The Learning Journey never ends…

The Learning Journey never ends…

By Yong Kiat

不知飛來橫福，還是飛來橫禍，就這麽一天，咱們就被帶到了課室裏…

I recall not only being enthusiastically greeted by the students, but also by the entire staff and administration of the universities we visited. Yet what really made an impression on me was the 40-minute classroom observation that we witnessed in Kunming, Yunnan. What struck me was the stark difference between the attitude of China’s students (never mind that it was only at the secondary level) and Singaporean pupils. The class on the whole displayed great zest throughout the lesson – even before the teacher fired questions at the class, students were already brimming with intelligent questions. It was really refreshing to see how students readily responded to the teacher’s challenges, how questions were tossed back in return, and how the teacher fended them off with ease. This was in marked contrast to Singaporean students who usually shun questions and challenges and often maintain a passive stance in classrooms (more often than not, ignoring the questions in class). I was particularly encouraged by such a setting as I am currently pursuing the path to becoming a teacher.

I recall Xiamen University’s vision as being 读破万卷书 (loosely translated as reading widely), and while it is a simple one, it is obvious that the students have seriously contemplated its meaning, translating a simple statement into action in their daily lives. One incident stands out vividly in my mind. A passing remark with reference to Arthur Compton’s Compton Effect (a phenomenon in Quantum Physics) during a casual conversation with a Finance student turned out to be a surprisingly intellectual (and tiring!) conversation about Quantum Physics! This incident left me undeniably impressed by how widely the students read even when it does not correspond to their area of specialization. Furthermore, for the student to understand so much, he must have invested much time, effort and most importantly, passion in the subject.

I recall witnessing the Xiamen school spirit in every one of the students I met – students who cherish the opportunity to receive an education, who love their school, and who love learning! School pride is difficult to come by nowadays – especially in university – and this is something that we could do better in.

Perhaps, no vision or goal is too difficult to attain so long as everyone gives of their best.
Indeed, we have much to learn from them as they from us.