Creative Teachers Enliven Local Culture

A studio named after scriptwriter Yu Rongjiang started two years ago to cultivate creative teachers for local primary and secondary schools.

The studio/program has trained 18 teachers from 18 schools in courses ranging from script writing to drama education methodology and performance production.

Recently, the teachers performed a version of a short story by American writer O. Henry, "The Gift of the Maji" at the Yangpu District Children's Palace. They surprised the audience as they appeared to be professional actors.

Shanghai Opera performer Xu Botao has chosen four schools to train teachers in Shanghai dialect and opera. Students taught by the teachers have staged more than 20 shows in the past two years.

According to Xu, the Shanghai dialect is at risk of disappearing as young people do not speak it nowadays so teaching it to students is an effective way to popularize their native language. Xu often teaches his students chant poems in dialect. To date, a total of 128 teachers have been trained.

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