Last week we were lucky enough to host ten pre-service teachers from
Hong Kong, organized through EQI (Education Queensland International).
They were very excited to be at Junction Park and loved their experience
here.
The teachers were based in the year 1 and 2 classrooms (1C, 1F, 1R,
2A, 2B). They spent the week getting to know the students, becoming more
familiar with the Australian curriculum, and finding out about the
fantastic community spirit we have here at Junction Park.
They were most impressed by how friendly everyone was, the relaxed
environment and how much fun school is at Junction Park. They loved the
way that students and teachers engaged, with lots of discussion and a
hands-on approach to learning.
They were excited to find some students in the school fluent in
Chinese. Our pre-service teachers speak Mandarin (Chinese), Cantonese
and English.
We often host teachers from other countries at Junction Park. Prior
to our Hong Kong visitors, our last visitors were Principals and
Directors of Schools from India. If you attended the sports day last
term, you would have seen a group of these Principals having a race
against some of our teachers from Junction Park. Naturally, the teachers
from Junction Park won, but I did race them against Mr McIntyre and Mr O
- who I told them were actually our slowest teachers!
It is a really enriching experience hosting overseas visitors. We
learn a lot about their culture and education system, and we get to look
at ourselves with fresh eyes.
Jenni Lang-McIntyreActing Deputy Principal