The Development of Chinese Teachers’ Intercultural Awareness Through a Reciprocal Learning Program Between Canada and China
摘要
This chapter illustrates the impact of the Canada–China Sister School Network on the professional growth and intercultural competence of Chinese teachers, specifically focusing on two elementary school teachers, Lu Wang and Mingyue Lyu. Beginning in 2014, Wang and Lyu engaged in several different intercultural events during the reciprocal learning partnership between PE Public School (pseudonym) in Windsor and ZJY Primary School (pseudonym) in Chongqing (Xu & Connelly, Reciprocal learning in teacher education and school education between Canada and China [SSHRC Partnership Grant, Grant No. 895-2012-1011]. Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, 2013–2020). These intercultural activities included monthly Skype meetings, on-site school visits, school placements, bilingual reading kit development, and participation in international reciprocal learning conferences. Xu, as the co-director of this Canada–China partnership, facilitated relationship building between PE and ZJY sister schools and supported reciprocal learning interactions among their principals, teachers, and students. Deng and Xiang, as the research assistants, were involved in the reciprocal learning process and bore witness to the two Chinese teachers’ professional development during their participation in the partnership. This chapter highlights the significance of fostering intercultural competence among both English and non-English subject teachers in China.