I was honored to speak at the Principal Roundtable Forum at the Fifth Cloud Symposium on International Chinese Language Teaching last Saturday. Our forum topic was the opportunities, challenges, and development strategies of international schools in Chinese teaching in the digital era. I would like to convey the two key points that I discussed.
Firstly, I shared how DSHK has prepared our students to be global citizens through our dual language program and by promoting Chinese culture and values.
Dual Language Immersion Programs: We implement robust dual language immersion programs that provide students with equal exposure to English and Mandarin Chinese.
Cultural Infusion: We weave elements of Chinese history, philosophy, art, literature, and traditions throughout the curriculum. We also incorporate Chinese cultural activities, guest speakers, and field trips to immerse students in the richness of the civilisation.
Project-Based Learning: We utilize problem-solving, project-based learning approaches that challenge students to explore contemporary issues from a Chinese perspective, such as case studies on China’s technological innovations, business strategies, or environmental policies.
Community Partnerships: We forge partnerships with local Chinese communities, cultural organisations, and educational institutions to provide students with authentic learning experiences, such as language practice, cultural performances, and exchange opportunities.
Extracurricular Activities: We offer a range of extracurricular activities, such as Wushu, calligraphy workshops, orchestra and Chinese debate, to deepen students’ engagement with the Chinese world.
DSHK has led a successful dual language program in the international school community in Hong Kong, and we will continue to explore ways to enhance our program.
Secondly, I took the opportunity to call everyone’s attention to the responsible use of AI tools in research. Many students have started to use AI tools, such as ChatGPT, Quillbot, and Perplexity, in their projects or research papers. It is crucial to establish clear guidelines for their ethical and responsible application. Consider this traffic light system for citing AI-generated content:
Red Light: Directly copying or paraphrasing text generated by AI language models without proper attribution is a form of plagiarism and is strictly prohibited.
Yellow Light: Using AI tools for tasks like grammar and syntax checking, vocabulary enhancement, or plagiarism detection is acceptable, but the use of these tools must be transparently disclosed in the research paper.
Green Light: Leveraging AI-powered analysis, such as Perplexity, to enhance the quality and coherence of your own original writing is encouraged, as long as the use of these tools is properly documented.
By following these guidelines, students can harness the power of AI while upholding the principles of academic integrity and honesty.
All in all, our goal is to prepare our students to be well-rounded, responsible, and capable problem-solvers who can take the lead in their chosen fields.
