Teaching can be one of the toughest and most rewarding jobs out there. Yet most people have probably never wondered how people get into teaching, or what the life of a teacher is like.
Hiu Wu is a psychology teacher and experienced researcher, having worked as a research assistant at Oxford University and The New York Times. For his bachelor’s degree, Hiu studied psychology at the University of Bath, specialising in social, educational, and developmental psychology.
After graduation, he pursued a master’s degree in educational psychology at University College London, Institute of Education, with a specialisation in cross-cultural education and inclusive teaching. He then completed a PGCE course (teacher training), also provided by University College London, Institute of Education.
Psychology was the subject that Hiu decided to pursue when he was just 12 years old. He was curious about what people think and do, and what factors can affect this, so when he discovered the subject of psychology, he knew it was his dream course.
As a teacher, Hiu finds it fun to exchange ideas with younger students and to understand things from a different perspective. He believes that teaching is a way to inspire and help others, just as his teachers did for him when he was a student.
Despite the low pay, Hiu also appreciates the stability and benefits of being a teacher, such as having more holidays compared to other professions. However, Hiu's future career may not have much to do with teaching as he wishes to open his own restaurant one day and work as a teacher part-time.
One of Hiu's research studies focused on the experiences of international Chinese students in UK universities. While Hiu's own experience studying in the UK as a Chinese student was fine as he started at a young age, he believes that the challenges experienced by Chinese students are a result of differences in philosophical values between Chinese and Western cultures.
As a Chinese student himself, Hiu understands these cultural differences. “Chinese culture believes in karma - the idea that ‘if I work hard I will succeed.’ This works in China, as if a student did all the past papers they would secure a high score in the exam. However, in the UK, schools follow the Socrates method, which requires students to challenge ideas and innovate rather than imitate. This is difficult for Chinese students who are used to learning from ‘model answers’ in past papers.”
The entrance literacy test that Chinese students are required to take may not accurately measure their ability to study in the UK, Hiu says. “It may not be a matter of English language skills, but rather critical thinking skills and the ability to draw valid arguments. If these skills are not measured, it is no surprise that Chinese students would struggle with Western-style essays.”
Hiu believes that Chinese students should be informed about these differences and be ready for the transition. Meanwhile, universities should provide support to ease this transition as well.
