Corr Values

Sophie Corr on teaching tiny tots

Sophie Corr hails from the UK, but China has been home for the last five years. After two years of training with Eton School, Sophie received her Montessori teaching qualifications and now serves as a nursery lead teacher at the Global Trade Mansion Eton campus. She’s also head of the nursery at home, where she has two “Beijing babies” – a 3-year-old daughter and brand-new baby boy (who you can check out on p21 in our New Arrivals section!).

What brought you to Beijing?
My husband was interested in doing TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) since we’d been traveling around Asia for a while. When we got back to London we spoke to someone who suggested that we really should try China. So we came over and lived for a year in a rural area, but then returned to London. But before long, my husband had applied for another job over here and we found ourselves back in China. We really love it here.

What made you decide to be a teacher?
When I was at home I had a little brother and sister and I babysat for them. As I grew up I was always babysitting and volunteering in schools for kids with learning difficulties. It was something that I was always good at, to be boastful! It just came naturally to me, so I carried on.

What’s the hardest thing about teaching kids this young?
The biggest challenge is to encourage independence, so that they rely less on adults. A lot of our kids come from a one-on-one environment with an ayi or a mother – [sometimes there can even be] up to three people watching one child. So when they come to school and they’ve got ten classmates and three teachers it can be a bit of a shock for them.

What would you say your teaching secret is?
Patience – that’s all you need to be a nursery teacher. If you don’t have patience you are in the wrong job; I would say I have a lot. But I find it easy because I’m very inspired when I see the children happy. I get children the first time that they’ve left their family. It’s always nice watching them grow and to see them go from being upset and quiet to all happy and smiling a few months down the line.

Is there anything different about your job because you work in China?
I have a really high turnover of students. There are very few instances where I’ve watched a child grow up through the years. People come and go all the time. Also the language thing is different: We get a lot of students who have English as a second language or don’t speak English at all when they first start. But I find it more interesting that way. It’s more interesting to have this diversity in culture.

What are the biggest advantages and disadvantages to being a teacher in China?
The big thing is that the schools are so well-funded. Working in London or other places, you have to beg for things or have to rely on making a lot of stuff on your own. Here I can ask for this beautiful piece of equipment and usually I get it. Disadvantages? You have to get used to the culture. Chinese culture is very different from my own. For instance, my biggest problem at the beginning was working with Chinese parents and not understanding what the big problem was when a student wasn’t wearing a scarf under their coat. I just didn’t get the big drama – it wasn’t even cold outside! But that’s the sort of culture shock that anyone coming to China has.

I Want To Be an Environmentalist

April Nigh puts the earth first

Not many people get to meet their childhood heroes, much less work for them, but animal lover April Nigh is lucky: Until recently, she served as Program Coordinator for the Jane Goodall Institute for Wildlife Research, Education and Conservation, an NGO founded by her hero Jane Goodall, the famous primatologist and environmentalist. Through the NGO’s education program Roots & Shoots, April coordinated activities for Beijing students interested in volunteering to improve the environment. April sat down with a rising Grade 7 class at Beijing City International School to talk about the perks of her job – like making giant popsicles for the polar bears at the Beijing Zoo!

Thilo Braun, Germany
What did you study in college?
April Nigh: I studied East Asian studies at university as well as anthropology. I’ve been studying Chinese for almost nine years. I’ve lived in China for four years so I think my Chinese has improved a lot, but it’s very difficult – I like to say that it’s a work in progress.

Axel Fearn, France
How long is an anthropology course?
AN: Anthropology is the study of humans. It includes lots of different parts, like the study of ancient civilizations, people and culture. I studied at university for four years. I focused on physical anthropology, which is about the study of humans and their bones, and primates. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen the TV show CSI, but I studied the bone aspect [of the science they use on the show] – it’s called forensic anthropology. We learned how to examine human bones and figure out what part of the body they came from and how old the person was or where they came from. It’s really fascinating stuff. Sometimes it gets a little scary being down in the lab with a bunch of dead people around you.

Hyun Ju Park, Korea
How many countries take part in Roots & Shoots?
AN: Roots & Shoots has at least one group of students doing projects to help animals and the environment in over 70 countries around the world. Jane Goodall tries to travel to all countries that have groups, so she travels over 300 days a year.

