Editor’s note: Happy Teachers’ Day to all the educators who inspire, guide, and empower students every day! Your dedication and hard work truly make a difference in shaping the future. To celebrate this special occasion, here we present the takeaways of four expat teachers currently working in Shenzhen. Chen Siqi Vankochensq@163.com AN educator for nearly 30 years, Steve Pellerine began his career as a headmaster at a Tanzanian international school in 1997. Throughout his career, Pellerine has taught a range of subjects from ESL (English as a Second Language) to photography, research and integrated interdisciplinary studies. He is now the principal of RDF International School in Dapeng New Area, an all-English private middle and high school. In Pellerine’s eyes, teachers are dedicated to their students, spending countless hours preparing and planning lessons and constantly thinking about how they can improve. Their work and efforts go far beyond the 50-minute class. His teaching focuses on guiding students to become independent learners. “What we do is give them the tools, techniques, and time to explore skills and technologies and allow them to develop this into knowledge that becomes their own on a very personal level,” Pellerine said. Pellerine praised China’s education system for its focus on building the basic knowledge in the STEM subjects, noting that students typically excel in logic, mathematics, and science. He believes that Teachers’ Day is a wonderful celebration to honor all teachers. Having worked in eight different countries and regions, including Japan and the Middle East, Pellerine found that the Teachers’ Day is celebrated differently in those countries. He was particularly impressed by the Chinese celebration. “I’m very impressed when Chinese students walk down the corridor with flowers and thoughtful notes written on cards and deliver them to teachers. It’s a very warm and special occasion,” said Pellerine. | 