HKU Bulletin August 2010 (Vol. 11 No. 3)

28 The University of Hong Kong Bulletin 29 August 2010 Professor Ian Holliday has long been enchanted by the Burmese people, both academically and personally. Now they are casting a similar spell over his students. As Dean of Social Sciences, he set up the MOEI programme in 2008 to help Karen migrants on the Thai-Myanmar border and to provide students with a social innovation and global citizenship opportunity, as required for new graduates. The rewards have far exceeded expectations. Students spend six to eight weeks teaching English to Karen adults and children, and many of them come back determined to see the programme help more people. The MOEI alumni have convinced the Faculty THE HOLY GRAIL of teaching Students participating in the Faculty of Social Sciences’ Migrant Outreach Education Initiative (MOEI) teach English to people in need in Asia and invariably emerge inspired to do more. For the Faculty’s Dean, that is proof that the lessons are being learned. to establish similar programmes in China, Cambodia and Hong Kong. “When you have students coming back to you and saying, why don’t we take it here, can we try this – that’s the holy grail of teaching, really. That’s exactly what you are looking for,” Professor Holliday says. “Institutions like HKU shouldn’t be just an ivory tower. Even though we’re research intensive, we have a responsibility to humanity. We need to reach out to communities in need of education, and I’m thrilled and delighted to extend the programme to new places. These programmes may not all take flight but we try our best to make them work.” The MOEI programme benefits not only the communities, but also the students. Vania Ho, a Year 2 Psychology student, never thought she could teach before signing up (training is provided). Nor was she much interested in learning about other countries. But during her time in Thailand, she gained confidence as a teacher and learned the predicament of Karen families who had been separated. People yearned to return to Myanmar, but were unable to do so. “These are the hardest-working and sweetest people I have ever met. They are very proud of their nation and their ethnic group, and they always talk about how beautiful their country is and how they miss their families,” she says. “After this trip I started looking more at problems that other countries are facing. I treasure my relationships with my family more and the education opportunities I have. I changed my mind on how I should treat my parents, and I value family life and my friends more.” Following the internship, Vania went on exchange to Singapore and told people in her church there about her experiences in Thailand. This prompted them to arrange a follow-up trip to the region this summer. This desire to go back or extend the experience has also been seen in the MOEI alumni who helped to set up programmes for disadvantaged people in China, Cambodia and Hong Kong. They do all the coordination and training of new participants, and help to sort out logistics such as accommodation. Many of the participants are selected from overseas universities, adding to the international flavour of the programme. “The aim is to make learning English as fun as possible,” Professor Holliday says. “We train our students in interactive language teaching methods that build confidence and enthusiasm. They tend to come back much more worldly and committed and focused and interested. It lights a fire inside them and opens a passion that they then build on their own once they finish teaching.” Further information on the MOEI programme can be found at http://www.hku.hk/socsc/ moei/2010/. Teaching and Learning