Maher Kader, Bangladesh
How has Roots & Shoots helped the environment in China?
AN: We’ve grown our Roots & Shoots network from only one student group to over 300 all over China. [There are offices] in Shanghai and Chengdu, too. We are starting to work more on rural environmental education. So we go out to the countryside and work with the villagers on how to implement more environmental ways of living, like through organic farming. We also have a program working with students in Beijing on how to save water.

Selina Song, China
How long did Jane Goodall live in the jungle studying chimpanzees?
AN: It’s been over 40 years since she started studying chimpanzees. In the 1980s she started leaving for periods of time to go to different schools and give lectures to people. She still goes back to the jungle every year.

Emily Sun, China
What can people do to help animals, especially polar bears?
AN: There are so many things you can do. If you are especially interested in helping polar bears you can go to the Beijing Zoo and help make giant popsicles for the polar bears there! Another thing you could do is get a group of students together and organize a fundraising drive to help an organization that goes up to the North Pole to do research on polar bears in order to find out how we can help them more. You could help raise awareness by starting your own website about polar bears so people can start paying more attention to them and their problems.

Sytze Westerdijk, Holland
How long have you been working with Jane Goodall?
AN: I’ve been working for almost three years with Jane Goodall in China. I’ve met her three times – about once a year. I’ve been very lucky because she’s been a really big hero of mine since I was a little girl.

Thais Koenig, Brazil
Do you think Chinese people are interested in helping the environment?
AN: Yes, I definitely think so. Especially young people – I’ve seen so many get really excited about environmentalism. It’s kind of a fashionable new topic to talk about, especially in China with the Olympics coming. A lot of young people in China realize that the environment in China is not so good and they would like to see it become better during their lives, especially if they have children. It’s very inspiring.

Jong Hoon, Korea
Which do you like best: the environment, people or animals?
AN: I like them all because if we didn’t have one, we wouldn’t have either of the others. But I have to admit that I am an animal person. I’m usually more interested in animal projects. I have three stray cats at my house that I rescued, and there’s fur everywhere, but I’m fine with it because I love them.

Hyun Tai, Korea
If you could do any other job in the world what would you do?
AN: I’d like to do a job where I could live half the year in China and half the year in the US, so I could get the best of both worlds. I also think it would be cool to be an international school teacher because I’d get to live in interesting countries and have vacation time – I’d get to see other cool countries and I’d be able to hang out with students like you.

Picking Up Pocket Money

Who gives their kids pocket money, and how much?

Every Chinese kid knows exactly what to expect from the Spring Festival: those lucky red envelopes stuffed with crisp, clean 100 kuai bills bestowed on them by adoring relatives. However, as China’s economy booms and parents find themselves with increasingly large amounts of disposable income, more and more kids are discovering that they don’t have to wait until February to get hold of a little extra cash. Last year, Chinese parents outdid their Japanese and Korean neighbors and gave their offspring a whopping RMB 60 million in allowance. Since 2000, Chinese children’s income via allowance has doubled, and their spending has almost tripled, a recent survey by global market research company Synovate has found.

The rise in kids’ incomes can be seen as a direct result of the one child policy: China’s increasingly affluent adults are seeking to give their single children all the gifts and treats that they themselves were denied. Twenty-four percent of parents surveyed said they gave their child money whenever they requested it, and a further 26 percent said they gave their child as much money as they could afford to each month. The remaining 50 percent try to stick to giving their children a fixed amount every week, or simply purchase the desired items when their children ask for them.

Local Beijing mother Xue Feng Song doles out a weekly allowance to her 13-year-old son Xue Rong Bai. “I think it’s necessary to give my son pocket money so that he can be in contact with society. He can choose what he wants to buy and save up for things,” she says. Xue also tries to give her son lessons in smart spending. “I tell him to buy stationery for school and also some snacks and things like that. I don’t want him to be hungry when he’s out of the house.” Unlike their Western counterparts, Chinese parents don’t usually monitor what their kids spend their pocket money on. “I don’t keep track of his money, I think it’s his business,” reports Xue. “Some people also think children should do chores in exchange for money, but they are already so busy with school work I don’t think they should have to.” That doesn’t stop Rong Bai from feeling a little aggrieved, however: “I still don’t think I get enough,” he complains.

