SPC’s Shanxi Service Learning Trip 2018

“…..at Bo Ai School, I was able to learn how to be thankful and treasure what are given”

“…..the children here teach me what good-natured kindness is, leading me to understand personal growth is never a straight-forward through path, neither is it a simple and easy thing”

“…..instead of teaching at Bo Ai School, I rather think it is learning on our part.   I learn about empathy, how to express love and self-understanding”

 

These are some of the personal reflections from participating students of SPC’s Shanxi Service Learning Trip 2018, which was held from May 22 to June 3.

Led by Master Leung, Associate Master-designate Prof. Brian Chan and Program Advisor Mrs. Andrea Leung, 25 SPC students visited Bo Ai School, a non-government-run school located in Fengcun, Xin Yuan County, Changzhi City, Shanxi Province of China, in a service learning trip for 13 days. So far, this is the fourth service learning trip organized by SPC. The preparation for this program lasted for more than five months, during which teaching materials and daily teaching plans were designed, and a charity sale that raised nearly MOP 30,000, had been jointly organized by SPC student groups.

Through activities such as volunteer classroom teaching, individual tutoring, visit to nearby elderly home and organic farming, this service learning trip provides students a precious opportunity to learn how to serve and care for others with a kind and selfless heart, cultivating a strong sense of empathy and thankfulness in participating students, as well as to learn how to work with others as a team. On the other hand, the trip to ancient city of Ping Yao enabled students to explore the fascinating culture and tradition of Shanxi Province.

Beginning in January 2018, these 25 SPC students devoted themselves in a five-month preparation in developing the curricular materials and teaching plans of their own areas from scratch, for the Bo Ai students on subjects including “English”, “Science”, “Activity Workshops”, “Window to The World” and “Small Potato and Big Story”. In order to enrich the contents of Activity Workshop, a game-based experiential learning curriculum had been developed this year by Ms. Louise Ho, who is a supporter of Bo Ai School from Hong Kong. This newly developed learning instrument provided great opportunities for children to improve their abilities and skills in coordination, deliberation, concentration, inter-personal relations, leadership, team spirit in a fun and effective way.

Throughout the 13 days teaching at Bo Ai School, SPC students were amazed by the strong curiosity and desire for knowledge on the part of the Bo Ai children. The hard work of SPC students paid off when they saw the smile on children’s face. Their teaching effort was highly appreciated by the Superintendent, Headmaster and teachers of Bo Ai School. Also, strong friendship with children had been developed.

In addition to classroom teaching, SPC students also visited the elderly villagers living in poverty nearby. They also experienced organic farming at the school. The trip ended with a one-night-and-one-day culture trip to ancient city of Ping Yao, an UNESCO’s preserved cultural heritage. This allowed SPCers to appreciate the unique architectural style of the city, as well as the traditional customs, history and culture of Shanxi Province.

Throughout the 13-days trip, all participating students were highly satisfied with their fruitful learning outcomes and said that they had benefited a lot from this trip. Kevin Yang, one of the Student Leaders of the program, said that although this was his second time to Bo Ai School, he was always impressed by how generous the children were to show their gratitude and love to the SPC group. Also, Mandy Hong and Fiona Cheong, two 4th year Student Leaders who were given a surprise graduation ceremony at Bo Ai this year, commented that it was really meaningful to be involved in this program over the years. They thought they were there to teach and help the school children. In fact, they received even more than what they gave.

