As my final exams conclude, I honestly feel that my skills have improved a lot in terms of the way I learn. Before, I used to simply read over my notes and try to remember what was on that page by memorization, but that usually resulted in me being unsure about the content, and that would make me nervous about what I was writing in the exam. However, after this semester’s exams, I can safely say that I have concluded some of the most effective study tips that will turn your child into a top student.

Writing From Memory

This first method is essentially listing down all the things you know about the topic. You will first, of course, need to know what topics are being tested in the exam, then use that list of topics to write down everything you have learned about those topics. For example, in chemistry, we learned about the reactivity series, so I wrote down the reactivity series, their element formulae, and why carbon and hydrogen are in the series, which is everything we have learned this semester on the reactivity series. If I have missed something, I don’t look back immediately when I am writing. I wait until I have finished listing all the content for all the topics of the exam, then I revise. I revise with the notes I have taken in class and additional information online or from other resources. If anything does not match or if anything confuses you, you should ask a teacher or anyone who has knowledge on the validity of information and the content for the exam. You should be doing this seven days before the exams and consecutively until the night before (or ideally, the day of the exam as well, if you have enough time). I took a picture of my notes for my teacher the night before the exam and asked her if my notes were comprehensive and accurate. And after she verified my list, she said that it was no problem, which reassured me that my exams would go well. You can use this method to test how well you know the content of the test, and know how much more you need to improve on.

Set Questions for Yourself

This was also what I did for my finals. I made questions for myself on the parts I was unsure about, and I did them the next morning to see if what I had learned the previous night was actually grasped by me. It could be any type of questions: directly asking questions and writing out the answer, fill in the blanks, or even multiple choice questions that include choices that you originally misunderstood. This method may take some time to put together, but when you are in the exam, you may encounter a question on the same knowledge point, and that is the moment you realize what the question is asking you to do and what it is testing. Once you get all the questions you have set correct, that is when you know you have fully understood all the parts you didn’t grasp at first. This was how I got a 91 out of 100 on my Chinese midterms when memorizing the facts about authors and poem lines. Even though a lot of what I tested myself on was not included in the test, this is a very efficient way of knowing what you still need to improve on for the exam, and it makes you ready for whatever is coming up.

Teach to Others

When I was revising for my physics exam, there was a student in the class who did not pay attention to the teacher for the entire semester and was incredibly worried about her grade and what she knew. Before teaching her, I was quite confident that I knew everything about what was being taught, and I thought that I was able to explain everything with ease. However, after she asked me a lot of questions on the subject and after teaching her the concepts, I soon realized that there were still a lot of small details that I was not sure about, and those details were actually big key points in the exam. Thus, teaching another person is never a waste of time, but rather a great way to let yourself know what you need to improve on and whether you have completely grasped the subject.

Those are the three biggest revision methods I used this semester, and they helped me improve a lot in the sciences as well as in Chinese, which are all subjects that require us to memorize a lot of information. The key point here is to not passively read and look over everything, but to actively test yourself and seek help when you need to. I hope these methods will help your child improve their skills during the summer and make them a confident student in the future.

Images: Pexels

Two Beijing universities took the top two places in Asia for the first time in the world university rankings 2020 released by Times Higher Education (THE) on September 11. The poll includes almost 1400 universities across 92 countries, and the table is based on 13 calibrated performance indicators to provide an overall comprehensive comparison of different institutions.

Tsinghua University is at 23^rd place in the world’s top 100 universities, a slight decline from its 22^nd position last year. Peking University made a considerable jump to 24^th from its previous ranking of 31^st. Five other universities from the Chinese mainland made the top 200, namely University of Science and Technology of China, Zhejiang University, Fudan University, Nanjing University, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, the same number as in 2019.

Meanwhile, on the poll, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology fell from 41^st to 47^th place, while Chinese University of Hong Kong fell to 57^th from 53^rd last year. The National Taiwan University was also ranked lower this year, in 120th place. Last year’s top Asian institution was the National University of Singapore, and it placed 25th this year compared to 23^rd in the previous poll.

Once again, the UK and US universities dominated all top ten places this year, while Canadian universities and some European universities have risen up.

The Paper notes that this year’s top universities in mainland China scored higher in citation power and research income, perhaps reflecting the Chinese government’s continued investment in higher education.

As we blogged before, China is gearing up towards expanding its pool of international students as well. In 2015, Vice Premier Liu Yandong stated that the government planned to increase the number of international students in China to 500,000 by the end of 2020. The country’s universities have continued to extend their influence and presence on the world stage.

Photos: pexels

A recent study conducted by Beijing Normal University and University of Würzburg show how babies born to mothers who speak tonal languages, such as Mandarin Chinese, have more melodic cries than those born to mothers who speak non-tonal languages, such as German.

Other tonal languages include Thai, Vietnamese, and Lamnso (the language spoken by the Nso from northwest Cameroon). Tonal languages require more vocal dexterity to be understood.

The study followed a previous study where researchers examined Nso infants’ cry in comparison to that of German infants.  The Nso language, Lamnso, is complex, with eight different tones and even more pitch fluctuations that can change the meanings of words.  They had found that babies with mothers who speak a tonal language cry with higher melodic variation, often with more extreme variations from high to low.

The study was repeated in Beijing to control for environment (modernity, specifically for electronics), which mirrored the results, though to a lesser degree. Mandarin also has four tones where pitch and pitch fluctuation affect the meanings of words.

So what do we learn from these studies?

