From 21^st to 25^th December, 2025, 10 Faculty of Education (FED) undergraduate students, led by Prof. Keang-ieng VONG, Assistant Dean (School School Engagements and External Relations) participated in the “Macao Teachers and Students Voluntary Teaching in Henan” programme that was co-hosted by the Faculty of Education Students’ Association, UMSU and the Youth Association of The Chinese Educators’ Association of Macau. The programme was also attended by in-service teachers from Macao, totalling 24 participants. The learning experience was truly fruitful.

On the 21^st, the whole group visited Henan Museum — a microcosm of the development of modern and contemporary China, provided them with a valuable opportunity to deepen their understanding of the Chinese civilization. On the 22^nd, they visited Zhengzhou Normal Institute for exchange of educational ideas and teaching, including tours of Zhengzhou Natural History Museum and Sunshine Life Experience Museum, as well as sharing insights on teaching strategies. In the afternoon, the group went to Zhong’an Town Central Primary School in Zhongmu County for campus visits, classroom observations, and educational exchanges. Subsequently, the members were divided into five teams for in-class visits to understand the students’ learning modes. That evening, the five teams prepared their voluntary teaching plans. Two leading teachers from the Youth Association of The Chinese Educators’ Association of Macau, together with Prof. Vong, visited each team to listen to their presentations and provided feedbacks. On the morning of the 23^rd, each team conducted one voluntary teaching session on a particular subject matter at Zheng’an Town Central Primary School, followed by two special teaching sessions featuring Macao’s culture in the afternoon. After all the teaching sessions, they also conducted lesson evaluations and exchanges with the teachers from the school. In the evening, each team performed talented activities such as singing and dancing, while sharing their insights and experiences from the voluntary teaching of the day. On the 24^th, the whole group visited two schools — Zhengzhou No. 47 Junior High School and Xuanshun Street School in Zhongmu County (Middle and Primary Schools) — to exchange educational ideas, where they learned about the schools’ educational philosophies, the development of club activities, and held interactive discussions. On the 25^th, the whole group toured the Millennium City Park, Kaifeng Ancient City Wall, and Lord Bao Memorial Temple, to deeply experience the rich historical characteristics and culture of the Sung Dynasty.

This voluntary teaching initiative provided FED students with a valuable practical opportunity to step out of Macao and delve into the educational scenarios on the Mainland. Through personal experiences, the students not only observed and reflected on the specific differences in educational environments and models between the Mainland and Macao schools but also explored teaching creativity and strategies tailored to the needs of different regions in real teaching scenarios. Faced with large class size teaching in the Mainland, the students attempted to organize group activities in an orderly manner, effectively attract and maintain students’ attention, and ensure the active participation of every student. These challenges were a brand-new professional attempt for them, greatly enhancing their on-the-spot response and execution capabilities. During the activity, the students were divided into different teams to collaborate with experienced in-service teachers in lesson preparation. This process allowed them to closely observe and learn from the wisdom and teaching experience of senior teachers. Meanwhile, each student also had the opportunity to take the lead in classroom teaching, translating theory into practice, and accumulating valuable and substantive teaching experiences.

The Programme was of profound significance. It enabled students to personally experience the full scope of a teacher’s work, practice teaching strategies in distinctly different school environments, and gain insights from in-service teachers. Not only did it broaden their professional horizons and provide diverse references for their future teaching careers, but it also further deepened their understanding and recognition of the educational concept of “tailored teaching”, laying a solid foundation for becoming adaptable and reflective educators.

Thank you for your kind attention.

Faculty of Education