Western families living in China can encounter a number of problems associated with allowance. For instance, what seems like a reasonable amount of money back home might be unreasonably generous when converted into RMB. To deal with this, Australian mom Mandy Jensen gives her daughter Ruby (9) and son Max (7) RMB 20 and RMB 10 a week, respectively. “I know this wouldn’t seem like a lot of money in Australia, but I think it’s plenty for them here,” says Mandy. While Mom might think this is fair, Ruby and Max – just like Rong Bai – think they are getting a rough deal. “I think I should get 90 kuai because I’m 9 and Max should get 70 kuai because he’s 7,” Ruby suggests.

Ruby and Max are working on saving: So far, Ruby’s hoarded RMB 600 with the goal of buying an iPod; Max, eager as he is, has been slightly less successful, managing to squirrel away just RMB 13 thanks to an addiction to Pokemon cards. Mandy says that ideally she’d stop giving the kids an allowance as soon as they got their first part-time jobs, “but because we live in China, it’s not really possible for them to get a job at McDonald’s, so I will continue to give them an allowance.”

The question of when to end this financial arrangement with their children is also an interesting one for Chinese parents. Notorious for doting on their kids, most Chinese parents continue to give their children an allowance up until they begin their first serious, full-time job. Sixteen-year-old Han Gao started receiving pocket money when she was in first grade, and her mother Jie Chen doesn’t see a reason to put an end to this practice until Gao’s fully self-sufficient. “Children need money to be able to buy little treats for themselves. It’s natural that we give our daughter money until she can support herself. Everything is so competitive, so [kids] will need as much help as they can get.”

Tuesday's Film Roundup

Tuesday's Movie Roundup

by Simon Fowler

No Hollywood Movies For 3 Months?
A recent (and quite alarming) article in Variety trumpeted the news that due to escalating political tensions between China and the US, no foreign films would be released in China for the next three months! Well, lets think about that for a moment. Doesn't it sound a little bit like the Outstanding Golden Domestic Film Exhibition Month (Sep-Oct), where supposedly no foreign films were released throughout China? Well, during that particular "blackout" period, No Reservations, Prey, Shrek the Third, Transformers (IMAX) and Ratatouille were all granted releases. More interestingly, a report from Herald Tribune quotes Zhang Pimin, deputy director-general of China's Film Bureau as saying that foreign films will continue to be released for the rest of 2007 and on into 2008. However, with only a certain number of foreign films granted a release each year, and the snip-happy scissors of the censor waiting to take content out of movies, it is becoming increasingly hard for movies to be granted a release in China, which Will Smith is now finding out (see below).

Will Smith Encourages Karate Kid Remake
Stephen Chow, the all-action star of Shaolin Soccer and Kung Fu Hustle, has been invited by Will Smith to remake The Karate Kid. Smith was in Hong Kong to promote his Sci-Fi epic I Am Legend, but due to issues in securing a release in the mainland, don't count on seeing it at your local cineplex anytime soon. Chow and Smith are said to be interested in the idea of producing moves together, and according to Xinhua, the cheesy Ralph Macchio film from the 80s is on the table for a remake … interesting. I wonder what the Chinese for "wax on, wax off" is?

Ich Bin Eine Berlin Film Festivaler
Director Wang Xiaoshuai, whose 2001 movie Beijing Bicycle scooped the Silver Bear at the Berlin Film Festival, will see his new movie In Love We Trust (Zuo You) gain its world premiere at the prestigious European festival. The movie tells the story of a young child with cancer, whose mother goes to extraordinary lengths to try and save her child. In Love We Trust will face stiff competition from There Will Be Blood by Magnolia director Paul Thomas Anderson, but lets hope the recent run of success for Chinese films at International Festivals can continue.

Golden Horse Film Awards
Considered the most prestigious awards for Chinese-language films, the Golden Horse Film Awards were held this past week in Taipei where the most talked about movie of the year, Lust, Caution, swept the board with seven wins in total. Ang Lee took the best director gong, while Tony Leung took his third best actor award (he’d previously won for Infernal Affairs and Chungking Express) for his portrayal of the high-powered Japanese collaborator in World War Two-era Shanghai.

