创造“想不到”的感受，Mr.Max的课有什么不一样？
〈 Swipe for English
到今年11月，Mr.Max已经在HPA度过了整整两年。作为ELA老师（英语语言艺术教师）与Homeroom老师（驻班班主任），他不仅在知识的传授上不断突破，更通过细腻的情感引导，让学生们在课堂内外都能感受到生活的深刻与精彩。
Max老师始终秉持着自己心中的教育使命——让每一堂课都充满探索与惊喜，创造学生们意想不到的感受。
今天，我们将走近这位教育者，听听他在HPA的点滴经历，分享他与学生们一同成长、学习的宝贵瞬间。
* ELA，English Language Arts，英语语言艺术，可以理解为英语母语者的“语文课”。
* Homeroom Teacher，驻班班主任，HPA拥有中外教双班主任制，班主任老师办公教学管理等全天固定在特定班级。
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This November marks the second anniversary of Mr. Max at HPA. As an ELA (English Language Arts) teacher and Homeroom teacher, he has continually broken new ground in both knowledge delivery and emotional guidance, making his classes an immersive journey that resonates deeply with students—inside and outside the classroom.
Mr. Max has stayed true to his educational mission: to make every lesson a discovery, to infuse it with surprise, and to create moments that students never saw coming.
Today, let’s take a closer look at his journey at HPA and hear about the invaluable moments of learning and growth he shares with his students.
01
万物皆成趣，万物皆可学
Finding Joy in Everything: A Classroom Full of Fun and Learning
〈 Swipe for English
如何让英语学习充满乐趣，让非母语的孩子们主动用英语去表达与沟通？Max老师有着独到的方式。
他用自己亲手设计的emoji表情小人，把幽默和创意融入课堂的每一个细节，让孩子们在不知不觉中学到知识。每一个表情小人，都在课件中悄然出现，带着孩子们轻松打破语言学习的难关。
他说：“我希望我的学生们对学习保持好奇心，喜欢问‘为什么’。这正是我教学的一部分目标。我会通过图像、视频等多种方式让课堂充满惊喜，让学生们在轻松愉快的氛围中爱上学习。”
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How can English learning be made fun and engaging for non-native speakers? Mr. Max’s approach is unique and creative. He has designed a series of emoji characters that appear in his lessons, cleverly weaving humor and creativity into every detail. These playful characters guide students through the learning process, breaking down language barriers almost without them noticing.
“I want my students to stay curious and keep asking ‘why.’ This is a key part of my teaching philosophy,” says Mr. Max. “I use images, videos, and other creative tools to add surprise and excitement to my lessons, creating an environment where students love learning.”
〈 Swipe for English
Max老师不仅仅停留在传统的讲授模式上，课堂内容也不拘泥于单一的形式。
“我们班的孩子目前已经进入了初中，我的课堂比起以前加入了更多的PBL项目制学习的内容，主题非常广泛，目的是让学生自己去探究和感受处理问题的过程，自己解决并找到答案。”
PBL（Project-based Learning）项目式教学源于教育学家杜威提出的“做中学”教育理念，学生通过一段时间内对真实的、复杂的问题进行探究，并从中获得知识和技能并学以致用。目前，PBL项目式学习法在欧美被中小学普遍采用。
《蚂蚁的生活与时间》项目，让同学们了解不同生物在世界上扮演的不同角色，通过研究蚂蚁的分工、搬运方式，设计出词汇游戏，穿过蚂蚁挖掘的隧道和头尾相接的桥梁去解密拼词宝藏。
这个项目让学生们体会到团队合作的重要性，也激发了他们思考如何将蚂蚁的协作精神运用到日常生活和人际交往中。
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Mr. Max’s classes aren’t confined to traditional lecture formats. He continuously explores diverse teaching methods and has introduced PBL (Project-Based Learning) to his lessons. PBL, an educational philosophy rooted in Dewey's “learning by doing,” encourages students to explore real-world issues and acquire both knowledge and skills in the process.
PBL (Project-based Learning) originated from the educationalist Dewey put forward the concept of ‘doing secondary school’ education, students through a period of time on the real, complex problems to explore, and from which to obtain knowledge and skills and learn to use. At present, PBL is commonly used in primary and secondary schools in Europe and the United States.
One such project, *The Life and Time of Ants*, had students studying the social structure and behaviors of ants, culminating in a vocabulary game that involved navigating ant tunnels and constructing word bridges. This project emphasized the value of teamwork and sparked discussions on how to apply collaborative principles in real-life interactions.
〈 Swipe for English
《哈利波特的魔杖》项目，每个同学都被分配到了50页的原版小说阅读任务，牢记书中的细节进行知识抢答，并完成了属于自己的原创魔杖故事的创作。
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Another highlight was the *Harry Potter Wand* project, where students read 50 pages of the original book, answered trivia questions, and created their own original wand stories, delving deeper into both English literature and creativity.
〈 Swipe for English
本学期的《救助流浪猫》是同学们最喜欢的一个项目，源于同学们和中方班主任Mr.Matthew一起在校园草丛围篱里偶然发现了2只刚出生的流浪猫。同学们分组进行英文海报宣传、设计募捐以及领养计划，帮小猫找到新家。这不仅是一次有关英语应用的学习，更是一次关于爱心和责任的实践。
万物皆成趣，万物皆可学，Max老师的课堂，让学生们从“课堂”到“生活”，在探索中收获知识、提升能力，也在其中找到了更多的乐趣与意义。
一直浸润在多元文化的成长环境里的Mr.Max，对所有的人和事保持着开放的态度，在探究与理解世界的过程中，也将这种思维方式和学习能力带给学生，去拥抱人生的更多可能性。
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One of the most beloved projects this semester was *Rescuing Stray Kittens*, born from the discovery of two newborn kittens in the school’s hedges. Students worked together to design English-language posters, organize fundraising efforts, and create adoption plans to find the kittens a new home. This project blended language learning with empathy, responsibility, and community involvement.
