In recent years, an increasing number of university student volunteers have started providing online tutoring services to students from remote mountainous areas in China. These volunteers are bringing knowledge and remotely keeping these students company. Online tutoring services have proven to be beneficial as they can be provided outside of the constraints of time and place. It can solve problems that may occur during face-to-face volunteer teaching services, including inadequate teaching staff, limited coverage of the teaching services, and a lack of variety in the form of teaching.
Ye Sitong is a sophomore at Shaanxi Normal University in Xi’an, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province. She has been tutoring a fourth-grader named Wang Zenghai from a school that provides nine-year compulsory education in Chengguan township, Langao county, Shaanxi. During the 2022 winter vacation, Ye and Wang together read the book “The Chinese Myths” and did exercises for half an hour every day.
Ye Sitong and Wang Zenghai’s online tutoring sessions went beyond just academic help. As Ye Sitong noted, “although we saw each other online, we shared happiness and sorrow with each other.” This relationship between the two was meaningful and built on trust, and it transcended the constraints of distance.
Ye Sitong’s tutoring services have been an excellent example of how online tutoring can make a difference in the lives of students. Her sessions with Wang Zenghai have been especially rewarding. “In the beginning, Wang called me ‘Teacher Ye,’ and as we became familiar with each other, he started to call me ‘Older Sister Ye,’ which made me feel good,” Ye added. This personal touch shows the impact Ye Sitong had on her student and the trust that she had built with him.
The use of technology has made it possible for university students to provide tutoring services to students from remote areas. The convenience of online tutoring has brought benefits such as more flexible scheduling, personalized sessions, and an increased variety of teaching methods. These benefits have made online tutoring an attractive option for many students and their families who live in remote areas.
Shaanxi Normal University selected 150 students to participate in the volunteer teaching program in Chengguan township. This program has been highly beneficial to both students and parents. Ye Sitong, one of the volunteers in the program, communicated with Wang’s mother and discovered that the program built a bridge for communication between the volunteer teachers and the students’ parents. This communication is vital in ensuring that parents have the necessary tools to educate their children.
The online volunteer teaching program was launched in 2021 and involved 10,000 students from 100 universities in China. The program has provided high-quality educational resources for rural students and has remotely helped rural teachers use information technology to facilitate their teaching activities. This program has proven to be highly beneficial to students and teachers alike.
The online volunteer teaching program has given students access to high-quality educational resources that were previously unavailable to them. The program has allowed students to receive personalized attention from volunteer teachers, and they have been able to learn at their own pace. This individualized attention has allowed students to gain a deeper understanding of the subjects they are studying.
Volunteer teachers from universities across China teach an online class every Thursday afternoon to primary school students and students from teaching sites in Gaoling township, Du’an Yao Autonomous County, south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. This weekly class has been highly beneficial to students in rural areas who may not have access to quality education. The program has also given volunteer teachers an opportunity to make a positive impact on the lives of these students.
The online volunteer teaching program has proven to be an effective way to provide quality education to students in rural areas. This program has bridged the gap between rural and urban education and has provided students with the tools they need to succeed. The program has given volunteer teachers an opportunity to give back to their communities and make a difference in the lives of students who need it most.
Wei Deng, the dean of a primary school in Gaoling, spoke highly of the impact of the online volunteer teaching program on students. According to Wei, the students look forward to attending the class, and the teaching content is rich and the methods creative. Wei also mentioned that the program has broadened the students’ horizons and planted the seeds of knowledge-seeking in their minds. This is a testament to the success of the program in providing quality education to students in rural areas.
Chen Yanhui, the first secretary of Jiaquan village in Gaoling township, has observed that many of his classmates and friends who have volunteered as teachers still care about rural education after they enter the workforce. This highlights the positive impact of the program on volunteer teachers and how it has instilled in them a sense of responsibility towards the education of students in rural areas. This kind of long-term commitment from volunteers is crucial in ensuring that students receive sustained support and resources.
Zhao Yanfeng, an associate professor at the School of Chinese as a Second Language at Peking University, is not only a volunteer teacher but also a counselor of the online volunteer teaching program. Zhao’s involvement in the program speaks volumes about the level of commitment and passion shown by the volunteers towards the education of rural students. Zhao’s expertise in Chinese as a Second Language has undoubtedly helped students who may not have had access to such specialized knowledge.
The online volunteer teaching program has been successful in bridging the gap between rural and urban education. Volunteers from top universities in China have been able to share their expertise with students in remote areas. The program has not only provided quality education but has also opened up new horizons for students who may have previously felt limited by their location. The online format of the program has allowed for flexibility in teaching, ensuring that students can learn at their own pace.
The success of the online volunteer teaching program has been made possible by the collective effort of dedicated volunteers, committed educators, and supportive parents. The program has not only provided quality education but has also fostered a sense of community and collaboration between volunteers, educators, and students. This is a promising development that bodes well for the future of education in rural areas in China.
Zhao Yanfeng, the counselor of the online volunteer teaching program, mentioned that the program offers a wide range of courses to improve the overall quality of rural students and teachers. These courses cover various subjects such as calligraphy, music, classical poetry, science, and etiquette. By providing access to these courses, the program aims to broaden the horizons of students in rural areas and equip them with valuable knowledge and skills.
The online volunteer teaching program has introduced new teaching methods to students in rural areas. According to Wei Mengsu, a primary school student in Jiaquan village, the teachers, knowledge, and presentation of the classes are all new. Wei also mentioned that through the classes, they have learned about Confucius, had a virtual tour of the Forbidden City, and learned how to use writing materials such as brush, ink, paper, and ink stone. This highlights how the program has introduced innovative and engaging teaching methods that are not typically available in rural areas.
The courses offered by the online volunteer teaching program have been received positively by students. Wei Mengsu, the primary school student in Jiaquan village, expressed her fondness for the courses and how much she enjoys them. This positive feedback is a testament to the program’s success in providing quality education to students in rural areas and fostering a love of learning among them.
Through the online volunteer teaching program, students in rural areas have been exposed to a diverse range of subjects and teaching methods. This has not only enriched their knowledge but also sparked their interest in learning. The program has provided students with access to high-quality education that would have been otherwise unavailable to them, highlighting the potential of technology and volunteerism to bridge the education gap between rural and urban areas.
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