Andria Di Turi takes time out from planning lessons to explore the city of Shanghai

This was reality for Andria Di Turi, and 18 other SFU Education students who spent the Spring 2007 semester teaching in Dalian, China. Dalian Maple Leaf International School (DMLIS), a certified, independent school that uses B.C. curriculum to teach English-speaking students in grades 10 – 12 from all over the world, including Canadian, Japanese, Korean, Icelandic, and Israeli youth. The DMLIS is the first high school in B.C. history to venture into an opportunity like this in which the students study in and graduate with diplomas for both the B.C. curriculum in addition to their Chinese curriculum.

The multicultural classroom is a growing reality today in Canada. International Teacher Education Modules (ITEM) such as this one in Dalian is an example of how International Programs and Professional Programs in the Faculty of Education aims to have the teachers of tomorrow understand first-hand where our students are coming from, as well as cultural and multicultural issues. ITEM programs strive to prepare novice teachers for life in pedagogy by offering a rich experience fusing the life of a teacher with that of a global classroom.

“The experience in Dalian was amazing; it was really eye-opening and I have learned so much about a culture and country that, in all honesty, I thought I would never see,” says Di Turi. “I am so much more aware of cultural issues now that I have had this experience and I would do it again in an instant.”

An experience of a lifetime indeed. Di Turi and the other student teachers had the opportunity to also explore China’s capital city, Beijing, the northeastern city of Harbin and for some, Shanghai and the bustling metropolitan life.

“Beijing’s historical sites were awe-inspiring; the Great Wall left me speechless, as did my firsthand experience of Spring Festival in Harbin and the way the Chinese ring in the new lunar year with a barrage of fireworks, endless dumplings and Hóng Bāo (red lucky money),” explains Di Turi. “The history and cultural lessons that I learned while traveling in China turned out to be just as important as the educational ones and I look forward to incorporating them into my studies and future classroom practices.”

With yet another international endeavour under its belt, the Faculty of Education’s International Programs hopes to see interest continue to grow in the globalization and internationalization of education.  For more information about the Dalian or other international teaching opportunities, go to the PDP's International webpage or contact kdjung@sfu.ca.