Mr. Max’s classroom is a space where knowledge and joy intertwine, where learning extends beyond textbooks into the very fabric of everyday life. Immersed in a multicultural environment, he encourages his students to embrace different perspectives and explore the infinite possibilities the world has to offer.
02
不想只做老师，也想做你们的大朋友
Not Just a Teacher, but a Big Friend
〈 Swipe for English
作为班主任老师，关注学术以外每个学生的身心健康、协调维系各项关系是日常最主要的工作在担任班主任时，Max老师不仅注重学术成绩，更加关心学生们的身心发展与情感需求。他认为，教育不仅仅是知识的传授，更是建立信任、理解和支持的过程。
他说：“我有时候会表现得很严肃，甚至让外人觉得我在生气，但其实我和我的学生们之间已经建立了深厚的信任。他们知道我的严厉背后是帮助他们成长的心意，他们从来不会害怕我，也不会回避与我交流。”
Max老师更希望自己能成为学生们的朋友，而非单纯的教师。与学生们的互动不仅限于课堂，课外活动也是他与学生们建立情感联系的一个重要途径。
“我和他们聊聊兴趣爱好，谈谈课外活动，甚至会一起分享彼此的生活琐事。我很高兴看到学生们愿意与我分享他们的世界，他们信任我，这让我感到非常珍贵。”
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As a Homeroom teacher, Mr. Max’s role goes beyond academics. He prioritizes the emotional and social well-being of each student, fostering a sense of trust and connection that transcends the typical teacher-student relationship.
“Sometimes I appear strict, and people might think I’m angry, but my students know that my firmness comes from a place of care. They’ve come to understand that I’m always trying to help them grow,” he shares. “I don’t want to be just a teacher; I want to be their friend.”
Building this friendship extends beyond the classroom. Mr. Max engages with students on their personal interests, shares in their extracurricular activities, and even exchanges life stories. “It’s so fulfilling when my students feel comfortable enough to share their world with me,” he says. “That trust is incredibly valuable.”
〈 Swipe for English
当问到在HPA有什么印象深刻的事？Mr.Max回答的全是和同学们参与的各种各样的活动：filed trip去徒步去露营、亲水日打水仗、运动会师生PK……
孩子们集体化身“夸夸团”成员，花式表白不断——Mr.Max是个什么样的老师？“友善的”、“聪明的”、“帅气的”、“风趣的”……
和学生学到一起，还能玩到一起，这样的“大朋友”谁能拒绝呢？
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When asked about the most memorable moments at HPA, Mr. Max recalls the various activities he's shared with his students: field trips, water fights on water day, teacher-student competitions at sports events… The kids frequently express their admiration, calling him “friendly,” “smart,” “handsome,” and “funny.” With Mr. Max, students not only learn but also play—who could resist such a “big friend”?
03
“蓉漂”老外的破次元之旅持续更新中
A “Rongpiao” Foreigner’s Journey Continues
〈 Swipe for English
当初加入HPA，Max老师把这次搬迁视作一次“大冒险”，带着妻子从广州这个熟悉的城市来到成都，开启了新的人生篇章。今天，他已经深深热爱上了这座城市，爱上了在HPA的生活。
“从大城市的快节奏生活中，我更喜欢成都这种相对安静又充满生气的生活方式。尤其是郫都区的这一带，给人一种平和又不失活力的感觉。我也喜欢在这里工作，学生们也喜欢在这里学习。成都的生活节奏让我有更多时间去梳理自己的想法，规划自己的生活，这种感觉很棒。”
Max老师与妻子骑着电瓶车在郊区漫游，吃火锅、唱K，甚至穿上写着“雄起”的衣服，和朋友们一起看球赛，他的“蓉漂”之旅正不断更新，成了他人生中最有趣的一章。
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His love for the city is evident as he enjoys leisurely electric bike rides with his wife, savors hotpot, sings karaoke, and even cheers for the local football teams wearing T-shirts emblazoned with “雄起” (Go Sichuan!).
“Compared to the fast-paced life in big cities, I enjoy Chengdu’s slower, more relaxed vibe,” he says. “Especially in the Pidu district, where life feels peaceful yet vibrant. It’s the perfect place to work, and the students love it here, too. The pace allows me more time to reflect and plan my life, which feels great.”
His “Rongpiao” journey—a term used to describe a foreigner living in Chengdu—continues to unfold, becoming one of the most enjoyable chapters of his life.
Max老师的教学风格与生活态度深深感染着每一位学生，他不仅是他们的教师，更是他们的朋友、引路人。用温柔而坚定的方式守护着孩子们的成长，他让每一堂课都充满惊喜，也让学生们在课堂内外都感受到属于自己的力量和可能性。
“温柔而坚定的守护者”，这是我们对Max老师的一贯印象。在未来的时间里，我们相信他依旧会带着同样的热情与爱心，继续在教育的道路上走得更远，影响更多的孩子们。
Mr. Max’s teaching style and life philosophy have left an indelible mark on every student he’s taught. He’s more than just a teacher—he’s a mentor, a guide, and a friend. With his gentle yet firm presence, he guards his students' growth, making every class a place of surprise, joy, and personal empowerment.
As we look forward to the next two years, we’re confident that Mr. Max will continue to inspire, guide, and make a lasting impact on his students’ lives. He truly embodies the role of a “gentle but determined guardian.”
We can't wait to see what comes next in his journey.
图文/排版：Sarita
摄影：Zoey
审核：Leafia
