On October 19 (last Sunday), the 48th Northern California Chinese School Association held its annual first teaching seminar at the South Bay Overseas Chinese Education Center with the theme “Classroom Management Upgrade Techniques.” The seminar focused on classroom management strategies, activity design, and the application of AI in teaching, attracting nearly 70 teachers.
Director Zhuang Yashu of the Overseas Chinese Education Center expressed that both the center and the Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission hope to be the strongest support for teachers and principals, working together to promote overseas Chinese language education. She thanked the association for organizing high-quality teacher training and all the teachers for their dedication.
Association President Fu Qijun pointed out that the association will become a platform for teacher exchange and support, ensuring that teachers no longer feel isolated on their teaching journey. He encouraged teachers to apply what they learn in the classroom, allowing students to learn Chinese and Chinese culture joyfully.
The seminar was hosted by a team of teachers from Mandarin language schools, with Dr. Wang Zhimei, the team leader, serving as the keynote speaker. Dr. Wang told Epoch Times that current Chinese schools are facing challenges of teacher turnover and declining student enrollment, as teachers also face the pressure of lesson preparation in the era of AI.
Based on her teaching experience and observations, the curriculum aimed to assist teachers in improving the quality of teaching and helping schools retain students and teachers. She hoped that through the seminar, teachers would find passion for life and the joy of teaching, ultimately achieving the goal of children learning happily and growing up contentedly.
Teacher Chen Sijia from the Taiwan Community Center, when interviewed, mentioned that Professor Wang Zhimei was her mentor during her training at the Mandarin language school. She emphasized that despite the widespread use of AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot, teachers should still maintain control of teaching and use AI as a supplement rather than letting it dominate teaching, which is a crucial reminder.
Teacher Li Xiuyan from the Heritage Chinese School and Crosspoint Academy, told Epoch Times that she often uses ChatGPT for lesson preparation, familiar with prompt techniques and AI limitations. She reminded that teachers should design assignments that AI cannot directly answer, guiding students to use AI as a learning aid rather than a replacement for critical thinking. She thanked Professor Wang Zhimei for bringing profound inspiration, allowing teachers to learn to combine AI and education intelligently.