带上你们的真知灼见，从课堂走向世界
〈 Swipe for English
滑动查看中文 〉
In the field of English learning, students often find themselves trapped in the "three no's" dilemma: lack of deep thinking, insufficient internal motivation, and difficulty in maintaining consistency in their studies.
Ms. Regina, a teacher at HPA, continuously seeks inward growth. With her extensive teaching experience and unique methods, she actively explores solutions and lights the way for students in their English learning journey.
Now, let's invite Ms. Regina, who has been dedicated to ESL education for almost 20 years and is well-versed in the teaching methods and preparation strategies for TOEFL, IELTS, and SAT exams, to tell her stories. She has helped numerous students gain admission to top universities around the world, and she will share with us her path in English education.
01
在HPA，我们的课堂如何解决-没思想？
带着批判思维进课堂——有洞见，有立场，有真知灼见
At HPA, how do we address the issue of lack of critical thinking?
We cultivate critical thinking in our lessons—encouraging insight, a clear stance, and true understanding.
〈 Swipe for English
*下文中H代表HPA，R代表Regina
H：“作为资深英文老师，教育过程中您最大的感触是什么？”
R：“这份工作让我深知，信息塑造的人们，在过去和现在有着巨大的差异。现今时代，同学们在学习过程中最稀缺的是“拥有自己的想法”这件事。
其实在这个时代，把英语作为第二语言去学习，早已不再单纯是一个纯粹语言输入和输出的问题。它学习成果的最终呈现，是在于学生是否有批判性思维，是否能够自我管理。
这个时代的语言学习中，更多需要习得和培养的是创新能力、跨领域知识整合能力和批判性思维，这才是帮助他们在未来社会中取得成功的关键。”
滑动查看中文 〉
*In the following, H stands for HPA and R stands for Regina
H: "As an experienced English teacher, what has been your biggest insight during your teaching journey?"
R: "This job has made me realize the huge difference between people shaped by information in the past and those in the present. In today's era, what students lack most in their learning process is the ability to 'have their own thoughts.'
In fact, learning English as a second language is no longer just about the simple input and output of language. The final result of learning lies in whether students possess critical thinking and the ability to self-manage.
In language learning today, what needs to be learned and cultivated more are innovation, cross-disciplinary knowledge integration, and critical thinking. These are the key elements that will help them succeed in the future society."
〈 Swipe for English
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In class, especially during practice for the writing and speaking sections of the IELTS and TOEFL exams, what I most want to hear from students are their insights—their unique perspectives on a subject, their own voices. Unfortunately, such voices are rare. Or rather, students need a tremendous push to express them. It seems that, under the influence of technology, students' self-drive faces even greater challenges.
I can't help but reflect: it's not just students in schools, why is it that many adults also struggle to form their own opinions? I'd like to share some insights from the book The Age of Screens, which has given me a lot to think about:
The long-term use of tech products by students has led to abnormalities in white matter (myelin), affecting the transmission of neural signals, which results in a decreased ability to perceive emotions and the environment in real life. Features like the red alert (unread messages), autoplay, and endless refreshes on phones have conditioned teenagers to passively accept information.
Take short video apps as an example: their autoplay function means that teenagers no longer need to make active choices. Their brains are consumed by the content constantly pushed to them, gradually losing the ability to actively explore and think, making it difficult to form their own thoughts. At the same time, the use of tech products causes a decrease in the secretion of endorphins and other neurochemicals. This makes it harder for teenagers to experience happiness, care, and rationality, exacerbating emotional and psychological issues, and trapping them in a vicious cycle.
In short, we have become part of the data in the tech era, carriers of advertisements, and the use of tech products has led us to gradually lose ourselves. We are both the users and the product itself. Therefore, forming independent opinions and viewpoints has become increasingly challenging.
〈 Swipe for English
1.阅读新闻
〈 Swipe for English
批判性思维不仅仅是升学考试中的一项技能，它是学生一生中持续受益的核心能力。它能够帮助学生提升认知能力，更加理性、全面、有效地面对生活中的挑战、做出决策、处理人际关系、识别信息、解决问题，并培养自我反思和成长的能力。Regina希望这样的课堂训练，能赋予他们对抗屏幕时代痛点的能力。
滑动查看中文 〉
H: "How do you practice cultivating critical thinking in your classroom?"
