SL Training for Secondary School Teachers

Our work on service-learning has, so far, focused on university students and professors.  Starting with out own university, then other universities in Hong Kong, and overseas in foreign countries.  Along the way, we have also worked with primary and secondary schools, but mainly as recipients of the service.  Increasingly, however, we are seeing more and more secondary, and even primary, schools becoming active in community service, and moving into service-learning (with more emphasis on the learning).  We have been providing some of these schools with some advice and practical assistance.  But with limited resources, we could not do that in a more systematic manner, and larger scale. 

We have recently applied for, and received, some funding so that we can now design a more systematic program for secondary schools.  On the past Saturday, we started a teacher training workshop for teachers.  We have a lot of material originally designed for university teachers.  We then spent quite a bit of time to adapt the material for secondary schools.  One of the challenges is to write up a set of case studies in the secondary school context.  

We are excited to receive an enthusiastic response.  One of the reasons, we have since discovered, is that recent changes in the secondary school curriculum has released some curriculum space for additional teaching.  And some schools have decided to use that curriculum space to implement service-learning.   A practice among some of these schools is to require all students in form 4 to undertake some service-learning project.  Now these schools, and many others, have to scramble to find and train their teachers to create the curriculum and associated projects.  This development sounds quite familiar, also an echo of what happened 10 years ago, when university education in Hong Kong changed from 3-year programs to 4-year programs.  

We are also encouraged by some of the projects that some of the schools are contemplating.  One is a project based on performing arts.  It plans to train vision-impaired persons to perform in a play - through the use of audio description.  There exist projects in which university students use audio description to help the visually impaired to enjoy art and performances.  But this proposal by the secondary school goes one giant step further - it enables the visually impaired to perform, to create art, in addition to enjoying it.  It is, mightily challenging.  But it will be hugely impactful and satisfying when it succeeds.  

Another project is easier to imagine but no less impactful.  They plan to take the elderly from a nursing home to their school, and entertain them with purposely-designed programs.  There may be many logistical issues, planning, organisation, etc., involved.  Much depends on what activities are provided at the school, and the scale of the project.  For the pilot, they are planning for a single event.  We are encouraging them to learn from the pilot and take the next logical step, to extend the project in time, scale and variety.  

For many schools, they are just starting to take service-learning seriously.  There is, however, an enthusiasm in the way they engage in the class activities, in the questions they ask, and the projects they are proposing.  We are looking forward to a much more active community developing in the secondary schools. 

Steam Hut, again

Today, once again, may wife and I travelled for 45 minutes to have dim sum in Tsuen Wan.  In fact, we have done that many times since Steam Hut moved from Hung Hom to Tsuen Wan. 

Why do we do that?  It is because of the good food and the people.  Today, we had a special stewed soup (燉湯) - made with chicken, “black” garlic (黑蒜), a sea snail (螺頭), and a fungus Cordyceps militaris (蟲草花).  I have heard of, but don’t know much about, its medicinal properties.  But we do find it very tasty. 

We also had my favourite dim sum - steamed ribs. 

And another favourite, sesame buns.  It has such massive, succulent, hot, molten fillings that it is difficult not to spill the fillings when you tear it open.   That makes it almost impossible to share.  

As for my wife, her favourite is anything with shrimp in it: shrimp dumpling, deep-friend spring roll with shrimp, …  So we have that too. 

We are fully satisfied.  It is definitely worth the 45 minute trip.  

We have eaten here so many times that we have gotten to know many of their staff, all good people.  Today, one of them, M, was having lunch and we saw her face for the first time. We couldn’t recognise her - without her mask.  Apparently this is quite a common occurrence these days - the mask has become so much a part of life that we have difficulty functioning without it.  

Mai Sen

Several years ago - from 2015 to 2017, I believe - a team from our School of Hotel and Tourism Management had served at a training restaurant in Ho Chi Min City.  We had since lost contact with them, partly because of other commitments, and partly because of the pandemic.  I did try to connect with them recently, but could not re-establish contact.  

On Saturday morning last week, when our advance team was in Saigon (Ho Chi Min City), we decided to just go to their location to have a look.  Perhaps we would be lucky, but we really didn’t have high expectations. 

