Teachers express elation over English course

In the letter, the teachers said that the learning opportunities provided by the university's English professors and top primary school English teachers in Tianjin－including Du Hong, a researcher from the education bureau in Tianjin's Hexi district who was one of the few high-level primary school English teachers to be invited to the course－h(huán)elped them improve significantly.

The top-notch training course was part of Tianjin's efforts to help Xinjiang improve its educational capacity and overall development.

In 2019, the university arranged for 180 teachers and graduate students to go to Xinjiang to participate in the first course, according to Yin Qi, Party chief of the university. Eighty trainees－25 from high schools, 25 from junior high schools and 30 from primary schools－were enrolled in the course. The second course was moved to the university.

Last year, only 14 trainees were enrolled due to the pandemic.

Xiang Chengdong, dean of the School of English Studies at the university, said, "Training content is divided into three sections based on what the students need－theory updates, development of teaching proficiency, and language proficiency and self-development."

To the delight of the involved professors, feedback from the trainees showed they were very satisfied with the course.

"They are very positive about this program. They think they have benefited a great deal from the training, and what they have learned is very helpful for their own teaching and self-development," Xiang said.

"Leaders of the local governments in charge of this program think the training has contributed to the development of Xinjiang's education capacity and its economy."