Concordia students teach in mainland China

Published by Concordia University, Nebraska 11 years ago on Sat, Aug 17, 2013 12:35 PM

Front row, left to right, Louisa Mehl, Jessica Polk, Rebecca Monnier, Rev. Dr. Young (President of the Honk Kong Synod), Dr. Vicky Anderson, Molly-Ann Wells, and Emily Barz. Back row, left to right Daniel Gibson, Alicia Wosepka, and Ben Hinckfoot. Hillary Snyder, not pictured.

Ten Concordia Nebraska taught English and American culture to students in grades kindergarten through eighth at Buena Vista Concordia International School for three weeks this summer. BCIS is located in Shenzhen, China, and is the first school in mainland China sponsored by the The Lutheran Church--Hong Kong Synod.

Led by professors of education Dr. Vicki Anderson and Dr. Bernard Tonjes, the Concordia students developed original curricula for each of the summer camp days. The curricula followed daily and weekly themes and included camp activities, vocabulary words, art, music and physical education lessons. Each day also included individual instruction time, while Fridays focused on family programs.

During the camp, the Concordia Nebraska students each taught individual classes for up to eight Chinese students at once. They also offered lessons in music, art and physical education for larger groups of 15 to 20 students at a time.

The camp gave Concordia Nebraska students invaluable experience with cross-cultural teaching and also the opportunity to witness their Christian faith. The Concordia Nebraska students shared the Easter and Christmas stories with students from China, explaining both the cultural and religious ties the holidays carry.

“The coolest thing I think was the day after telling the kids the story of Jesus and his death and resurrection, they asked to hear it again. They loved it,” senior Hannah Uden of Kenesaw, Neb., said. “Even though they may not have fully understood it, you could see God working. That was our purpose on the trip, to tell the story of Jesus, and he worked in and through it.”

Students who taught in China:

Emily Barz, senior, Dubuque, Iowa

Daniel Gibson, ’13, Grand Island, Neb.

Ben Hinckfoot, senior, Colorado Springs, Colo.

Louisa Mehl, senior, Concordia, Mo.

Rebecca Monnier, senior, Bellevue, Neb.

Jessica Polk, senior, Norfolk, Neb.

Hillary Snyder, senior, Dodge City, Kan.

Hannah Uden, senior, Kenesaw, Neb.

Molly Ann Wells, senior, Tonganoxie, Kan.

Alicia Wosepka, ‘13, Ackley, Iowa