Everyone has a dream in his or her youth. However, in some cases these dreams are never realized and thus finding a way to realize these dreams has become a lifelong pursuit for many. Stepping into the teaching building of the Radio and Television University (RTVU) in Qiqihar, the first thing you’ll see and hear is beautiful singing and advanced dance postures coming from the dance class. Through classes such as dance, music, electronic organ, calligraphy, Chinese painting, and many more, Qiqihar RTVU helps senior trainees to enrich their senior years and finally realize their former dreams.
Opening Class Ignites Great Enthusiasm, Seats are Hard to Secure
On the morning of March 19, 2015, the reporter met with Yu Zhiwu, director of the Activity Centre of Education for Senior Citizens at Qiqihar RTVU. As one of the founders of the Centre, he has witnessed its development process, from enrolling the first trainee, to the continued improvement of all software and hardware facilities.
The Activity Centre of Education for Older Adults at Qiqihar Community University (Qiqihar RTVU) was established in August 2014 with the help of the municipal government and the RTVU leadership. In the first stage it offers four majors and five classes. Initially, there were only 80 trainees, but now the Centre has grown to 270 trainees. This amazing growth rate is a result of word of mouth.
On the eve of Spring Festival 2015, 60-year old Aunt Han returned from Beijing to spend her holiday. Hearing that electronic organ classes for older adults were being offered at the Community University, she was very interested. However, after finding out that the two classes were fully enrolled, she asked the university if they could open a third class; in this case, she would not go back to Beijing. In order to meet the demands of a number of trainees, the university opened another class. Aunt Han’s wish to learn the electronic organ was realized. After this, she also registered for a vocal music class. Music has made her later years more colorful.
Speaking about the registration, Yu said that the opening of the community university has not only helped many older adults to finally realize their dreams, but has also attracted them away from playing mahjong.
Focusing on Public Welfare, Providing Considerate Services
Despite a lack of investment and personnel, Qiqihar RTVU still spent nearly RMB 200,000 to construct modern calligraphy and painting classrooms and standard dance rooms, and employed famous masters in calligraphy, painting, literature and art. By highlighting the nature of public welfare and opening majors catering to the tastes of older adults, the Centre has entered into older adults’learning market at a high level.
“For one semester of five months, the cost is only around RMB 100. If I was to learn the electronic organ outside the university, I will have to spend dozens of RMB for just one lesson,” said Aunt Wang, happily. Talking about the learning environment, Aunt Li couldn’t hold her excitement: “The university makes very careful arrangements in all aspects. Older Adults like us can learn happily here.”
Famous Teachers Engage in Education through Lively Activities
In order to better operate the classes, the community university invited renowned masters in Qiqihar to be teachers. At the same time, retired teachers with rich experience have been employed as class teachers to enhance teaching and management quality.
According to Mr. Jin, a class teacher, because the trainees and teachers are similar in age, teaching can’t be carried in the same way as teaching middle school students. Teachers should cultivate the trainees’ interest in a step-by-step way, encouraging them and making mutual progress. If the teachers and trainees get along like friends, progress and enthusiasm among older adults is much higher.
The community university is a platform to help older adults realize their dreams, as well as a happy environment for older adults. The community university of Qiqihar RTVU will carry out a market survey and further explore learning programmes, in order to better fulfill the needs and interests of older adults, and enrich their later years.
By Zhang Changyu