Teaching Programs in Five Tibetan Communities
Date of Report: 25 August 2010
Location: Bon skor, Demang, Rabgan, Ban shul, and Kheba Tibetan Village Primary Schools, Mangra (Guinan) County, Mtsho lho (Hainan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Mtso sngon (Qinghai) Province, PR China
Subject: Teaching Program
Funder: HuaQiao Foundation
Details:
With HuaQiao Foundation’s 20,010RMB, plus 5,500RMB local contribution brought English, Tibetan, and Chinese Teaching Programs in five Tibetan Communities benefited 305 students and 27 teachers. All the teachers expressed enthusiasm in teaching in local primary schools. Five teaching teams from eight universities across China (Shanghai International Studies University, Qinghai Normal University, China Women’s University, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing Foreign Studies University, China Agricultural University, Northwestern Normal University) were divided among five local schools and brought various activities and modern teaching methods into the classroom.
The students were selected based on their level established by entrance examinations. Historically, all students were allowed to attend the program, however, in order to improve the quality of the experiences, we implemented selection criteria. On average, the classes ranged from 30 – 40 students and were placed in classes for beginners, intermediate level, and advanced level. Two teachers were with each class. One teacher taught, while the other observed and assisted.
Teaching Programs for Bon skor and Demang Communities
Date of Report: 15 February 2010
Location: Bon skor, Demang Tibetan Communities, Mangra (Guinan) County, Mtsho lho (Hainan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, PR China
Subject: Teaching Program
Funder: Mr. Philip Jones
Details:
Mr. Philip Jone’s 10,000RMB, plus 4,300.00RMB provided by local schools, allowed 354 students to have a positive learning experience in January-February 2010. A total of 354 students learned English, Tibetan, and Chinese from nine instructors.
Each school had teachers from Shanghai International Studies University and Qinghai Normal University who used a student-centered teaching approach. In addition to the courses mentioned above, teachers also taught math and science after regular class hours.
Each teacher received 700RMB as a stipend and an honorary certificate for recognizing their teaching input in the school. The program also covered teachers’ accommodation, food, and transportation thus the teaching program was successfully held in these two communities.
The program concluded with a day of final exams, which students were given half a day to prepare for. The teachers then graded the exams. The three highest-scoring students in each of the three classes received an award certificate and prizes such as notebooks, stuffed animals, and dictionaries. Two boxes of second-hand clothing and two boxes of school supplies donated from an organization were also distributed.
Teaching Program in Guday Community
Date of Report: 10 May 2010
Location: Guday Community, Tongren County, Huangnan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, PR China.
Subject: Teaching Program
Funder: Ms. Ramona Johnson
Details:
With Ms. Ramona’s 5,114.55RMB (750USD), plus a local contribution of (1,600RMB that covered teachers’ payment, food, transportation, and books), this teaching program came into action. The 30-day program (January-February 2010) consisted of three classes in English, Tibetan, and Chinese taught by three instructors. 163 students attended classes.
On the first day of the program, 163 students attended the classes. Teachers firstly divided the students according to their grade. Class One was for primary school students, Class Two was for junior middle school students, and Class Three was for senior middle school students. On the second day, another adjustment was made. Some students from primary school had better English than some junior middle school students and they were moved to another class. Each class had about 50 – 54 students and their ages ranged from 9 – 18. Teachers used a student-centered teaching approach as much as possible. Each teacher received 600RMB as a stipend, 300RMB for food, and 100RMB for transportation. Locals also provided a food subsidy for 30 days.
Training Programs in Two Tibetan Communities
Date of Report: 12 September 2009
Location: Bon skor and Ban shul Tibetan Village Primary Schools, (Mangra) Guinan County, (Mtsho lho) Hainan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, China.
