From September 8 to 14, 2024, a delegation from Kyoto University of Education, consisting of Professor Noriko Katayama, Associate Professor Shoko Suzuki, Vice Principal Yoshiyuki Kuwana of Momoyama Elementary School Affiliated to Kyoto University of Education, Vice Principal Masafumi Akiyama of Momoyama Junior High School Affiliated to Kyoto University of Education, and 10 graduate students, visited our institute for exchange and study. They conducted teaching observations and curriculum internships at primary and secondary schools in Shanghai, and participated in cultural visits in Shanghai and Suzhou.
On the afternoon of the 9th, our institute organized an exchange activity between Chinese and Japanese graduate students. Dean Hu Guoyong attended and delivered a welcome speech. He extended a warm welcome to the delegation from Kyoto University of Education, expressed hope that both sides would further consolidate the institutional exchange agreement, encouraged Chinese and Japanese graduate students to engage with classrooms of other countries through mutual visits, enhance their cross-cultural teaching competence, and wished the exchange a complete success. Subsequently, graduate students from both sides exchanged views on Sino-Japanese education systems, cultural differences, and their respective study and life, with a harmonious atmosphere and lively discussions.
From the 9th to the 10th, the delegation from Kyoto University of Education carried out cross-cultural teaching practices at the Primary Section of the International Department of Shanghai Experimental School. Teacher Chen Hui, Deputy Party Secretary of Shanghai Experimental School, and Teacher Fu Yun, Director of the International Department, introduced the school’s running philosophy and teaching characteristics to the delegation, and held in-depth exchanges on issues of mutual concern such as school system arrangement, class size, and teacher allocation. With the careful arrangement of the International Department of Shanghai Experimental School, teachers and students of the Kyoto University of Education delegation entered the classrooms and observed multiple courses of the same grade. Its 10 graduate students, in groups, conducted 5 cross-cultural courses for students of Shanghai Experimental School. During this period, the delegation from Kyoto University of Education also joined the school in celebrating China’s 40th Teachers' Day.
On the 11th, accompanied by Associate Professor Lü Jiexin from the School of Education of our university (who is serving as a part-time vice principal at the school), the delegation from Kyoto University of Education visited the Foreign Language Middle School Affiliated to Shanghai Normal University. The delegation listened to Li Kai, Deputy Secretary and Vice Principal of the Foreign Language Middle School Affiliated to Shanghai Normal University, introduce the school’s running philosophy and the development of characteristic courses, and had in-depth exchanges on the concepts and practices of running characteristic high schools. As part of the cross-cultural practice, the delegation also visited the campus facilities accompanied by Teacher Weng Chongtao, Director of the External Liaison Office of the Foreign Language Middle School Affiliated to Shanghai Normal University, and students from the Japanese Language Club, watched sports performances, and experienced Chinese calligraphy culture firsthand. Later, graduate students from Kyoto University of Education jointly conducted an international understanding course on Sino-Japanese cross-cultural exchanges for students of the Foreign Language Middle School Affiliated to Shanghai Normal University, with enthusiastic participation from students and a strong atmosphere of exploration.
Kyoto University of Education is a sister school of Shanghai Normal University, with a well-established mechanism for exchanging graduate students to each other’s universities and affiliated primary and secondary schools for internships. This exchange activity will further consolidate the agreement between the two schools and provide richer teaching practice pathways for cross-cultural exchanges between graduate students of both sides. Teacher Song Qingqing from our institute accompanied and organized the visit throughout.
Photos and text provided by: RIICE
