Chinese English Teacher

Chinese Teacher, originally uploaded by yellojkt.

This is the same classroom as the picture used earlier. An English lesson is written on the front blackboard. On the left side of the picture you can see my wife and one of the American students dressed in school shirts that had been given to us as a gift.

Teacher in Computer Lab

Teacher in Computer Lab, originally uploaded by yellojkt.

The teachers at Beijing Middle School #22 shared a computer lab with full internet access where they could research and make lesson plans.

Classroom Blackboard

Classroom Blackboard, originally uploaded by yellojkt.

We were given a tour and we visited this English class where one of the students gave a greeting. All the students study English. The light blue colors on the school uniforms show that they are the younger students, probably the equivalent of 8th grade.

School Courtyard

School Courtyard, originally uploaded by yellojkt.

This is the central courtyard of Beijing Middle School #22. Middle school is the equivalent of high school in the United States. The school was very old and the administration was very apologetic about the condition. They were planning to build a replacement building the next year.

Student at Recess

Student at Recess, originally uploaded by yellojkt.

Since our trip to China was part of a school exchange program we spent one whole morning shadowing students at the school. This girl is one of the host students. Despite the very hot weather, she is wearing the long sleeve track suit style winter uniform. The students prefer this because they can wear street clothes under the jacket.

Morning Warm Up

One feature of Chinese high schools (or middle schools as they call them) is the morning exercise routine. The entire school files out onto the play yard and does several minutes of music choreographed calisthenics. If you look carefully, most of the kids seem pretty disinterested. Also, out of some misplaced fashion sense, many of them wear the winter track suit uniform even though it was over 90 degrees F the day this was filmed. Still, I can't imagine an American school even attempting this.