20/4/11

International Students in China

Đang tìm hiểu về Internationalization, tình cờ đọc được bài viết về sinh viên quốc tế học tại TQ, trong đó VN nằm trong top 5 những nước có nhiều sinh viên học tại TQ. Điều này nói lên được gì? Chà, anh bạn láng giềng cũng hấp dẫn SV VN đấy chứ?
Oh..How about international students in Vietnam???


As an important component of international exchanges and cooperation, international students education has been given great importance by the Chinese government. Due to half-century's painstaking efforts, an international students administration system, with distinct Chinese characteristics, has been constructed. This system has helped to produce a number of talents in the fields of science, technology, education, diplomacy, management, etc. for many countries, especially developing countries, and played an active role in enhancing the political, diplomatic and economic ties between China and those countries as well as promoting the exchange of culture, education and personnel.


In 1950, China received the first group of 33 students from the East European countries. By the end of 2000, the total number of international students in China has increased to 407,000. They are from more than 160 different countries. Among them, Chinese Government Scholarship students numbered 88,000, whereas self-financed students reached 317,000. Since 1997, the Chinese Scholarships Council (CSC) has been entrusted by the Ministry of Education with the enrollment and administration of daily operations concerning international students in China sponsored by Chinese Government Scholarships.


Since 1978 when China initiated her reform and opening-up policy, international students education has entered into a new stage. From 1979 to 1999, the total number of international students studying in China reached 342,000 person-times. China has been successful in maintaining social and political stability and the rapid growth of economy, and this in return gives rise to the international students. In 1996, the total of international students reached 41,000, an increase by 30% over 1992. Furthermore, the enrollment of self-financed students made such a big stride that it has surpassed that of scholarship students, and became the main stream of the international students.


The outbreak of SARS in 2003 had brought great difficulties. In order to implement the 2003-2007 Action Plan for Rejuvenating Education, the Ministry of Education had worked creatively on the policy of "expand the size, raise the level, guarantee the quality and regulate the management". The difficulties that SARS had caused were surmounted and the number of the students was basically stabilized. Totally 77,715 students of different types from 175 countries were accepted by 353 Chinese higher education institutions.


International students from Asia still top the list of all, totaled 63,672, accounting for 81.93% (see Graphic 1). While 6,462 students are from Europe, accounting for 8.31%; 4,703 from America, accounting for 6.05%; 1,793 from Africa, accounting for 2.31%, and 1085 from Oceania, accounting for 1.04%.




South Korea, Japan, the United States, Vietnam and Indonesia are the top five countries that have the largest numbers of international students in China, numbered 35,353, 12,765, 3,693, 3,478, and 2,563 respectively. Other countries, which have over 1,000 students in China, are Thailand (1,554), Germany (1,280), Russia (1,224), Nepal (1,199) and Mongolia (1,060).



According to the agreements or programs signed by Chinese government and the governments of other countries as well as international organizations, China's Ministry of Education offered to 163 countries Chinese Government Scholarships in 2003.With the 1,879 new numbers, actually 6,153 foreign students were admitted, making up 7% of total number, of which Asia students amounted to 3,076, covered 50% of the total, European students 1,442, 23%, Africa 1,244, 20%, America 305, 5%, Oceania 86, 1.4%. With the principle of raising the level of scholarship students, Ph.D students increased to 609, Master Degree students added up to 1,350, and undergraduate students 1,754. In addition, 123 students were benefited from the other scholarship provided by Chinese Government, including the Great Wall Scholarship, the Excellent Student Scholarship, the HSK Winner Scholarship, the short-term program for foreign teachers of Chinese and the Chinese culture research program. As for the self-financed students, the enrolment has expanded to 71,562, among them, short-term students (who studied for less than 6 months) numbered 13,202, whereas long-term students who studied in China for over 6 months (including 6 months) numbered 58,360.


In accordance with the relevant regulations on the management of Chinese Government Scholarship formulated by the Ministry of Education, to reinforce the management of Chinese Government Scholarship and to bring its benefits and effects into full play, the Ministry of Education of China entrusts China Scholarship Council (CSC) to take charge of the organization and implementation of Annual Review of the Chinese Government Scholarship students. And the institutions are entitled to give Annual Review to their own scholarship students.


To convenience international students, along with some consulting booklets, the China Scholarship Council (CSC) and Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE), directly under the Ministry of Education, also provide on-line enrollment and information consulting.


On February 16, 1998, the Conference on Study by Foreign Students in China was convened, which, coming up with the policy of "deepening reform, improving management and guaranteeing educational quality to achieve vigorous and steady development", the former State Education Commission, analyzed the new circumstances faced by the international students education and consequently laid down tasks to be fulfilled in recent years. This is a milestone in Chinese international students education.

www.study-in-china.org/LivingInChina/CampusLife/20109102047467333.htm

Vai trò của TA (Teaching Assistant)