 

2018年紹邦書院山西義教之旅

 

“……在博愛學校,我學會了如何感恩以及珍惜所得。”

“……這裡的小朋友教給我什麼是單純良善,并使我明白,個人成長並非一條可以一蹴而就的坦途。”

“……與其說我們是去博愛學校教課,不如說是去學習。我學到了同理心、如何表達關愛,以及認識自我。”

以上的個人反思來自於5月22日至6月3日參加紹邦書院山西義教之旅的同學們。

 

25名紹邦書院的同學,在梁偉賢院長、候任副院長陳學成教授以及項目顧問梁太太的帶領下,前往中國山西省長治市沁源县馮村的博愛學校,在這所民辦學校進行了為期13天的服務學習項目。這已是紹邦書院第四次組織此項目。在長達5個多月的籌備期間,成員們親自設計教學材料和計劃,還和紹邦書院的學生小組合辦義賣,籌集了約3萬元澳門幣。

此次義教之旅為同學們提供了珍貴的機會,通過課堂教學、一對一輔導、探訪老人院和體驗有機農業等活動,學習如何用無私的愛心去服務和關愛他人,培養同理心和感恩之心,還鍛煉了團隊合作。此外,遊覽平遙古城也讓同學們可以探索充滿魅力的山西文化與傳統風俗。

從2018年1月開始,這25名成員便開始了為期5個月的籌備工作,包括從零開始準備在博愛學校的課程素材和教學計劃,主題包括“英語”、“科學”、“活動工作坊”、“世界之窗”和“小人物大故事”。為了能夠豐富活動工作坊的內容,來自香港的博愛學校義工何女士(Ms. Louise Ho)在今年開發了一套以遊戲為基礎的體驗式學習課程。這個嶄新的教學工具可以通過有趣且有效的方式,幫助小朋友改善合作、深入思考、專注、人際關係、領導力、團隊精神等多方面的能力。

在13天的義教過程中,博愛學校的部分孩子展現出令人吃驚的好奇心和求知慾。紹邦學生們的辛苦付出,得到了博愛學校校監、校長和老師們的高度讚揚,孩子們臉上的笑容則是最大的回報。紹邦學生與孩子們一如既往地結下了深厚的友誼。

除了課堂教學,紹邦書院的同學們還前往探訪了附近的貧困老人,并嘗試了博愛學校的有機農業活動。本次項目的最後一部分就是前往世界文化遺產之一的平遙古城,進行一日一夜的文化之旅。同學們參觀了風格獨特的建築,並對山西的傳統習俗、歷史文化有了更多體會。

 

所有成員都對這13天義教之旅所帶來的豐富學習成果十分滿意。項目的其中一位學生領袖楊同學(Kevin Yang)表示,儘管這是他第二次前往博愛學校,但還是被小朋友們所深深感動,因為小朋友們總是毫不吝惜地表達出對紹邦團隊的感激與喜愛。兩位四年級的學生領袖,熊嘉敏和張靖妍同學,今年在博愛學校體驗了一次一直被蒙在鼓裡卻“突然驚喜”的畢業典禮。她們表示,能夠參與這個項目對自己意義重大。她們以為自己是來教導小朋友的,但其實,她們學到的東西遠比付出的要更多。

 

Arriving at the Tai Yuan International Airport

抵達太原國際機場

 

Primary students joyfully experiencing air pressure behavior in a Science class.

小學生在科學課上開心地學習氣壓的特性

 

The small-groups game-based teaching in the class

以小組遊戲為基礎的教學

 

Procession of the UM-graduation ceremony at Bo Ai Primary School in the mountain region of Shanxi Province, China

在中國山西省山區的博愛學校參加澳門大學畢業典禮

 

The two SPC Year-4 students in their graduation gown (Mandy, third from left and Fiona, first from right) taking their graduation photo with SPC Master Prof. Leung (fifth from left), Mrs. Leung (second from left) and Bo Ai School’s Superintendent Mrs. Christine Chan (first from left).

兩名紹邦書院四年級學生穿著澳門大學畢業袍(左起第三人為Mandy,右起第一人為Fiona)與紹邦書院院長梁偉賢教授(左起第五人)、梁太太(左起第二人)、博愛學校校監陳太太(左起第一人)合拍畢業照。

 

Enjoying tiring organic farming experience

享受有機農業體驗帶來的樂趣

 

Saying Good-bye is not easy

離別之際依依不捨