (2021-22) provided me with an opportunity to explore “education” outside of Hong Kong. The collaboration was well structured with 8 interactive and informative sessions on the history and structure of the education system, curriculum, special education, private education, and extracurricular activities. These sessions allowed me to critically examine the similarities and differences between “education” in Hong Kong and Singapore and reflect on the existing problems in the system that discourages students’ interest in learning. Exam-oriented system that encourages intense competition seems to be the major hindrance that lowers the students’ motivation and a catalyst that stimulates the higher demand for private education.
From the sharing with student teachers from HKU and NIE, the adoption of an “individualized” teaching approach could be the key to the issue. As a teacher, to facilitate effective teaching and learning process, we need to understand the need of the students and cater the diversity. Furthermore, develop personalized teaching and learning activities that could be effective in both increasing students’ motivation and interest in learning and enhancing academic performance.
Apart from the above, the e-buddy system throughout the collaboration was very helpful for me to get to know my buddy from NIE better. I learned a lot not only about the education in Singapore but also some of the cultural elements that signify Singapore such as their cuisine, famous tourist sites and puns. It was a great opportunity for me to explore Singapore and some of the interesting aspects and also to make a friend in Singapore.
Li Junmei, Jamie
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education in Language Education - Chinese
This HKU x NIE e-Practicum Buddy Scheme (2021-22) was really a wonderful journey for me. It allowed me to connect, communicate and learn from friends from different countries under the pandemic. In only two short months, I have benefited a lot. I not only gained knowledge, friendship, and happiness, but also had a deeper reflection on education.
In the weekly presentations on different topics, I have a more comprehensive understanding of Singapore's education system. Through comparison, I learned the advantages of Singapore's education, such as students have more choices, the implementation of sex education and so on. At the same time, I also found that the two education systems have some common problems, such as shadow education. After each theme presentation, we will express our own views and communicate with each other, which is really a rare learning opportunity.
In addition, we also shared our personal teaching experience and educational ideas. From the sharing, I can deeply feel the enthusiasm for education. That sharing session really inspired me a lot and left a deep impression on me. I feel that there are a large group of like-minded people in the world who are working hard for the next generation, which has brought me full motivation.
Besides, we also learn about the life, food and culture of Singapore and Hong Kong through many interesting games. I feel very grateful that this programme provided me a chance to chat and laugh with a group of friends in this difficult Covid period, even it was in the form of online.
Finally, I would like to thank the University of Hong Kong and National Institute of Eductaion for co-hosting such a meaningful programme. I hope we can all bring vitality to education and contribute to students in the future.
Jhalak Rakesh Sheth
Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Social Sciences
The HKU x NIE e-Practicum Buddy Scheme (2021-22) was a great experience. I went into the programme wanting to learn more of Singapore’s education system and to meet individuals who shared a passion for teaching and education. I can confidently say that at the end of the programme, I believe I have achieved both of my goals. I enjoyed the manner in which the programme was designed, because there was a great balance between bonding activities such as icebreakers and knowledge transferring. This allowed me to not only learn about the education system, but also my peers who are part of this exchange and Singapore from a more holistic perspective. One of my favorite activities was sharing Hong Kong and Singaporean slang, and I still remember “Is this your grandfather’s street?”.
I was quite intrigued by the topic of Sex Education from both the Hong Kong and Singapore’s side, as this was not something I have previous looked into. I was quite surprised by the differences the two countries held when it came to sex education and felt that Hong Kong could learn from Singapore whose curriculum is quite extensive. I also enjoyed session 7, which was a more up-close session where we discussed our aspirations and personal experiences as teachers. It was heartwarming to listen to everyone’s goals. If I were to have this experience again, I would put more effort into connecting with my buddy as we did not have the chance to speak and bond outside of the organized sessions.
Sze Yuk Fai
Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Science
Because of the continuous COVID-19 pandemic, the exchange opportunities to Singapore could not be achieved for the time-being. Nevertheless, this HKU x NIE e-Practicum Buddy Scheme (2021-22) broke down the spatial barrier and connected students from both HKU and NIE together, providing me with a precious platform to deeply discuss different education topics in Hong Kong and Singapore.
During the 8 weeks of sharing with students from HKU and NIE, we have discussed many meaningful educational topics including the two regions’ education systems, teacher education, private tutoring and so on. The most memorable and inspirational sharing for me is Singapore’s unique and diverse education pathways from primary school to university. Students with different learning abilities can be appropriately arranged to the institutions which can maximize their potential and develop their strengths. By utilizing this complex and rigorous education system, students may have different academic goals not only to get into universities, but also to other institutions such as Polytechnics and Junior College, which can further proceed to university after graduation. I believe that this is a vital reason Singapore’s education can be so successful and competitive in the world.
Thanks to the support from HKU and NIE staff and all members of this program, particularly Yaxuan and Wen Rong’s thoughtful arrangement, I have had fruitful experiences not only broadening my horizons to deeply understand the differences and strengths of two cities’ education, but also expanding my social circle to meet new friends. In addition, the multifarious, interesting, and creative games at the beginning of each session also inspire me to integrate them into my future teaching. I sincerely hope that we can meet each other face to face one day!