R: "The most direct and effective method, of course, is to present hot social topics and ask students to express their own viewpoints and ideas. For example, recently in writing class with HPA students, I showed them a news story—the case of a 26-year-old gunman who recently made headlines for murdering the CEO of an insurance company in broad daylight. I wanted them to, after reading the news, actively gather writing materials and key terms from the article, and then retell the story with their own perspectives and discuss their views on it.
In this process, I hope they consciously structure their responses (we use the expression formula from The Pyramid Principle, TEET—Topic, Explain, Example, Topic), while also using diverse vocabulary flexibly and accurately."
1.Read the news
2.Actively Expanding Vocabulary — This news article helped students learn crime-related vocabulary such as law enforcement (police), resentment (hatred), and plea not guilty (plead not guilty). With these terms, they can replace commonly used words like police, hate, and do not commit crime, making their language more precise and diverse.
3.Writing structured paragraphs, followed by composing the full essay.
02
在HPA，我们的课堂如何解决-没动力
Classical Charm in English Lessons—No Inner Drive? Learn from Sisyphus!
〈 Swipe for English
滑动查看中文 〉
In the process of learning English, students often face the issue of a lack of motivation and struggle to maintain lasting enthusiasm for their studies. Regina cleverly draws on classical culture to inject powerful motivation into her students' English learning.
H: "What qualities should an excellent language learner possess?"
R: "In the process of learning English, students with self-drive are able to set their own goals, motivate themselves when they face setbacks, and not let challenges defeat them. Self-drive, more than specific skills, is like a meta-motivation—it’s the underlying force that drives children to learn and progress. Sparking each student's self-drive has been a topic I’ve always explored. And I believe that high-interaction, engaging classes can help students build intrinsic motivation and a sense of control, which in turn drives them to learn autonomously."
〈 Swipe for English
“我喜欢用有趣的古希腊文化， 打开同学们全球视野的兴趣之窗。还记得上学的时候，我接触到荷马史诗——特别是《伊利亚特》和《奥德赛》这2本书，他们是古希腊文化中最具影响力的作品之一，对西方文学、语言、哲学甚至思想史有着深远的影响。阅读这两部作品让我对古希腊的英雄主义、价值观、社会结构和语言的表达方式产生了浓厚的兴趣。
因此，我将一系列古希腊神话故事融入到各年级的英语教学中，旨在通过全面的学习方式，帮助学生更好地理解西方世界。这样，他们能够培养出真正的全球视野，增加学习的乐趣，并促进语言的多维理解，最终激发学生对英语学习的热爱。”
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"I like to use interesting elements of ancient Greek culture to open the window of global perspective for my students. I still remember when I was in school, I came across Homer's epics—particularly The Iliad and The Odyssey. These are among the most influential works in ancient Greek culture, having a profound impact on Western literature, language, philosophy, and even the history of thought. Reading these two works sparked a deep interest in me regarding ancient Greek heroism, values, social structure, and their way of expressing language.
One of the things that fascinated me, especially, was etymology. Let me give you two very interesting examples: In Greek mythology, the goddess of love, Cupid’s lover, Psyche, was a beautiful princess. Due to the various obstacles and trials imposed by Venus, Cupid’s mother, Psyche was filled with uncertainty, indecision, and complex emotions, torn between love and hatred. Later, the word "Psyche" became the root for the term "psychology," which is now used in the field of psychology. The second example is the English word "museum," which originates from the Greek mythology of the Muses. The Muses were goddesses who governed the most beautiful poetry and music of humanity. Naming a place that collects humanity’s beautiful things after the Muses might reflect the hope that children would grow up in an environment of beauty.
Therefore, I incorporate a series of Greek mythological stories into English teaching across all grades. My goal is to help students better understand the Western world through comprehensive learning methods. In doing so, they can develop a true global perspective, increase their enjoyment of learning, and promote a multidimensional understanding of language, ultimately igniting a passion for learning English."