Subject: Teaching Program
Funder: HuaQiao Foundation
Details:
With the contribution of 9,980RMB from HQF, plus the 4,754RMB provided by the local schools. This project benefited 423 students in Bon skor and Ban shul Tibetan village primary schools and eight teachers. Mr. Zhou, Bon skor Primary School headmaster confided, “We have been holding this program for six years with the assistance of the local village and external assistance from FCA (two times by HQF). Program results are far more than we expected. Students were encouraged to attend school and to continue their education after primary school. Lately (after exam results were known) we learned that most local graduates are top students in Tibetan and English in middle schools in local towns in the county. We added Chinese class along with the other two from last year. I believe that in a few years, these students will be the top students at all three of these languages in middle school.”
‘Go West’ Summer Holiday Teaching Program for Primary School Students
Date of Report: 09 September 2009
Location: Rabgan, Lowa Gongma, and Lowa Sholma Villages, Mangra Township, and Stong skor Village, Gomang Township, Mangra (Guinan) County, Mtsho lho (Hainan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province. PR China.
Subject: Teaching Program
Funder: HuaQiao Foundation
Details:
This teaching program benefited 410 students and 10 teachers. The HuaQiao Foundation provided 8,000RMB and the local primary schools contributed 2,500RMB. Meetings were held with the teachers to discuss the best method to apply and select proper books to teach at the beginning of this project. The program brought new teaching methods, games, activities, and ideas to the schools. Modern second language acquisition teaching methods elicited much enthusiasm. Furthermore, the teachers had conducted 19 surveys in 19 local communities in their spare time during the teaching program.
English and Tibetan Training Program for Primary School Students
Date of Report: 20 January 2009
Location: Bon skor Tibetan Village, Bya mdo Township, Mangra (Guinan) County, Mtsho lho (Hainan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province. PR China.
Subject: Teaching Program
Funder: HuaQiao Foundation
Details:
This training program benefited 210 students and 4 teachers. The HuaQiao Foundation provided 3,000RMB and the local primary school contributed 4,214.50RMB. The project included a Tibetan teaching component, a first for the program. The program attracted 76% of local elementary-age children who learned more Tibetan and English, were educated during the holiday, putting free time to good use, and further developed interest in reading and writing.
Tibetan Library Book for Mar khams and Ban shul Village Primary Schools
Date of Report: 10 September 2008
Location: Ban shul Village Primary School, Sum mdo Township & Mar khams Village Primary School, Gomang Township, Mangra (Guinan) County, Mtsho lho (Hainan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province. PR China.
Subject: Library Books
Funder: German Embassy
Details:
A total of 3,100 books and other teaching materials are directly benefiting 568 Tibetan students and 31 teachers with the German Embassy’s contribution of 48,000 RMB plus a local contribution of 4,300 RMB. The school students have access to these materials on a daily basis, which helps them improve their ability in the Tibetan written language and in Chinese, and also to know much more about the outside world. Additionally, teachers have access to reference materials that allow them to be better prepared and give better lessons.
Tibetan Primary School Library Books
Date of Report: 3 May 2006
Location: Bon skor Tibetan Village, Bya mdo Township, Mangra (Guinan) County, Mtsho lho (Hainan) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province. PR China.
Subject: Library Books
Funder: German Embassy
Details:
862 books and teaching materials are benefiting 300 Tibetan students and 9 teachers with the German Embassy’s contribution of 10,400RMB and a local contribution of 719.42RMB. The school library has been much improved by this donation of books and, now, both teachers and students have essential references for teaching preparation and are able to expand their range of knowledge. The school was built in 1989, and has 6 grades. It has 237 students and 7 teachers; all are local Tibetans. Except for the Chinese and English languages, all subjects are taught in Tibetan. Most students live far from the school because their homes are in a nomad area 20 km from the school consequently, they board at the school. Karmo-tso, a 14-year-old Grade 5 student, said, “Now I can read a lot of different books in the library and learn new words by using books with pictures. I am really interested in looking at pictures to learn new words, because my hobby is drawing and it is very easy to learn the words while looking at the pictures. I am eager to visit the library. I go there to read and look at pictures whenever I have finished my homework.”
