From July 19 to August 8, 12 students from the CULR, led by teachers Zou Yuwei and Liang Yi, went to the Nipissing University and the Canadore College in Canada for a 21-day innovative practice and study visit.
During the study visit, the CULR’s teachers and students went into the classrooms of Nipissing University and Canadore College to experience the English classroom environment, and visited the campuses and libraries of the two institutions. They also followed Canadian teachers to visit the local farms (Leisure Park), Atlas Copco, North Bay City Hall, a trade union organization in Ontario (OPSEU), the local volunteer service center (Capitol Center), St. Joseph Collard High School, the University of Toronto, the University of Montreal, North Bay City Library, etc. This study visit was met with strong support from two institutions. The Canadore College also invited the Mayor of North Bay city, the Chief of the Police Service, and local Indigenous people to introduce the work and operation mechanism of the North Bay city government, judicial mechanisms, as well as the history, culture, relevant policies, and living conditions of North American Indigenous people to the teachers and students, inviting them to experience the unique cuisine, handicrafts, and singing and dancing activities of the Indigenous people. Through multidimensional activities such as classroom teaching, role-playing, simulated elections, simulated courtrooms, speeches, and inspections, the students have gained a deeper understanding of Canada's agriculture, industry, government, trade unions, education, judicial mechanisms, volunteer service mechanisms, social security mechanisms, as well as the geography and culture of various provinces in Canada.
During the visiting period, the CULR’s students actively participated in classroom discussions and asked questions or expressed views in English. Their positive outlook and team spirit of unity and cooperation have won praise from the Canadian school authorities. At the end of the practical study visit, the CULR’s students presented speeches in English one by one on stage, reviewing what they had learned during the visit. Richard Peters, Vice President of Canadore College, presented the completion certificates of the practical study courses to all the students. Those who have completed the learning and practical tasks during the visiting period and met the assessment standards will receive one public elective course credit.
This is the first time the CULR has organized a group of teachers and students on an innovative practice and study visit to Canada. This visit has opened the door for educational exchange between the CULR and Canadian universities, and made the CULR's practical teaching models even more diverse. It is a fruitful and beneficial exploration. Through the study visit, the students have personally experienced the Western culture, gained an insight into the operating mechanisms of Western society, broadened their international perspective, and improved their innovation and practical capabilities. Moreover, the students also promoted cultural exchange between China and Canada by showcasing the spirit of Chinese university students to the Canadian people: young people who are thirsty for knowledge, hard-working and enterprising.
The Nipissing University in Canada, whose predecessor is the North Bay Normal School, offers a range of bachelor's and master's degree programs in humanities, sciences, business, healthcare, and arts. Among them, its teacher education is particularly famous in Canada. Established in 1967, Canadore College is a public advanced vocational education college under the Ontario Ministry of Education in Canada. It offers a wide range of applied professional courses, including preschool education, cooking, nursing, aviation, computer science, numerical control, automotive repair, photography, and more. The two institutions, which share campus facilities and venues, are located on the banks of the Laurentian Mountains and Nipissing Lake, where there are beautiful scenery and a safe and peaceful surrounding community.
(Academic Affairs Office, Higher Vocational College)