英华校刊 | 第九期《洞察者》正式发布

本期内容

As the recorder of the campus pulse, ‘The Insider’ is always committed to uncovering the deeper values behind the stories.

In this issue, we break away from the norm and for the first time focus on the decision-making core of Zhuhai Oriental Yinghua International Academy of - Headmaster Peter, Principle Mark and Director of School Operations Mandy - to ask about the school's strategic blueprint for development from the perspective of the youth.

Our Insiders use the critical thinking and narrative skills cultivated in Elon University's Emerging Journalist Programme - which we are currently studying - to address social issues through experiential learning, which coincides with the concept of interdisciplinary practice and leadership development in the Zhuhai Oriental Yinghua International Academy. In this series of interviews, senior leaders will reveal for the first time how the school puts ‘global vision’ into teaching practice; from in-depth thinking about AI to effective ways of learning a language as a non-native speaker; management interpret the belief that ‘education is more than just a classroom’, with their actions. 

Follow us as we open the doors of the decision-makers' offices, listen to the logic behind the changes, and witness the breakthrough and growth of an international school.

 From the editor: Sheela

作为校园脉搏的记录者，"Insider"校报始终致力于挖掘故事背后的深层价值。本期，我们突破常规，首次将镜头对准珠海东方外语实验学校英华国际课程项目的决策核心——Peter校长，Mark校监以及校办主任Mandy，以青年视角探问学校发展的战略蓝图。  

观察者们运用从埃隆大学新闻课程中学习到的批判思维与叙事能力，以“体验式学习”为核心，直面社会议题。在信息爆炸的时代，这恰好与珠海英华国际课程体系中，跨学科实践与领导力培养的理念与之不谋而合。本期专访中，高层领导将首度披露学校如何将"全球视野"落地为教学实践：从对AI的深度思考到作为非母语者到有效学习语言的方式，决策者们以行动诠释着“教育不止于课堂”的理念。

跟随我们的笔触，一同揭开决策层办公室的门扉，聆听变革背后的思考逻辑，见证一所国际化学校的破局与新生。

 编辑：鲜甜

Insider: Mandy, thank you for joining us today. Could you start by sharing when and how you first began learning English?

Mandy: Thank you for having me! I first started learning English in the first year of junior high school. At that time, resources were very limited compared to today. We didn't have access to the internet or online courses, and our learning was mostly teacher-led. The biggest challenge was the lack of an immersive English-speaking environment. Most of our classes were taught in Chinese, with only a few hours of English instruction per week.

Insider: That sounds like a tough environment to learn in. How did you manage to overcome those challenges?

Mandy: Well, it sounds tough, but my heart would be filled with joy when I discovered that I could read English stories and understand some English tapes. Therefore, I took the initiative to borrow English storybooks from classmates and repeatedly listened to those few tapes. It was not until later that I realized: I had inadvertently found the key to unlocking English learning—cultivating interest, immersing in authentic language contexts, and emphasizing listening and reading.

Insider: That’s a great strategy! Moving on to your university years, how did your undergraduate studies shape your understanding of English learning?

Mandy: My undergraduate degree was in English, and it was relatively easy for me because I had clear goals: to pass the English Proficiency Tests like TEM-4 and TEM-8. These exams were a significant milestone for me, and they motivated me to study consistently. I realized early on that setting goals is essential in learning. It gives you something concrete to work towards and helps you stay focused.

Insider: And what about your graduate studies? How did they influence your approach to learning?

Mandy: For my graduate studies, I chose to pursue a Master's in Management at City University of Hong Kong. I did this after working for a few years, which gave me a better understanding of what I truly needed and what I was passionate about. I learned that experience in the real world can be just as valuable as academic knowledge. It helps you identify your strengths and weaknesses and guides you towards the right path.

Insider: That’s a valuable lesson. Do you have any specific advice for students choosing their majors?

Mandy: Absolutely. For students choosing their majors, I recommend exploring the bilingual websites of Hong Kong's top universities to research programs and departments. These websites provide detailed information about the curriculum, faculty, and career prospects. Also, take career assessments seriously—they can offer valuable insights into your interests and strengths. Lastly, prioritize your interests. If you love something, you're more likely to turn it into a strength. Passion is a powerful motivator, and it can make the learning process much more enjoyable.