When we were getting close, I was pleasantly surprised to find that the site looked exactly the way I remember it, even though it was 7 years ago when I was here the last time.  

It got even better.  When I asked the first person I saw, whom I did not recognise, to see the person in charge, he brought exactly the right person, J.  J was not there when I was there with the first team.  But she did receive the team the following year, and remember them.  

As we talked, it became clear that both sides are happy to get re-acquainted and work on a project together.  It feel so good to have someone remember you (your team) many years later.  The team(s) must have done good work, such that they would want us to come back.  People often ask how we would know whether our work is making a good contribution to the community.  This is part of the answer: when the people you serve want you to come back, you are probably doing something right.  Not the full answer, of course.  But this is part of it.  

There is still so much to work out, there is no guarantee that we can actually send a team here anytime soon.  But it will probably happen.  I have a good feeling about it.  This is part of the joy of service-learning done right - meeting good people, building relationships and keeping them.  

Saigon (Ho Chi Min City)

Saigon was the name of the city that is now Ho Chi Min City.  

It is also the name that I associate better with the memories and impressions I have acquired over the years of the city.  

Our small advance team arrived in Saigon after spending one day in Da Nang.  Here we met with UEF and VGU.  I have spoken at a local conference on service-learning organised by the University of Economic and Finance before.  They have a strong commitment from management and a team of passionate staff.   Vietnam is developing quickly.  Like many other cities, there are slums in the quickly-modernising city and much need to be addressed. 

Vietnam German university stresses research and industrial relations, and has a brand new, attractive campus.  

We walked into the compound of a restaurant school run by the Salesian Brothers of the Catholic Church, where one of our teams worked before.  And were very pleasantly surprised to be able to reconnect with them.  I have high respect for the work of the Salesians in many places in the world.  

We also get acquainted with an old friend, who have collaborated with and helped us in many projects.  

Every time I speak with Harry, I learn something new, about the country, about the very impressive work that he and his team has been doing, and much wisdom in working in this part of the world.  

In only a couple of days, we have been treated by many interesting sights, foods, and experiences.  

The discussions with existing and potential partners seem promising.  We are hopeful that something new, challenging and fruitful can be developed.  

Da Nang Impressions

Our small advance team spent only one day in Da Nang, meeting with Da Nang Architecture University and World Vision at Da Nang.  

DAU has a vibrant service-learning program.  

World Vision has many programs in the Central Vietnam Area, in the urban area and much more in the rural areas, including fishing villages and mountainous communities.  

We visited a family whose house was damaged by the typhoon, which is now being repaired with help from the government and World Vision. 

We also visited a community centre and a library set up in a primary school.  

Lots of interesting work and opportunities in this areas. 

We hope to be back.  

Chiang Mai

I am here in Chiang Mai with a small team from the office to explore opportunities for service-learning projects.  We only have 2 full days in Chiang Mai, almost fully packed with meetings.  

On Monday we visit Chiang Mai University and Payap University. Some passionate and knowledgeable people.  We are learning a lot from them: the city, the people, the ethnic groups, organic farming, sustainable living, refugees and their children, …  Lots of opportunities.  What is suitable for us?  What can we do for them?  

In between and after meetings, we do get a chance to have a glimpse of Chiang Mai.  Some of us had been here before.  For me, this is the the first time.  All of us like the place.  There are few high rises.  There are traffic jams during rush hour, but not as bad as in Bangkok or many other Asian cities.  The local people are friendly.  There are a lot of non-Thai looking people who are probably tourists.  

There are lilies floating in the moat surrounding what remains from the old city walls.  Tranquil and peaceful looking.  One of the few places in the city with reasonably broad sidewalks.  

The kilometre-long night market in the old city is full of vendors and customers. Colourful and interesting merchandise.  

Lots of foods.  Including familiar-looking beetles. 

Roasted pork belly is famous.  The one we had was good.  The skin both crispy and chewy.  

Lots of electrical cables overhead, just like many other South East Asian cities.  At dusk, birds congregate and gossip on the cables. If only I can understand what they are saying, I may learn something about the city. 

Just a few steps away, a tranquil pond hidden from the main road behind a row of trees.  

Chiang Mai is full of pleasant surprises.