Despite the lack of mainstream releases, there are still a number of movies worth checking out around town. Here are the locations and times of what you can see:

Films Around Town

Lost in Beijing
There was a time when we thought we’d never get to see Lost in Beijing at the cinema, but after extensive cuts to the film it’s finally on release throughout Beijing. The story focuses on a young couple that moves to Beijing to seek work, but economic pressures and a sexual assault put huge pressure on their relationship. To check out what others thought of the film you can click here or view the trailer here.

Lust, Caution
Outlasting competition from the likes of The Bourne Ultimatum and Live Free, Die Hard and still going strong, Lust, Caution is showing around town. You many not be able to see all the good parts, but it’s still worth checking out Ang Lee's thriller on the big screen. There are also rumors that there are plans to make a TV series based on the film. We’ll keep you posted on that one. To check out what others thought of the film you can click here or view the trailer here.

Screening Times for Films (Blind Mountain, Lost in Beijing and Crossed Lines do not have English subtitles) in Beijing – Tuesday Dec 11

(All times and prices have been taken from today’s Beijing News or this website – it would be a good idea to call and confirm details)

Haidian
UME International Cineplex

Lust, Caution
10:00 12:40 15:10 17:20 20:00 22:40

Lost in Beijing
15:35 17:50 19:40 21:45

Crossed Lines
16:20 18:30 19:35 20:40 21:35 22:50

Ratatouille
15:15 21:30

CBD
Wanda International Cinema

Lost in Beijing
15:15 16:00 17:15 18:05 19:20 20:10 21:25 22:15

Crossed Lines
15:00 15:45 16:40 17:20 18:05 19:00 19:40 20:20 21:20 22:00 22:40

Lust, Caution
11: 00 13:50 16:40 18:10 19:30 21:00 22:20

Blind Mountain
17:20

Art Gallery
Changhong Cinema

Lust, Caution

Lost in Beijing

Crossed Lines
12:10 14:15 16:20 18:25 20:30 数字11:05 13:05 15:05 17:05 19:05 21:10

Digital Screenings:

Art Gallery
Changhong Cinema

Lust, Caution
13:50 16:40 19:30 数字13:00 15:50 20:45

Lost in Beijing
11:00 13:00 15:00 17:00 19:00 21:00

Dongsishitiao
East Gate Cinema

Lust, Caution
11:20 14:00 16:40 19:20 22:00

Lost in Beijing
10:00 11:50 13:40 17:40 21:40

Crossed Lines
10:20 11:00 12:20 13:00 14:20 15:00 15:40 16:20 17:00 18:20 19:00 19:40
　　　　　20:20 21:00 22:20

Wangfujing
Xindong'an Cinema

Lost in Beijing
10:00 11:50 13:40 15:30 17:30 19:20 21:10

Lust, Caution
12:40 15:20 18:10 20:50

Crossed Lines
五号厅 09:50 12:00 14:10 16:20 18:30 20:40七号厅 10:50 13:00 15:10
　　　　17:20 19:30 21:40

Star City

Lust, Caution
11:10 13:50 16:30 19:10 21:50

Crossed Lines
10:20 11:20 12:30 13:30 14:40 15:40 16:50 17:50 19:00 20:00 21:10 22:10

Lost in Beijing
10:00 10:50 11:50 12:40 13:40 14:30 15:30 16:20 17:20 19:20 18:10 20:10 21:20 22:00

Xidan
Shoudu Shidai Cinema

Lost in Beijing
10:00 14:00 15:50 19:30 21:20

Lust, Caution
11:00 13:40 16:20 19:00 21:40

Crossed Lines
10:40 11:55 12:50 14:05 15:00 17:10 18:25 19:20 20:35 21:30

East Fourth Ring Road
Espace France Cinema

Lust, Caution
10:30 13:10 14:40 15:50 18:30 20:30

Lost in Beijing
10:50 12:40 14:30 16:20 18:05 19:50 21:30

Crossed Lines
11:10 12:10 13:10 14:10 15:10 16:10 17:10 18:10 19:10 20:10 21:10

Wangjing
Stellar International Cineplex

Lust, Caution
16:20 19:00 20:40 21:50
(Screenings also available with Korean subtitles – call for more info)