Insider: Great advice! Let’s switch topic? to exam preparation. Many students find the IELTS exam challenging. What are your tips for preparing effectively?

Mandy: Learning English is a long-term process, and I often think of it as an 80/20 rule: 80% of your success comes from consistent accumulation, while 20% comes from techniques. Without a strong foundation, techniques alone won't get you far. You need to immerse yourself in English daily, whether through reading English newspapers, listening to podcasts, or watching English movies.

Insider: That makes sense. How would you suggest students set their short-term goals?

Mandy: Setting specific short-term goals is very important. For example, focus on one div of the IELTS listening test or concentrate on vocabulary or grammar for a few months. Start with the basics, like learning word roots and affixes. These foundational elements will help you understand and remember new words more easily. Once you accumulate enough knowledge, you can connect the dots and develop your listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.

Insider: What about the role of AI in English learning? Can it replace IELTS teachers?

Mandy: AI can't replace IELTS teachers, but it can certainly complement their role. Teachers provide personalized guidance and accurate advice, which is crucial for effective learning. They can offer feedback on your pronunciation, writing style, and overall language use, which AI might not be able to do as effectively. However, AI can handle more routine queries, like explaining word roots and affixes, providing vocabulary lists, or even offering practice exercises. There are many AI-powered apps and platforms that can help you practice listening, speaking, and writing in English. They can provide instant feedback and help you identify areas for improvement.

Insider: So, AI is more of a supplementary tool rather than a replacement?

Mandy: Exactly. While AI is a valuable tool, it should be used in conjunction with traditional teaching methods and human interaction. For nuanced feedback and strategic guidance, a teacher is irreplaceable. AI is great for practice and routine questions, but a teacher can provide a strategic overview which AI can't. For example, a teacher can help you understand the cultural context behind certain expressions or guide you on how to approach different types of questions in the IELTS exam.

Insider: That’s a good perspective. Let’s talk about the IELTS speaking div. Many students are now struggling with answering questions comprehensively. How can they improve?

Mandy: Consistent practice is key. One effective strategy is to create your own mind maps for common IELTS topics. Break them down into smaller parts, such as different aspects of a topic or common question types. For example, if the topic is "Technology," you can create divs for advantages, disadvantages, future trends, and personal experiences.

Insider: That’s a great idea. Any other tips for the speaking div?

Mandy: During the exam, take the lead and steer the conversation towards areas you're confident about. This way, you can showcase your strengths and score higher. Also, try to use a variety of vocabulary and sentence structures to demonstrate your language proficiency. Another great tip is to record yourself speaking English and then listen back to identify issues with grammar, pronunciation, or vocabulary. This self-assessment can help you understand your weaknesses and work on them.

Insider: Excellent advice! Finally, let’s talk about reading versus watching movies. Which do you think is more effective for English learning?

Mandy: While both activities are beneficial, reading is definitely more effective for building a strong foundation. When watching movies, most people focus 70% on body language and emotions, and only 30% on the dialogue. To improve your listening skills, try covering the screen and focusing solely on the audio. This forces you to rely on your listening skills rather than visual cues.

Insider: And what about reading?

Mandy: Reading allows you to see the structure and flow of the language, which is essential for writing and speaking. I highly recommend students to read English novels. Also, I would highly recommend students to read novels written in English by Chinese authors, because we share the same cultural background, making it more relatable and interesting for learners. For example, take a look at the book "Moment in Peking" (京华烟云) by Lin Yutang. The book provides a rich cultural context and uses a wide range of vocabulary and expressions.

Insider: Any other reading tips?

Mandy: Additionally, summarizing key points and engaging in extensive reading can help you develop a deeper understanding and faster comprehension skills. For example, you can read articles from English newspapers or magazines. These sources provide diverse topics and high-quality writing, which can expand your vocabulary and improve your reading speed.

Insider: Thank you so much for sharing your insights, Mandy! Your advice is incredibly valuable for anyone looking to improve their English skills.

Mandy: You're welcome! I'm glad I could share my experiences and tips. Good luck to all the learners out there!