Nhìn thấy các giáo sư bên trường tôi đang học nghĩ lại thương các thầy cô (xin gọi chung là vậy vì ở VN có thầy cô là giáo sư, PGS, TS, Th.s và CN, còn bên đây thì hoàn toàn thầy cô là GS và thấp nhất cũng là trợ lý GS). Tôi không có ý so sánh hay phân biệt nhưng thực tế là như thế mà.
Nhưng tại sao tôi lại thương???
là vì:
Thấy hàng ngày các thầy cô VN "đầu tắt mặt tối" với công tác giảng dạy. Sáng dạy, chiều dạy và tối lại dạy (lớp tại chức, nghiệp vụ...). Nhiều thầy cô cũng như "sao" chạy hết sô này đến sô khác. Để làm gì? xin thưa là vì "cơm áo gạo tiền", không có tiền sao sống nổi??? Thế là GV chỉ có một chức năng duy nhất là giảng dạy. Nhưng mà...thực sự thì chức năng của GV đại học đâu chỉ là giảng dạy. Nếu xét về chức năng của các trường đại học thì ngay từ khi ra đời chức năng đầu tiên và đích thực của đại học là "nghiên cứu" (cái này tôi đã được học trong môn So sánh giáo dục đại học). Ơ vậy, hóa ra chức năng chính của GV là nghiên cứu chứ không phải là giảng dạy. Vậy nhưng hiện nay ở VN thì ngược lại.
Thế nên, dạy nhiều thì lấy thời gian đâu ra nghiên cứu? mà nghiên cứu thì lấy đâu ra tiền để sống vì ở ta đâu có tiền nghiên cứu được cấp hàng tháng như các GS ở đây?
Tuy nhiên, vấn đề ở đây không phải là giảng dạy nhiều hơn hay nghiên cứu nhiều hơn mà làm sao để GV giảm nhẹ công việc trong công tác giảng dạy để có thời gian tập trung cho công việc nghiên cứu hơn. Một giải pháp mà tôi thấy các GS ở trường tôi thực hiện và mang lại hiệu quả rất nhiều. Đó chính là việc sử dụng TA để hỗ trợ cho công tác giảng dạy, nhằm gảm bớt "gánh nặng" giảng dạy.

Tôi tìm thấy một bài về Vai trò của TA và lưu lại đây để lúc có thời gian viết về vấn đề này.

The Role of a Teaching Assistant
The role of Teaching Assistants in schools has developed considerably and quickly in recent times. It is a role, which is continuing to evolve and it is not easy to provide a straightforward description as working practices for Teaching Assistants do vary across different schools. Nevertheless, these frequently asked questions should serve as a useful outline to anyone who wishes to understand more about what the role of Teaching Assistant involves.
Why are different titles used to describe support staff who are employed to work under the
direction of a teacher to support children’s learning?

Different schools may have different titles to describe the role:
- Learning support Assistant (LSA)
- Classroom Assistant
- Curriculum Assistant
- Teaching Assistant
The DfES uses the term Teaching Assistant. The differing titles may reflect a different emphasis of the role in particular schools. If you are applying for a job with any of the titles listed above you can expect the school to provide a job description which will outline your responsibilities.
What does the role of Teaching Assistant involve?
As already mentioned the emphasis of the role can vary from school to school. However, there are National Training Standards for Teaching Assistants, which summarise the key areas of responsibility:
- Support classroom management and assist with general administration
- Help manage pupil behaviour.
- Support pupils’ health, safety and emotional/ social development.
- Establish relationships with learners.
- Help pupils to access the curriculum.
- Support the development and effectiveness of work teams.
- Work with other professionals
- Liaise effectively with parents.
This is not a definitive statement of the roles undertaken by Teaching Assistant but it does give an overview of what can be expected of a TA.
For a more detailed summary see www.lgnto.gov.uk
What sort of tasks do Teaching Assistants undertake in schools?
In addition all Teaching Assistants need to:
- Encourage acceptance and inclusion of all children in the class.
- Promote the self-esteem of learners and contribute to a positive classroom environment.
- Act as a good role model by the way they interact with the pupils.
(Ealing LEA)
Teaching Assistant Tracking
The role of the teaching assistant is increasingly changing. The tracking day is an opportunity to see
how they work and what impact they have on the teaching and learning environment.
As a student teacher you will need to provide evidence of your work in this area against the following standards;
Q5, Q19, Q20, Q25a, Q32, Q33
(Warwick Partnership)
During the day I would like you to ask them some questions ready for discussion during the review.
•What lead you to becoming a TA?
•What are the main aspects of your job?
• What types of special educational needs do you work with?
• How are pupils’ needs identified?
• What do you see as the most important part of your role?
• What is the most rewarding aspect of your role?
• What is the most challenging aspect of your role?
• How can teachers work with teaching assistants more effectively?
During the observation, where possible, note the different approaches that the teaching assistant takes with pupils. For example, do they work closely with a pupil for the whole lesson or do they set up a task then withdraw to work with others.
How do the teachers interact with the teaching assistants? Do teaching staff give explicit instructions to the teaching assistants or are they required to work independently?
Where possible do not to just sit at the back of the class but be with the teaching assistant.

Cần lưu lại những ý tưởng nhỉ?

Thời gian này tôi bận quá. Muốn viết cái gì đó lên blog mà không có thời gian. Sau nhiều tuần mệt mỏi cho cái full paper gửi conference và hàng chuỗi những bài báo cáo trên lớp cùng với việc chuẩn bị proposal để bảo vệ vào tháng 6. Mệt thật!
Thế nhưng tôi phải cố gắng thôi chứ biết sao giờ. Tôi luôn cảm thấy vui khi mình bận rộn mà, cảm thấy sống có ý nghĩa hơn.
Từ ngày ra nước ngoài (gọi là nước ngoài nghe cho oách chứ tôi chỉ học ở một quốc đảo rất gần Việt Nam thôi!) học được rất nhiều mà tôi chỉ lưu giữ trong đầu chứ không viết lại thành ra nhiều khi ý tưởng bị lãng quên. Thế nên cách tốt nhất là phải lưu lại bằng cách viết ra để có tư liệu cho công việc sau này nứa chứ.
Việc lưu giữ lại ý tưởng rất quan trọng. Nếu có ý tưởng mà chỉ giữ trong đầu thôi thì mãi chỉ là ý tưởng, nên ghi chép lại để phát triển những ý tưởng của mình, có thể là nháp thôi cũng được nhưng nó sẽ là tư liệu rất tốt đúng không?
Thế nhỉ? bắt tay vào công việc thôi, và cố gắng thực hiện nó chứ đừng chỉ nói thôi nhé!