My Dong Bei story

While working as a missionary IT teacher in remote Africa, I learned to play an old bashed-up guitar. I wrote my own songs, as I didn’t know how to play others. The significance of this new skill was to come later. Unfortunately, my health declined, and I lost so much weight that I had to adjust my belt by moving it up 7 holes, compelling me to return home to rest.

There, I completed a CELTA course, (ESL). Then I made a life-changing decision: Still not strong enough for Africa, I chose China.

Disaster! A deep vein clot meant immediate hospitalization. The was formed from sitting 14 hours at a computer. Fortunately, the great Doctor Sun at Jilin No 3 Hospital saved my life. Moreover, spending two months in a hospital room with three other Chinese patients began my love for Dong Bei (Northeast China) people.

My problem was not completely cleared, so flying worried me, so I spent another year at the marvelous English First (EF) school. They loved my teaching style (music and English). Here I taught kindergarten, primary, middle and high school, and university and business classes at FAW Group Corporation(FAW), the biggest car company in China. Two years at EF and I knew how to teach Chinese. I was teaching 35 classes a week – ranging from 40-minute to 3-hour long classes – loving every minute and student.

One day, the irreplaceable, and sadly, late Jack Murray, Perfect English founder, persuaded me to join his school. In my first week, I got a lucky break. A teacher was late arriving, so I was assigned to Jilin’s best primary school, the Primary School attached to North East Normal University. So I covered these classes.

Magically, the students and I clicked. Sherry, the English head, after watching me, said, “You must work here.” “How?” I replied. She asked again, “Do you want to work here?” I answered, “Yes.” Next day I started officially.

First, there was a school song, Dong Bei Shi Da Fu Xiao. Every student had to learn it and culminate (the experience) with a huge stage performance. Singing it with my guitar, with all my students, to a massive audience, on a stage designed by the same person who designed the closing ceremony for the Winter Olympics - what a memory!

It was a professionally-run school with amazing students who applauded me in and out of every class, for two years.Hundreds of songs, so many ideas that I would use successfully again and again – one day I’ll organize them to help others.

Next, there was the school’s 60th anniversary song, One World, One Family. It took 15 minutes to write, Sherry loved it, her leader loved it. So, we chose singers, taught the song and then Northeast Normal University recorded it. The main girl singer was 5 years old and she nailed it. They played it five times every morning and evening. For six months, my song blared out on big speakers, over the surrounding area - such an honor.

It was here I would meet my greatest teaching success story. Teachers quickly identify the clever and naughty students. One girl was both! Then I was asked if I would teach privately. I said, “No” and walked away. But something made me turn back and ask, “Which student?” The finger pointed at the clever but naughty student, so I said, “OK”. Selina was 7 with little English. Her mother asked, “Can you improve her English?” I replied, “ I’ll make her number one in the world.” Amazingly, Selina won first prize for English four years later in a British Council competition, open to all English Second Language speakers in the world. Entries arrived from many countries, from all over China, but my Selina won, winning an all-paid trip to London to receive her award. The invite was for two, and she chose me. What an adventure we had! I have never been prouder.

In 2009, parents persuaded me to open the ME school, supporting and providing everything I needed to get started. I was sad to leave the primary school but excited with the new challenge. It was so different from teaching the big classes of 50 students. Again, my teaching style changed.

My little school chose our students carefully and then took them on an English journey, all achieving great awards and opportunities. Their many successes allowed our reputation to grow and soon we were a fully authorized A-class school.

What else? Well in 2007 I met and fell in love with Sun Jingwen, the most honourable and pure person I have ever known; beautiful too. How did we meet? She fell in love with my classes – she never stopped.

Then along came my incredibly talented son, Thomas. He possesses his mother’s purity and my love of music. At 9, Thomas is already writing songs and performing. With Jing Wen’s support, I have received many awards - Foreign Experts Award, the Chang Bai Shan Award – the highest award for a foreigner in Jilin province. Jilin government created a video about foreigners who have contributed a lot. They filmed our school and charity work and they used another of my songs –In the World of Jilin. It was also great to see my wife get so much attention.

So much more, such as: My 2 Chinese songs, mèng xiǎng kāi shǐ de dì fang (The Place Where Dreams Begin) and yí dài yí lù (Belt and Road  Initiative). The latter is being used at many big events. I also wrote a song, (Great Knowledge, Great Future) for FAW. Plus, I am now an established cartoonist having cartooned teachers and Chinese friends who I have met here, which resulted in headlining many animation events, and even a free trip to Republic of Korea to take part in an animation event.

In conclusion, Changchun has given me so much and supported me in ways I could not have ever imagined. With Dong Bei help I have fulfilled so many dreams. So if you want to work in this great province of Jilin – please come, because this is a place where dreams begin.

The author is from Scotland and has been in China since June 2006. He lives in Changchun, Northeast China’s Jilin Province with his family. He is the headmaster of Martin Education Training Center.

The opinions expressed here are those of the writer and do not represent the views of China Daily and China Daily website.