Lost in Beijing
15:00 17:00 19:15 21:15

Crossed Lines
15:10 16:05 17:20 18:15 19:30 20:20 21:35 22:35

Ratatouille
18:45

Links and Sources:
Mtime: Pingguo (image)

The Spirit of Giving

A thin line between commercial and considerate

As Christmas trees and decorations begin to adorn the most unlikely of places around Beijing this yuletide, it does beg the question: Has the commercialization of the holiday season gotten out of hand? Debate Club decided to sit down with four lower sixth students from Harrow International School Beijing to discover their feelings on gift-giving, generosity and Scarlett Johansson.  

Do you think the holiday season has become too commercialized?

Ben: Very much so. I’d definitely say that traditional holidays have taken a turn for the worse in terms of being overly commercialized. The emphasis nowadays, it seems, is more on what you get, rather than why you are giving that present in the first place or what the present signifies.

Chloe: I’ve never actually celebrated Christmas, as I’m part of a Chinese family. But I think China is a good example of how Christmas is overused for commercial purposes. Especially since most Chinese people don’t believe in Christmas. Instead, they use it as an excuse to give each other presents.

Lucas: I think it’s completely commercial. People have forgotten the traditions of Christianity and it’s just a time to buy presents. When I was living in Thailand, they would put up big Christmas trees in the center of Bangkok but it wouldn’t mean anything to anyone.

What does Christmas mean to you?

Lucas: Honestly, I don’t believe in God, so it’s just a time to give presents and get presents and be with your family.

Jenny: I think it kind of depends on who’s celebrating it. Although it may seem really commercialized because of all the products that are being sold on TV, when you’re home with your family it can have a good meaning to it.

Chloe: Christmas is based on religion as far as I’m concerned. Most people just see it as an event to get together with your family, which is not necessarily a bad thing.

Is it really better to give a present than receive one?

Ben: That’s a difficult question because it depends on who’s giving the gift and who’s receiving, because you can use your own sense of empathy and your own feelings towards present-giving, and, not to sound cliché, but it gives a warm and fuzzy feeling when you give to someone.

Lucas: I would agree with Ben. It is good to see your mother’s or your father’s face when you give a present. But, honestly, who in their right mind doesn’t prefer getting a present than giving a present? That’s just human nature.

Jenny: I don’t know, because if you’re given a really bad present you have to pretend as if you really like it, but you really don’t. But then the whole problem about giving a present is: What if they don’t like it?

What’s the worst gift you’ve ever received?

Chloe: The worst was not so much what I got but what I didn’t get. It’s when I was expecting one but I didn’t get one.

What do you usually think about when you are buying a gift for someone?

Ben: Practicality. Ultimately, how much is this person going to appreciate what I’ve gotten them?

Who’s the hardest person to buy gifts for?

Lucas: Women. You never know how to satisfy a woman with shopping.

Jenny: It’s so easy! What are you talking about?

Lucas: It’s very hard to shop for a female member of my family or for any woman in general.

Chloe: But with women you can always buy them something cliché like flowers or chocolates or jewelry.

Ben: I have to agree with Lucas on that. I’ve bought my sister innumerable things and every time she puts on that fake plastic smile when I give it to her.

Chloe: For some people, they appreciate anything that’s given to them. I think it just depends on the person, not the gender.

If you could get any gift in the coming year, what would it be and why?

Jenny: I want a record player and records.

Lucas: Scarlett Johansson, for a day.

Ben: A car when I go to college.

Chloe: I was about to say what Ben said, but … I don’t know. Personally, I don’t get presents too often. For me it’s easy to appreciate anything that people give me.

American-British student Ben Kay says the best present he ever received was a gift from someone else to give to his sister when he forgot to buy her one.

American Chloe Chang, whose parents are from Taiwan, says the best gift she received was a giant “get well” card from her classmates while in the hospital.

American Jenny Chen says her best buy was a Robert Cavalli leopard print scarf from H&M for her sister.

Lucas Fathing is from the UK and thinks the best present he has ever given was himself to his family.

