One day in August, some children were sitting around a dozen desks in a courtyard in Guizhou Province. During the lesson, they read English words with a gray-haired old man, who wrote key points on a blackboard behind him.
He is Liu Xiaosheng, a 73-year-old retired university professor from Chongqing. He has been teaching English free of charge to local children for the past ten years, and the kids affectionately call him "grandpa."
Liu Xiaisheng gives an English class to children in a village courtyard. (Photo provided to iChongqing)
In 2013, Liu Xiaosheng and his family visited Tongzi County in Guizhou Province for a summer tour. They saw a junior-school student studying English next door. To find out how proficient children are in English in mountainous areas, Liu Xiaosheng quizzed the child. A seed of an idea germinated in Liu's mind after listening to the child speaks English. This child became Liu's first student in the mountains.
A few days later, there was a buzz in the village when it was announced that a university professor would teach English for free. Three more students came to learn English from him.
"As one of the first students in the courtyard English class, I learned English from Mr. Liu in the courtyard of the house where he lived temporarily to avoid the summer heat," said Luo Lihang, who added that Mr. Liu's lessons broadened their vision.
The number of students in Liu Xiaosheng's "courtyard English class" has increased yearly for the past decade, reaching 60 in the summer of 2022. "It seems that the locals are starting to take English more seriously. Every summer vacation, the children in the village look forward to seeing Mr. Liu," said Luo Lihang, now a university student majoring in Primary Education. Whenever he is free, Luo comes to serve the class as an assistant to Mr. Liu.
The villagers are very grateful to Mr. Liu for helping the children get better results in English exams. Several people sent Mr. Liu eggs, vegetables, and other foods; some even wanted to pay for the class. Liu rejected them. He said, "I don't teach for money. It is my greatest joy to win the villagers' trust and favor and to get along with them as a family."
The planned tour became "work" in Liu Xiaosheng's retired life. In the words of his wife, Mrs. Li, "He is most passionate about teaching. That makes him happy."
Since its opening in 2013, the 'courtyard English class' has helped most students achieve better exam results. "According to Liu Xiaosheng, education should not be merely about imparting knowledge but also about stimulating students' interest in learning and improving their ability to think independently. A good teacher can influence students' lives," he said. Although I am retired, I want to continue contributing to education."
This year's 'courtyard English class' ended, which was sad for the children. According to Liu Xiaosheng, "If there are no special circumstances, the class will continue next year."