Troy King, from the United Kingdom, currently works as a public high school teacher in Bao’an District. King came to Bao’an three years ago, and he recalled that there were a lot of projects under construction near the school.
Despite the physical transformation, King said that the district had still preserved more cultural heritage than other places in the city. As a Bao’an resident, King believes that the district has more potential because “everything is so new here.”
With a bachelor’s degree in social anthropology, King wants to explore his career path, starting with teaching. However, his plan didn’t start out very well when he first stepped into a class to teach oral English.
“It was the very first time for me to handle so many students, I was nervous. I asked myself, if they could understand me. Was my class good enough?” he said. Despite his tense nerves, King said that he was thrilled to build a friendship with his students. King said he tries hard to get everyone to speak out in class, adding that some of the students are easy to communicate with, but others would remain quiet and refuse to participate.
Compared with classes in the United Kingdom, King said that Chinese schools offer too many seats for students. “Each Chinese class has almost 50 to 60 students, but in my country, each class only offers 20 to 30 seats,” King said. Through his teaching experience King said that Chinese students are better at listening and understanding in English. Also, Chinese students prefer to work in teams and are more active.
King is also a drummer with 10 years of experience. He was in a band in his country for six years. At that time, the band made a tour performing in pubs. Upon arriving in the city, King joined another band. He said that he enjoys playing with the band, and that they are composing a new song. “Many music bands in China now are growing. I like to go to Qiaocheng East and OCT LOFT to enjoy live music in my spare time,” King said.
After two more years of exploring Shenzhen, King said that he wants to improve himself by continuing to receive an education. Now he is applying for a master’s degree in contemporary China studies in Shanghai or Beijing. “The reason why I chose to apply for contemporary China studies is because it ties with my experience, language skills and natural curiosity. And I believe the study can strengthen my career prospects,” he said.
