Teaching English: Ningbo, China... Let's Graduate!

2026 signified change, it meant a new year stood before me! The academic year that had started the previous September entered the final throw, time was ticking! Graduation wasn't quite yet on the cards for my students but primary school places were spoken about. The STEAM Exhibition happened, one that would be my last at that bilingual preschool. Another '蓝青' visit?

January 2026 was brief, I returned from my Winter Break with a renewed energy. Christmas played out very different, the plan that I had dramatically fell to be something very different. Now, I feel at peace because those changes worked out for me in a different kind of way, everything happened for a reason! I had spent a lovely Christmas Day and New Year's Eve with my friend, Cemoné. Back to business, I went about my business because we really didn't have long until our Chinese New Year holiday would commence. I would be travelling to England and onto Egypt, there was no question nor doubt in my mind, I needed to fly away! Preparations for the STEAM Exhibition were being made, we had lots of evidence complied and the art museum theme was coming together nicely. February 2026 made an appearance with the final semester standing before me, the beginning of the end was in sight for me! Mona Lisa, who? It was a weird feeling being my third academic year, I had experienced each event twice before! Alright?

K3 was progressing well, the children kept on with their English work and I did my best to teach them. STEAM classes became all about our upcoming event, I found that data collection would become the kids least favourite task to complete. I felt accomplished with the next steps I was about to make, something was cooking up for me, I kept the recipe a secret. Before I knew it, I arrived back from my CNY holiday with that recipe confirmed, myself and the children would all be graduating if you know what I mean? Having a clear direction for the rest of that final semester, I knew that I needed to get the children ready for their transition to primary school. My part of the deal was their English writing because that had the most room for improvement. Our STEAM Exhibition came and went, it signified the final time I Dragged up! The children also dressed up as the different pieces of art works we had studied, a class that Drags together, stays together! 2026 was going fast, May was on the horizon! Soon, it would be our graduation! 

I was ready for my final visit to Ningbo's '新蓝青小学/New Lanqing Primary School', having visited twice before in 2023 and 2024 for the K3 campus tour. The kids in K3 made their way to the school with mixed emotions because the idea of primary school to them wasn't quite serious, they were still enjoying the final throws of their kindergarten life. I found the school to be somewhat improved, less students were in each class and that was a comfort to see. During my first and second visits, I was staggered by the amount of children who were all sitting at their tables, it seemed crowded! The children during that 2026 visit were unfazed to see a foreigner, maybe they actually had a foreign teacher based at the school? My students sat in on a class focussing on Chinese language with a story about a duck and goose the aim of the class. I usually take notes in the children's '汉语课/Chinese Language Class', so I was able to follow the course content. The children weren't challenged to give varied opinions about the outcome of the story.

The gravity of the visit hit home, the kids now released that in a matter of months they would be sat in the same chairs like those Grade 1 students were. I heard many of my students express they didn't like the school because they didn't see a version of me, change was also on their radar! We rapidly got to the stage where courses had been completed, we got to the end of all EFL Phonics content with just review to teach. It was bizarre to start the final few STEAM topics as June almost found us. By the time June had arrived, the children had all shot up in height and personalities had changed, they had grown up a lot! One of my students had secured his place at 'NBIS' with a fair score on his aptitude test, it was a proud moment for me! I already knew that some parents would become friends after graduation, I felt closer to some of them and open communication helped forge those new bonds. I think it's crucial to have a great rapport with parents, their happiness is of paramount importance to me! Truthfully, graduation felt so real! 

Graduation was always going to happen, it was the key that unlocked all of the children's passage to primary school. I also saw this as a group exit because we were 'all' embarking on our own voyages, near and far they would be! We had practiced two songs for the graduation event, the children showed us that they would be fine on the day! Would the weather hold up? An all outdoor event had been planned, we needed to pray that those summer rain showers would swerve our mountain location. Cut to the big day, the gods had answered our graduation prayers with blue skies and balmy temperatures. The children arrived with their parents, it was truly bittersweet because the end had arrived. I definitely had a little cry because these kids had a hold on my heart and the parents were true with their positive remarks. All of the teachers agreed that our parents wanted the kids to be happy and everyday they had loved every moment in Lion Class! Ending with an impressive fireworks display, it was a gorgeous day! We are graduating! 

During my first throws of K3, it wasn't necessary for teachers to provide a gift for their graduating students. 2024s K3 experience saw this become a requirement, with my turn next to return to K3 in 2025, I knew gift gathering would find me soon enough! I knew straight away that being with these children for two academic years had solidified my love for them and my respect for their parents. I didn't really have a clear plan for their graduation present but soon that word became plural as 'presents'. Over one weekend, I decided to make a whole comic book for my students to remember their teachers in a fun and animated way! They have two reading books, a letter from me, a blank writing set and much more. My mum even wrote them a postcard, London themed it needed to be! I wanted a piece of my capital city to remain with them and the UK themed fridge magnet was a must! I gave these bags to the parents during our final PTC meeting. Before the big day, the children practised their songs everyday! We must fly!

My Lovely Lion Class! 

Desperately Seeking Adventure 

Desperately Seeking Adventure