The Life of a Teacher and an International Student – Lawrence Chang, Parmiters School

Hiu Wu is a psychology teacher and accomplished researcher who has worked as a researcher at Oxford University and The New York Times. For his undergraduate degree, Hiu studied psychology at the University of Bath, specializing in social psychology, educational psychology and developmental psychology.

After leaving school, he completed an MA in Educational Psychology at University College London, Institute of Education, specializing in intercultural education and inclusive learning. He then completed a PGCE (Teacher Training) course also provided by University College London, Institute of Education.

Psychology was a subject Hiu decided to pursue when he was just 12 years old. He was interested in what people think and do and what factors can influence it, so when he discovered the subject of psychology, he realized it was his dream course.

As a teacher, Hiu finds it interesting to exchange ideas with younger students and understand things from a different perspective. He believes that teaching is a way to inspire and help others, as his teachers did when he was a student.

Despite the low pay, Hiu also appreciates the stability and benefits of being a teacher, such as more vacations compared to other professions. However, Hiu’s future career may not have much to do with teaching, as he wants to one day open his own restaurant and work as a teacher.

One of Hiu’s studies focused on the experiences of overseas Chinese students at UK universities. ​While Hiu’s own experience of studying in the UK as a Chinese student has been good since he started his education at a young age, he believes that the challenges faced by Chinese students are the 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.’ It works in China as if a student passed all the past papers he would get a high score in the exam. In the UK, however, schools follow the Socratic 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 literacy entrance test that Chinese students are required to take may not accurately determine their ability to study in the UK, Hiu says. “Perhaps, it is not a matter of mastering the English language, but of critical thinking skills and the ability to make strong arguments. If these skills are not measured, it is not surprising that Chinese students will struggle with Western-style essays.’

Hiu believes that Chinese students need to be informed about these differences and be prepared for the transition. Meanwhile, universities must also provide support to facilitate this transition.