Someone once said, “The wider one’s mind, the bigger one’s life stage. ” During my journey from student to tutor, I have shed the sweat of youth and harvested the experience of my achievements on the life stage of Zhuhai Radio and TV University (RTVU). I often have to choke back the tears when I reflect on my life as a physically disabled person.

This is not only because I was able to graduate with honours but also because I become an English tutor and am able to pass on to others what I have learned, making my own contribution to the development of the RTVU. As I stand on the three-foot tall teaching podium, I have no regrets about my decision. I keep pursuing my dream in spite of my uneven steps, and I am proud of carrying on the spirit of RTVU tutors that I have inherited from my predecessors.

The Irish poet William Butler Yeats said,“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” As an English tutor, I should guide the students’ interest in English and confidence in their ability to finish the course. I remember the situation when I confidently stood on the platform for the first time before the extraordinarily naughty students of the computer and numerical control class. There appeared a great gap between aspiration and reality. The students had no interest in the class. Some of them were chatting, and some of them were sleeping. I had to maintain class discipline while teaching. This kept me so busy that I was unable to complete the teaching task smoothly. As such, I asked experienced tutors for time-management advice and chatted with the students during the break. I found out later that the students resisted studying English because they thought they were poor English students, and that they hadn't liked English since middle school. To change their opinions, I decided to give them more encouragement while teaching. On the one hand, I carefully prepared the lessons to enrich the teaching contents, and strengthened ties with the students on the other hand, having heart-to-heart talks with them and making friends with them. Progress was soon made with this method, and the students gradually grew fond of English classes ……

These former students long ago entered the work force, and many of them have become important backbone workers and experts in their industry. They still keep in touch with me and often ask me for advice on learning and life. A male student named Zhang Yongchang often says to me, “Ms. Wang, I really regret that I didn’t work hard at English before. Since I began working, I now realize how important it is to learn to speak a foreign language. Talking with you is not only good for learning but also valuable for having a good attitude……”Therefore, I have been thinking for years that teachers should be good at tapping and cultivating the students’ interest and confidence, making them feel more fulfillment and happiness. With my own words and deeds, I taught the students how to behave well, and guided them on the path to knowledge, getting them interested in learning for benefits that will last a lifetime. In the autumn of 2010, I went to Guangzhou Machine Tool Works Co., Ltd, located in Panyu District, to teach Open English to the students of the first numerical control class and administration class according to the school teaching arrangement. This was a new challenge for me not only because I had to overcome the transportation difficulty caused by distant cross-district class location, but also because over half of the students in the two classes were well above 40 or 50 years of age with a very weak foundation in English. However, I really had to regard these “uncle” students with special esteem. They listened carefully to me in class and were eager to speak with me during the break; they often helped carry my backpack when they found that I was having difficulty; they slowly walked with me to the metro station to ensure my safety …… I was moved by their warmth. I rearranged the teaching materials to better suit their situation. Beginning from the first class, I would assign the key learning points , and then explained the knowledge points centered on the examination points in each face-to-face tutorial. Exercises were given according to past examinations, and skills for examinations were taught in the review at the end of the term. With our concerted efforts, all these old students succeeded in passing the final term examination. They told me the good news as excitedly as children. Later I was invited to attend their graduation ceremony and was honoured to deliver a speech on behalf of the teachers. They still listened to me as carefully as if they were in class, and they all asked to have a photo taken with me after the ceremony. They said, “Ms. Wang, your optimism, open mind and positive thinking have encouraged us to work hard to complete our schooling.” I replied with a smile, “In fact, we are learning from each other. You have to solve the work-learning scheduling conflict, work hard, study diligently, make achievements, and graduate successfully. Doesn’t your zeal inspire me to work harder?"

As time went by, I gradually accumulated much teaching experience, and the bits and pieces in and after class became the powerful driving force to my teaching work, spurring me to constantly improve my teaching methods, teaching capacity and teaching level. In the autumn of 2013, I was invited back to teach in my Alma Mater, Zhuhai Tutorial Centre of the OUC Guangzhou School for the Disabled. When I entered the classroom, stood on the podium, and looked at the eyes yearning for knowledge, a multitude of feelings suddenly surged up, and a sense of mission arose spontaneously. Because I was more a tutor than a senior schoolmate to these disabled students, I had the responsibility and obligation to lead them to a successful learning path. Nearly two years of teaching made me a good tutor and a helpful friend of my students. I put all the rich teaching experience that I have accumulated into the class lessons in order to build an easy English learning environment. They can learn around key points, and easily grasp the textbook knowledge by giving up bad learning habits. In addition, I also added some suitable extra-curriculum materials to satisfy the students’ thirst for knowledge. I remember one of the classes fell on Christmas Day, and I brought chocolates to the students and shared with them the story of chocolate in that class. I was convinced that this limited class could create unlimited possibilities. During the break and after class, I was their senior schoolmate. They would often ask for my opinion on such major issues as learning and life trivia, and I would be glad to help and often inspire them to take more skills training so as to increase their chances of finding jobs in the future. With my help, over 20 of them enrolled in e-commerce engineering courses, Mandarin Chinese training, and practical fundamentals of account auditing classes.

I remember one time that a male student quietly placed two bags of biscuits on the teacher’s desk during the break. When I asked why he did so, he said that he would like me to have some biscuits to replenish my energy, for it was painstaking to teach in the evening. Another time, the class commissary in charge of studies volunteered to take care of my textbooks and helped me to take them to the classroom so as to reduce my burden. On one rainy day, I was soaked through but present in class on time. The students helped me to wipe the rain water away, and one female student even brought me hot water. Seeing these lovely and sensible students, my eyes filled with tears …… Teachers receive there innermost spiritual pleasure and sense of accomplishment by helping the students to grow up through their painstaking work. Other occupations cannot compare to teaching in this respect. Furthermore, it is this belief that has been driving me to continue striving forward.

As someone once said, names engraved in wood may not necessarily be immortal, names engraved in stone may not necessarily leave a good reputation, and only names engraved in peoples’ hearts may last forever.” I hope I can deeply impress my name on the students’ hearts through my practical help. I believe that to live each day with a smile is not only a good way of life for oneself, but also embodies the spirit of RTVU people. The stage is little but the fulfillment was great. As limited as the three-foot podium may seem, it symbolizes my ideal! On the stage of the RTVU, I can freely use my intelligence and wisdom to give my best; on the stage of the RTVU, I can open my heart to do what I should; and on the stage of the RTVU, I can also chase my dream of paradise, even without wings.

(This article won third prize in the OUC “My Teaching Story”essay competition.)

By Wang Yu, Zhuhai Tutorial Centre of the OUC Guangzhou School for the Disabled