Movie Review: 3:10 to Yuma

Director: James Mangold

The central themes of 3:10 to Yuma may seem as old and corny as a pair of moldy chaps – one man standing up against injustice, the need for heroism, a son’s lack of admiration for his father and a bad guy who might just have an ounce of good in him. But James Mangold’s remake of the 1957 movie (which was based on Elmore Leonard’s short story) brings a surprisingly fresh feel to one of film’s oldest genres.

Rancher Dan Evans (played by Christian Bale) is a civil war veteran who’s under continuing pressure from the profiteering railroad company to move off his land, while desperately trying to provide for his family as well. One day, while herding cattle with his son, Evans stumbles upon the robbery of a railway wagon by the infamous Arizona outlaw Ben Wade (played by Russell Crowe) – forever entwining their fates.

The ability to play a charismatic and menacing antagonist comes naturally to Crowe. His character, when captured, is forcefully escorted by Evans to the eponymous train to Yuma prison, with Wade’s bloodthirsty gang following in hot pursuit. The film plays with traditional genre devices, but the characters have more depth and are more finely drawn than the usual stereotypical cowboys. Westerns have lacked vitality for a number of years – it’s somewhat ironic that the genre has been brought back to life by remaking a forgotten film. Simon Fowler

Hit the Slopes at Qiaobo Snow Dome

Experience Beijing’s first and only indoor ski resort

Ski season: It’s coming. The freezing winds and low temperatures will soon force the water vapor in the high reaches of the atmosphere to freeze, condense and fall onto the rolling hills of Beijing’s ski resorts. The lifts will start running, and revelers will come in droves and queue up to take nosedives into mounds of soft, white, powdery snow. But before you dig those salopettes out of the closet and head for your nearest ski resort, it might be best to fine-tune your skills in a more controlled environment, and the perfect place to do so is Qiaobo Snow Dome.

Located 40km from the city center and 15km from the airport, Qiaobo Snow Dome is Beijing’s only indoor skiing environment. The gargantuan building takes its name from Ye Qiaobo, the 1993 world speed skating champion, but its activities are concerned exclusively with snow rather than ice. There’s a hefty RMB 1,500 deposit for your group, which can be paid with credit card, bankcard or cash. But if you’re lucky enough to be able to visit on a weekday, you can benefit both from a lack of competition for space on the slope and also a discount on the hourly rate. It’s RMB 180 for two hours on a weekday and RMB 230 on the weekend, but this doesn’t include clothing rental. The time you spend on the slope is tracked by an electronic card which you scan as you enter and leave.

As well as providing ski, snowboard and boot rental, Qiaobo also offers ski pants and jackets for hire (RMB 30 for both), an option definitely worth considering because of the high quality and warmth they provide. Be sure not to waste too much time in the changing rooms because the clock only stops when you return to the reception area. The skis, boards and boots are all in great condition and come from well-known brands like Burton. Make sure all equipment fits comfortably, as oversized boots can potentially cause injury. Remember to bring gloves and goggles because the bitterly cold temperatures inside the ski hall will make your eyes water and hands numb.

The 40,000-square-meter park is divided into four parts to separate the boarders trying to land 1080 nosebones off the ramps from little tykes more concerned with making snow angels. The Children’s Snow Paradise is a good spot for beginners to get to grips with the basics and become familiar with the equipment. The slope is 30m long and has a gentle 3-degree gradient, so there’s little risk of picking up enough speed to cause real damage. Instruction can be provided at an extra cost from the affiliated training school. English-speaking instructors provide private lessons for RMB 150 per hour and kids as young as 3 are welcome to participate. Those who deem “paradise” a little tame for their needs can traverse across to the beginner run. A conveyer belt takes you up the slope and you can either hop off halfway at the 200-meter mark or brave it to the top, which passes a small jump for those wanting to catch some air. The 300-meter advanced run, with its 17-degree slope and jumps, will entertain advanced riders.

Skiing and snowboarding utilizes muscles rarely used in day-to-day activities, so to avoid cramping up, be sure to stretch beforehand and have kids take regular breaks by sitting down on the benches provided. It’s best to supervise younger and more inexperienced children, as the location of some of the jumps on the slope might be hard to avoid if they pick up speed. Wearing plenty of layers of clothing serves as makeshift safety equipment, but it might be worth investing in padding or a helmet if your child develops a keen interest. The complex also houses two stores with a decent selection of boards, skis, safety equipment and clothing.