Insider：Mandy，感谢你今天接受我们的采访。能否先和我们分享一下你最初是如何开始学习英语的？

Mandy：我最初是在初中一年级开始学习英语的。那时候，学习资源非常有限，和现在相比差距很大。我们没有网络或在线课程，学习主要依靠老师的教学。最大的挑战是没有一个沉浸式的英语语言环境。我们的大部分课程都是用中文授课，每周只有几个小时的英语课。

Insider：那种环境下学习确实很不容易。你是怎么克服这些困难的呢？

Mandy：那时的学习环境虽艰苦，但当我发现自己能读懂英文故事、听懂一些英语磁带时，内心则会充满喜悦。所以我会主动向同学借英文小故事书、反复聆听那几盘磁带。直到后来我才明白：我无意间找到了开启英语学习的钥匙——拥有兴趣、融入真实语境、注重听力和阅读。

Insider：再聊聊你的大学时光吧，你的本科经历是如何塑造你对英语学习的理解的？

Mandy：我的本科是在国内一所大学的英语专业就读的，对我来说相对轻松，因为我有明确的目标：那就是要通过英语专业四级和八级考试。这些考试对我来说是重要的里程碑，也激励我持续学习。我早早意识到，设定目标对学习至关重要。它能给你一个明确的方向，帮助你保持专注。

Insider：那你的研究生阶段呢？它又是如何影响你对学习的看法的？

Mandy：我的研究生是在香港城市大学读的管理相关专业。我在工作了一段时间后才去读研，这段工作经历让我更清楚自己真正需要什么，也更明白自己的热情所在。我学到的是，现实世界中的经验与学术知识同等重要。它能帮你发现自己的优势和不足，引导你走向正确的道路。

Insider：你对学生选择专业有什么具体的建议吗？

Mandy：对于选择专业的学生，我建议他们查看香港八大高校的双语官网，研究不同专业的课程设置、师资力量和职业前景。这些网站会提供非常详细的信息。同时，认真对待职业测评的结果——它能帮你了解自己的兴趣和优势。最后，优先考虑自己的兴趣。如果你热爱某件事，就更有可能把它变成自己的强项。热情给予我们强大的动力，能让学习过程变得更加有趣。

Insider：我们换个话题，说说考试准备工作。很多学生觉得雅思考试很有挑战性。你有什么有效的备考建议吗？

Mandy：学习英语是一个长期的过程，80%的成功来自于持续的积累，而20%来自于技巧。没有扎实的基础，单靠技巧是走不远的。你需要每天让自己沉浸在英语环境中，无论是读英文报纸、听播客，还是看英文电影。

Insider：那你觉得学生该如何设定短期目标呢？

Mandy：设定具体的短期目标非常重要。比如，你可以专注于雅思听力的某一部分，或者在几个月内集中攻克词汇或语法。从熟悉基础知识开始，比如学习词根和词缀。这些基础知识能帮你更容易地理解和记忆新单词。一旦积累足够的知识，你就能把它们串联起来，发展你的听说读写能力。

Insider：那人工智能在英语学习中的担任角色呢？它能取代雅思老师吗？

Mandy：人工智能无法取代雅思老师，但它可以很好地补充老师的所欠缺的作用。老师能提供个性化的指导和准确的建议，这对有效学习至关重要。他们可以对你的发音、写作风格和整体语言使用提供反馈，这是人工智能可能做不到的。然而，人工智能可以处理一些常规问题，比如解释词根和词缀、提供词汇表，甚至是提供练习题。现在有很多人工智能驱动的应用程序和平台，可以帮助你练习英语的听说写能力。它们可以提供即时反馈，帮助你发现需要改进的地方。

Insider：所以，人工智能更像是一个补充工具，而不是替代品？

Mandy：没错。虽然人工智能是一个很有价值的工具，但它应该与传统的教学方法和人际互动相结合。对于细微的反馈和策略性指导，老师是不可替代的。人工智能擅长练习和常规问题，但老师可以提供人工智能无法比拟的宏观指导。例如，老师可以帮助你理解某些表达背后的文化背景，或者指导你如何应对雅思考试中的不同类型问题。

