An Empathetic Heart, An Experience of a Lifetime

What would you bring on a trip? Passport, tickets, clothes, smartphone. Of course, local currencies and guide books.

Ms. Jenny Ching Yee TUNG (CBS) joined a Hangzhou Service-Learning course and served a local school for the children of rural migrant workers in the summer of 2018. You know, she could only pack light to hit the road: a few pieces of clothes, bare daily essentials, and an empathetic heart.

What she didn't expect was the full loading on her return trip: an experience that will benefit her life onwards.

 

   
LSGI students
Ms. Jenny Ching Yee TUNG
BA (Hons) in Language and Speech Sciences
Faculty of Humanities

 

 

Awards:
  • Outstanding Student Awards 2018, Department of Chinese and Bilingual Studies 2018
Domain Expertise:
Special Needs Education
  • Jenny Tung's major in Language and Speech Sciences, particularly her focus on communication disorders, demonstrates her expertise in the field of special needs education. This knowledge is crucial for understanding and addressing the unique challenges faced by children with special needs, aligning with the Hong Kong policy of integrated education.
Service-Learning
  • Jenny's participation in a service-learning course in Hangzhou highlights her practical experience in the field of education. Through this experience, she gained hands-on knowledge of classroom management, teaching methods, and adapting to diverse student needs.
Classroom Management
  • Jenny encountered challenges related to classroom discipline and student diversity during her service-learning experience. Her ability to adapt to real classroom situations, make quick decisions, and manage students with varying English levels and personalities demonstrates her expertise in classroom management and pedagogical adaptation.

 

Lifelong Learning Excellence:
Communication and Presentation Skills
  • Lois mentions improving her communication skills through her program in English Studies for the Professions. Effective communication is crucial in various aspects of life, including teaching and interacting with students.
Communication and Presentation Skills
  • Jenny applied her knowledge of communication disorders and language sciences to effectively communicate with the students she served during the service-learning program. She used different teaching methods and materials to cater to the varying needs and English levels of the students.
  • Jenny emphasized the importance of collaboration and teamwork when coaching a new team entering a service-learning project. She advised them to consider the needs and challenges of the children they would be serving and to collaborate with different entities to implement a successful service project.
Critical Thinking and Problem-solving
  • Jenny encountered difficulties in classroom discipline and management, as well as adapting to the diverse English levels of the students. She employed quick decision-making and problem-solving skills to address these challenges. She separated emotionally unstable students, designed individualized teaching approaches, and utilized contextual learning techniques to engage the students.
Adaptability and Flexibility
  • Jenny learned to adapt her teaching methods to meet the different personalities and communication preferences of the students in Hangzhou. She recognized that different students required different approaches and adjusted her teaching accordingly.
Strategic Planning
  • Jenny mentioned that she participated in workshops, drafted proposals, planned curricula, and presented her work during the service-learning program. These experiences helped her develop planning, risk management, and execution skills.
Reflection and Self-awareness
  • Jenny acknowledged that the service-learning program allowed her to better understand her own strengths and weaknesses. She reflected on her experiences, learned from the challenges faced, and identified areas for personal growth and improvement.

Inspiring Quotes:

Professional Competence
"Children learn vocabulary the best through context such as stories. Therefore, I played an English song from a famous cartoon movie in the lesson so that students could be more engaged, focused and interested in learning."

Innovative Problem-solver & Ethical Leader
"Always remind ourselves to have different perspectives on child and adolescent development, consider their needs and challenges of children and adolescents living in disadvantaged circumstances in lesson design and implementation of a service project.

Lifelong Learner
"After all the difficulties, stay optimistic about taking on new challenges."

Explore More:

The pursuit of knowledge is a lifelong journey! To further expand your knowledge and continue your personal and professional growth. Click and explore the following learning resources:

Domain Knowledge OER

Special Needs Education

Service-Learning

Classroom Management

Lifelong Learning OER

Critical Thinking and Problem-solving

Project Management and Teamwork

Adaptability and Flexibility

Communication and Presentation Skills

Continuous Improvement and Learning from Mistakes