The French Alps it certainly is not, but Qiaobo offers year-round snow and is a perfect place for beginners to get their first taste of skiing and snowboarding.

Qiaobo Ice and Snow World
Daily 8.30am-9pm (8497 2568)
Inside Chaobai River National Forest Park, Mapo, Shunyi District
顺义区马坡潮白河国家森林公园内
www.qbski.com

Playing the Part with Katrina MacGuire

Getting students at Dulwich College in touch with their dramatic side

Katrina MacGuire was encouraged to take up drama by her mother as a way of overcoming her shyness and stepping out of the shadows of her eight brothers and sisters. Having taught for four years at a drama college in England, Katrina sought out a new challenge and eventually found her way to Dulwich College in Beijing. tbjkids sat down and talked to Katrina about her love for shopping, dumplings, and why she still hasn’t gotten around to taking Chinese lessons.

Where are you from?
I’m from Blackpool in England. Before coming to Beijing, I spent four years in Doncaster at a drama college. It was quite different from what we have at Dulwich because we had seven drama teachers, and now it’s just me.

What brought you to Beijing?
It wasn’t so much Beijing – I was looking for a new challenge. I was in such a good school that I had everything I wanted like a massive drama department, good results and excellent facilities, but I wanted a new challenge and to go into the international scene, in terms of working with different students from different cultures and trying to make drama seen as an academic subject abroad. That’s my challenge at the moment.

When did you become interested in drama?
Probably from a young age, because I was incredibly shy. I come from a really big family – four brothers and four sisters – and I was the youngest, so my mum was always trying to find ways to push me forward. Through drama, I became a lot more confident. I started getting into youth theater, the Blackpool pantomime and things like that. I fell in love with theater, so I went down to Canterbury to study for my degree. I think being a drama teacher is the best job ever: I get to have fun, I get to direct, I get to teach, I get to write, I get to act, and it’s just fabulous.

How do you encourage shy students in your classes?
I always say the best thing to do is to get your hand up at the beginning of the lesson, when you definitely know an answer, rather than waiting for the teacher to call on you. If you try and get in there with something, just once a lesson, then you’ve achieved something.

What’s the best thing about being a teacher in Beijing?
It’s very, very different. It’s probably the pupils really. They come from so many backgrounds and they’ve all got something to share. Even though I’d been teaching for four years back in the UK, I was wondering if [my techniques were] going to be suitable for the students. Their knowledge about theater is very different, so I’m learning from them all the time. Also, at this school, the amount of performances going on is great. We’ve already had a Moonlight Madness, where anyone can get on stage and perform. There’s so much potential for kids to get on stage all the time.

How have you adapted to life in China?
It’s been pretty difficult. I arrived in China in August and I still haven’t sorted out any Chinese classes yet. Taxi drivers are a nightmare at the moment. There are quite a few of us who go around in a pack together, and people here are so friendly so that’s not too bad. I’m getting by.

What are the main challenges of teaching in Beijing?
As a drama teacher you’ve always got to justify your subject as being academic. My main thing is trying to make drama an academic subject with its own language, theory and history, rather than it just being about putting on a play and acting. We’re moving towards the IB curriculum so this shift needs to happen. A lot of the kids come from countries where they weren’t taught drama as a subject. It really is teaching a brand new subject to people who aren’t used to it.

What do you do to relax?
I like to read and shop and enjoy many of the fabulous restaurants that are in Beijing. Of course I love acting, but I haven’t found many opportunities to do it just yet.

What’s your favorite Chinese food?
Dumplings. We went to Tibet during the last break and it was great. We tried yak dumplings, which were great, but we got a bit tired of the yak after a while!

What’s your favorite place in Beijing?
The Temple of Heaven. I went at about six o’clock one evening and it was so peaceful. It just made me think: Wow, this is China!

How do you interact with the wider community?
One of the main reasons I came to China was to work with Chinese children, and Dulwich has given me the opportunity to do that. I am trying to develop the drama side within the community. I work with the Sunshine Learning Center. They come in and work for an hour with me once a week. I do want the pupils within the school to think about how drama can be useful to the wider community.