Insider：这是一个很辩证的看法。我们再聊聊雅思口语部分。很多学生在回答问题时不够全面。他们该如何改进呢？

Mandy：持续练习是关键。一个有效的策略是为常见的雅思话题制作思维导图。把它们分解成更小的部分，比如话题的不同方面或常见问题类型。例如，如果话题是“科技”，你可以创建关于优势、劣势、未来趋势和个人经历的板块。

Insider：那还有其他口语部分的建议吗？

Mandy：在考试中，要主动引导对话，把它引向你擅长的领域。这样你可以展示你的优势，从而获得更高的分数。同时，尝试使用多样化的词汇和句式结构来展现你的语言能力。还有一个很好的建议是，用录音设备录下自己说英语，然后回放，找出语法、发音或词汇方面的问题。这种自我评估能帮你了解自己的不足，并加以改进。

Insider：关于阅读和看电影。你觉得哪个对英语学习更有效？

Mandy：虽然两者都有益，但阅读对建立扎实基础更有帮助。看电影时，大多数人的注意力70%在肢体语言和情感上，只有30%在台词上。为了提高听力能力，你可以尝试遮住屏幕，只专注于音频。这会迫使你依靠听力，而不是视觉线索。

Insider：那阅读呢？有什么具体的方法可以使用？

Mandy：阅读能让你看到语言的结构和流程，这对写作和口语表达至关重要。因此我强烈建议学生们尝试阅读英文小说。此外，我推荐学生们可以尝试阅读中国作家用英语创作的小说，因为我们有着相同的文化背景，情感上更容易产生共鸣，也更有趣味性。比如，不妨读一读林语堂写的《京华烟云》这本书，这本书展现了丰富的文化背景，并且运用了大量的有趣英文词汇来表达我们中国人的思想。

Insider：还有其他阅读建议吗？

Mandy：此外，总结要点并进行广泛阅读，能帮助你更深入地理解内容，提高阅读速度。例如，你可以阅读各种英文报纸或杂志。这些资源涵盖了多种话题，提供了高质量的写作，能扩大你的词汇量并提高阅读速度。

Insider：非常感谢你分享这些见解，Mandy！你的建议对任何想提高英语水平的人来说都非常有价值。

Mandy：不客气！我很高兴能分享我的经验和建议。祝所有学习者好运！记住，持之以恒和热情是成功的关键。

学生的收获

 Q: What did you expect before you interviewed Mandy? 

  A1:   At first, we had no clue about what to ask. We didn't even know who Mandy was at first. However, Tim gave us a chance to get to know Mandy. We learned that she is very good at IELTS, especially in reading, and has a very unique personal experience of choosing a major, which is something that concerns us nowadays. So we thought, why don’t we gather and ask questions in these areas.

Q: What have you learned from the interview? 

  A2:   In fact, as international students, we were eager to hear professional sharing and English knowledge from an authoritative teacher. Besides, Mandy introduced her expertise in management and also provided us with recommendations regarding major selection. This has further made us realize that choosing a major is indeed a profound area of study. In terms of English, she explained the knowledge about the IELTS to us, covering listening, speaking, reading, and writing. As an IELTS teacher with a score of 7.5 herself, the suggestions Mandy put forward have truly been of great help to us. So, in general, we have learned quite a few tips in learning English and some stories about Mandy herself, which are especially helpful in times of applying season like that.

  Q: Kelly from Elon University and Tim both coached you on Question Branching and the structure of great questions; how did this help your preparation? 

  A3:   This experience has been extremely helpful to me, as it has given me a more concrete understanding of how to ask better questions. For example, I have learned to use open questions, closed questions, alternative questions, and questions to guide conversations. These techniques have not only inspired my thinking but also deepened my understanding of questioning, making me more professional. Now, I have a clearer train of thought when asking questions and can more effectively gather the information I need. In addition to questioning techniques, I have also learned from them how to become a professional journalist. Their composure, attention to detail, and meticulousness have deeply inspired me and given me more confidence for future interviews. I believe that these experiences and skills will help me perform even better in my future interviews.

 Q: As a student, what was the hardest thing you discovered when you conducted the interview? 

  A4:   The difficulty we encountered was that we were not very familiar with Mandy and had no idea how to initiate a conversation with her. As a result, we were rather nervous and reserved at the very beginning of the interview, which prevented us from performing at our best and caused the progress to fall short of our expectations. However, as we talked more, we got increasingly familiar with each other. Subsequently, the interview progressed rapidly, and both the questions we raised and the answers we received were of high quality. Maybe next time we can do some small talks right before our interview so we can prepare better.

