Teachers offer their wisdom offshore

More than 20 foreign teachers from 10 countries at a college in Hunan province have begun teaching classes online, as schools in the country are suspended during the coronavirus outbreak.

The foreign teachers at Hunan College of Foreign Studies, many of whom went abroad during the winter break, now get up early to overcome time differences.

A teacher named Diogo teaches Portuguese at the college but lives in Brazil now. He has to overcome an 11-hour time difference. He also has to attract students in creative new ways. For example, he collects popular Portuguese songs and makes them available online.

Some foreign teachers who were in Hunan during the winter break have coordinated with their Chinese colleagues to work out better teaching methods and improve their skills.

Xiao Jian’an, vice-president of the college, said many of the foreign teachers work hard and contribute greatly to the college.