Small classrooms, big changes: UNNC empowers rural teachers with international training

This summer, more than 20 rural English teachers from provinces including Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Shaanxi, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region came to the UNNC campus, where they completed a five-day intensive training programme following eight months of online learning. The University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) is introducing international teaching practices to rural classrooms through its annual teacher training initiative, which is already bringing about noticeable changes in teaching methods.

Zhao Yuhua and Wei Bingcheng, a couple from Shandong who have dedicated 19 years to rural English education, learned how to design classroom scenarios that compensate for the absence of authentic language environments. Meanwhile, Li Ye from Hunan began incorporating role-play and adapted songs in place of traditional grammar instruction, making her lessons more interactive and engaging.

Through close dialogue, the project team discovered that rural teachers face challenges such as limited materials, scarce resources, and significant psychological pressure. To address these issues, the programme goes beyond classroom pedagogy, placing emphasis on professional development and mental well-being. This year, AI-assisted tools were introduced to streamline lesson planning, while coaching sessions supported teachers in developing self-awareness and confidence to face challenges in both their professional and personal lives.

Since its inception in 2017, the Centre for English Language Education (CELE) at UNNC has brought together over 110 experienced language and subject teachers from more than 20 countries and regions, providing training to over 700 teachers from 410 rural schools and benefiting thousands of students across China.

Programme coordinator Jingyu Chen noted that the programme will continue to expand, with future plans including on-site training in rural schools and the establishment of regional teacher support networks to encourage experience sharing and promote educational equity.