Foreign Exchange Teacher Arrives at Las Lomas
There are many whose souls, whether consciously or unconsciously, have developed a deep wanderlust. Yet, few pursue the path of foreign exchange teacher. Such is the case of Liu Zhen, a foreign exchange teacher from Beijing, China, who will soon be gracing the halls of Las Lomas, hosted by Ms. Jamie Greer. Zhen is a 24-year old English teacher in a prestigious Chinese graduate school, and has already attempted to pursue her career in the city of Shaanxi.
The US-China Exchange Council payed for Zhen to come here to observe the differences between the Chinese and American educational systems. She will be observing Ms. Greer’s class from March 5th-23rd, focusing on student/teacher relations. To quote Ms. Greer, who is volunteering to host her, “Most school work is done on an individual level [in China].” The administration and teachers have prepared a memorable welcome for this exchange teacher. Ms. Greer stated, “I think it would be wonderful if we could provide a platform for a school-wide welcome.” Having assembled a meetup during some of her Academy periods, Ms. Greer has, with her students, made plans for a welcoming bag, which will contain various items from American culture. Hopefully the hospitality of Ms. Greer stretches to other teachers, like Ms. Gieleghem, who is also taking an exchange teacher into her classroom. “Zhen is one of eight exchange teachers that will be sprinkled throughout the district. There were supposed to be 20, but there were issues approving visas,” says Ms. Greer.
Thanks to the work of the US-China Exchange Council, and Amy McNamara, the superintendent in charge of this program at the district office, Liu Zhen has been fortunate enough to enjoy the experience of a lifetime. As Las Lomas Knights, let us leave a positive impression by providing a welcoming environment and being her favorite high school of all time.