  Q: What is the biggest mistake you guys made? 

  A5:   As we mentioned, we focused on the English and professional questions. On one hand, we can generate our questions effectively, but on the other hand, it makes the interview harder to organize. Because Mandy is a talker, we were constantly checking whether she had answered our other questions at the same time or not, or maybe we focused too much on that.

  Q: Next time, what would you do differently? 

  A6:   In this interview, we have summarized our own shortcomings: Some of the questions were relatively repetitive, and there were also some low-quality questions. During the interview, there were moments when our minds suddenly went blank, and we didn't know what question to ask next. Therefore, for the next interview, we will formulate a more comprehensive pre-interview plan. We will make a detailed plan specifying which questions to ask at what time, identifying which questions are backup options and which ones are the main-line questions, and fully apply the interview knowledge taught by Tim.

- 问题：在采访Mandy之前，你们有什么预期吗？

- 回答1：一开始，我们不知道该问些什么。我们甚至一开始都不知道Mandy是谁。然而，Tim给了我们一个了解Mandy的机会。我们了解到她在雅思方面非常出色，尤其是在阅读方面，并且她在选择专业方面有着独特的个人经历，这正是我们如今关心的问题。于是我们想，为什么不围绕这些领域来提问呢？

- 问题：从采访中你们学到了什么？

- 回答2：事实上，作为国际学生，我们渴望听到权威教师的专业分享和英语知识。此外，Mandy介绍了她在管理领域的专业知识，并就专业选择给我们提供了建议。这进一步让我们意识到，选择专业确实是一个深刻的研究领域。在英语方面，她向我们解释了雅思的知识，涵盖听力、口语、阅读和写作。作为一名自己考了7.5分的雅思老师，Mandy提出的建议对我们真的很有帮助。总的来说，我们在学习英语方面学到了很多技巧，还有一些关于Mandy自己的故事，这些在申请季特别有帮助。

- 问题：Kelly(来自埃隆大学）和Tim都指导了如何,这对你们的准备有什么帮助？

- 回答3：这次经历对我帮助极大，因为它让我对如何提出更好的问题有了更具体的理解。例如，我学会了使用开放式问题、封闭式问题、选择性问题和引导对话的问题。这些技巧不仅启发了我的思考，还加深了我对提问的理解，使我更加专业。现在，我在提问时思路更清晰，能够更有效地收集我需要的信息。除了提问技巧外，我还从他们那里学到了如何成为一名专业记者。他们的镇定、对细节的关注和严谨态度深深启发了我，为我未来的采访增添了更多信心。我相信这些经验和技能将帮助我在未来的采访中表现得更好。

- 问题：作为一名学生，在进行采访时你发现最困难的是什么？

- 回答4：我们遇到的困难是我们对Mandy不太熟悉，不知道该如何与她开始对话。因此，在采访的最开始，我们相当紧张和拘谨，这阻碍了我们发挥出最佳水平，导致采访进展没有达到我们的预期。然而，随着我们交谈得更多，我们彼此越来越熟悉。随后，采访进展迅速，我们提出的问题和得到的答案质量都很高。也许下次我们可以在采访前进行一些闲聊，以便更好地做好准备。

- 问题：你们犯的最大错误是什么？

- 回答5：正如我们提到的，我们专注于英语和专业问题。一方面，我们可以有效地提出问题，但另一方面，这使得采访更难组织。因为Mandy是一个健谈的人，我们一直在检查她是否同时回答了我们其他的问题，或者也许我们太专注于这一点了。下次会做不同的事情

- 问题：下次你会做些什么不同的事情？

- 回答6：在这次采访中，我们总结了自己的不足之处：有些问题相对重复，也有一些质量较低的问题。在采访过程中，有时我们的大脑突然一片空白，不知道接下来该问什么问题。因此，对于下一次采访，我们将制定一个更全面的采访前计划。我们将制定一个详细的计划，规定在什么时间问哪些问题，确定哪些问题是备用选项，哪些是主线问题，并充分运用Tim教授的采访知识。