〈 Swipe for English
“我也用古希腊神话人物的故事来鼓励学生勇敢面对挑战，承受困难，并将困境作为培养内在力量的途径。
最经典的，那一定是西西弗斯的故事。西西弗斯是古希腊神话中的一位国王，为了从河神那里为人类获得水，他违背了天神宙斯的命令，揭露了宙斯掳走河神女儿的秘密。这激怒了宙斯，他判定西西弗斯接受一项艰巨的任务：将一块巨石从山脚推到山顶。然而，当他刚刚到达山顶时，巨石又会滚下来，摧毁他的努力。因此，西西弗斯必须一次又一次地将巨石推上山顶，这个任务永远无法完成，他将永远从事这项看似徒劳的艰苦劳动。众神认为这是他最严酷的惩罚。
他的命运象征着生活的艰辛，年复一年的重复工作，直到生命逐渐消逝。然而，西西弗斯在这一过程中并没有屈服于绝望、愤恨或悲伤。他做出了自己的选择，勇敢而坚毅地继续推石。
通过这一选择，他创造了这项任务的意义，用无尽的奋斗精神对抗空虚，直面自己的命运。这对于同学们以及我自己的漫长的学习路程来说，都是极大的鼓舞。”
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"I also use stories of characters from Greek mythology to encourage students to face challenges with courage, endure hardships, and view difficulties as a way to cultivate inner strength.
The most classic example would certainly be the story of Sisyphus. Sisyphus was a king in Greek mythology who, in an effort to bring water to humanity from the river god, defied the command of Zeus, the king of the gods, and exposed Zeus' secret of abducting the river god's daughter. This angered Zeus, who sentenced Sisyphus to a grueling task: to push a huge boulder from the foot of a mountain to its summit. However, as soon as he reached the top, the boulder would roll back down, destroying all his efforts. Therefore, Sisyphus had to push the boulder up the mountain again and again, a task that would never be completed, forcing him to engage in this seemingly futile and arduous labor forever. The gods considered this to be his harshest punishment.
His fate symbolizes the hardships of life—the repetitive tasks year after year, until life gradually fades away. However, throughout this process, Sisyphus did not succumb to despair, resentment, or sorrow. He made his own choice, bravely and steadfastly continuing to push the stone.
Through this choice, he created meaning in the task, fighting against emptiness with an unyielding spirit and facing his destiny head-on. This has been a great source of inspiration for both my students and me on our long learning journey.”
03
在HPA，听我讲讲如何坚持
轻舟已过万重山，我的四个“一万小时”
At HPA, let me tell you about perseverance.
The light boat has passed ten thousand mountains. Let me tell you about my four "10,000-hour" .
〈 Swipe for English
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Looking back at Regina's journey, her love for English began in her childhood. In the 1990s, due to her parents' work, she was exposed to a wealth of overseas English programs, such as original films, TV shows, and music programs. This experience planted the seed of English in her heart, which continued to grow as she progressed through her studies and teaching practice. Eventually, she became an excellent English educator, providing strong support and guidance for her students' English learning.
Based on the "10,000-Hour Rule," Regina divides her sixteen-year career into four stages, each with a clear teaching focus. In each phase, she has set an example of perseverance in learning for her students.
〈 Swipe for English
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First 10,000 hours: Focused on honing professional skills and strengthening students' vocabulary and grammar foundations. -
Second 10,000 hours: Prioritized classroom interaction and personalized learning, sparking student engagement. -
Third 10,000 hours: Focused on advanced studies in educational theory and psychology, emphasizing holistic development. -
Fourth 10,000 hours (now): Centered on fostering critical thinking and innovation, guiding students in interdisciplinary learning and self-driven growth.
Regina老师相信，教育不再仅仅是知识的传授，而是引导学生成为终身学习者，能够主动适应快速变化的世界，解决复杂的问题。
而她也期许自己能够不断学习和更新教育方法，利用现代科技提升教学效果，培养HPA学生成为具有独立思考、创新精神和跨学科能力的未来公民。
She also aspires to continually learn and refresh her teaching methods, leveraging technology to enhance education and nurture HPA students into future global citizens with independent thinking, innovation, and interdisciplinary competence.
图文/排版：Regina、Zoey、Sarita
审核：Leafia
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