• Babies learn language in the womb.
• Language development problems can be identified already in infancy
• A mother’s most spoken language affects language development
• Babies have a native language even before they “babble”

All this made us wonder one thing…why didn’t researchers test the nine-tone-Cantonese instead of the four-tone-Mandarin?

Photo: Flickr (Mark Doliner)

Have you ever used your child’s photo as your profile picture on social media? Perhaps you know someone who just had a baby and set their baby’s photo as their profile picture.

I know I had used my firstborn’s photo on Facebook, WeChat, and Instagram once upon a time. At the time, I thought people would rather look at my adorable baby (alright, so I wanted to show him off) than an old, outdated profile photo. After all, my low post-partum self-esteem wouldn’t allow me to post a new photo of myself, especially when taking a nice photo would require so much effort (showering, putting on makeup, brushing my hair…)

Turns out, changing your profile photo to your child’s shows a shift in your identity as a new mother. Sarah Schoppe-Sullivan noticed this as she scrolled through her Facebook feed, leading her to hypothesize that the shift might cause depression when combined with excessive posts on social media.

“What these mothers are saying is that my child is central to my identity, at least right now,”

Schoppe-Sullivan, professor of human sciences and psychology at The Ohio State University, was already studying new parenthood, and decided to add more questions about motherhood and social media to her existing research. She questioned whether new mothers use social media outlets, such as Facebook, to validate their motherhood, and whether such attempts at validation result in depressive symptoms.

The results

Although her Schoppe-Sullivan’s participant pool was small, 98 percent of them posted photos of their infant on Facebook, of which 80 percent had changed their profile photo to a picture of their baby.

The results her study indicate that women posted more child-related updates on Facebook if they felt pressured to be perfect mothers and considered motherhood to be central to their identity. Said women were also more likely to replace their profile photo with a picture of their child.

Every mother tries to be the best they can, but those who strive for perfection may rely on others for validation, experiencing strong elation when they have many likes and positive comments. Conversely, they would also become depressed if their posts didn’t receive a lot of attention, or if they garner negative comments.

The study considers “depressive symptoms” to include having no appetite, feeling blue, and struggling with restless sleep.

Not a prescription to post less

While this data could easily be used to discourage parents from excessively posting their kids’ pictures and updates on social media as we discussed in our sharenting post, Schoppe-Sullivan didn’t ask these questions so that you could scroll down your feed with less poop stories.

Instead, Schoppe-Sullivan’s study results are meant to encourage new mothers to take a break. Fresh mothers have to recreate their identities, and the expectation of friends and acquaintances is to post a lot of pictures of their new family addition.

“This is an evolving way of representing your identity and your family and what’s important to you.”

Your social media feed sends a statement of who you are and what you care about, so working mothers feel especially pressured to prove that although they defy tradition, they still care about their kids the most. This show of affection and oversharing can be a source of stress for mothers who struggle to find time to begin with, and Schoppe-Sullivan gives parents tips on how to manage their social media updates:

• Turn off notifications. Have set times when you check social media, or decide when you’ll stop using your phone or computer for the day.
• Post less frequently by following a set schedule. Some recommend posting no more than three kid-related posts on WeChat per week.
• Find other ways to share your child’s photos and updates with family members and close friends. Private groups, invitation only photo albums, and slideshows/videos are just a couple of ideas.

Beijing expats at risk

The effect of social media pressure on parenting styles is especially dangerous for expat parents who are separated from close friends and family. Not only do traveling expats tend to share more photos and updates via social media outlets to keep in touch with faraway friends and family, but they also tend to lack a support network.

Global Times reported that new mothers in Beijing are more prone to post –partum depression (PPD) due to a lack of community support among other issues. Many new mothers remain at home, isolated by their language barrier, and stressed about Beijing conditions (e.g. pollution).

If said mothers were to rely on social media for validation and support, we can only imagine how much further they’d fall into depression when social media falls short of their expectations.

Photo: Flickr

Following numerous reports on the growing obesity among children in China, Beijing Center for Diseases Prevention and Control (BCDPC) has been running trial projects for obesity control in a number of schools since earlier this year.

Now, they have announced that they will be requiring all Beijing teachers, from all sixteen districts, to be responsible for the prevention and control of obesity amongst their students. Details on how the teachers are to accomplish this feat along with the penalties (or bonuses) for the trial were not released.

BCDPC plans to cooperate with school clinics for the trial projects, evaluating the physical examination results of students and issuing warnings to schools with at-risk students.

A recent study published by the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology observed growing obesity rates among rural children in China.  The study found an average of 17 percent of Chinese children to be obese, with heavier boys than girls.  In the study, obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 28 or higher.

As the study observed a sample from Shandong province, it concluded that the obesity epidemic has hit rural areas harder.  The reasoning behind it is that the leftover children cared for by grandparents are often spoiled with food.  The growing preference for a more western diet of soft drinks and fast food doesn’t help.

Similarly, the preference for male children with lower expectations for physical appearance could be cause for why there were almost ten percent more obese boys than girls.

Children between the ages of seven and twelve were heaviest, most likely because teenagers are more image conscious.

Recently, China’s National Health and Family Planning Commission has been urging citizens to eat less meat and eggs in an effort to combat obesity and its associated health problems.

Photos:  Flickr

Recently Sixth Sense reported that Shanghai hospitals lack pediatricians, highlighting the dilemma from the physician’s perspective. In their article, we are told of all the reasons why young graduates avoid the pediatrics departments of public hospitals, or quit shortly after joining.  The main causes being: low salaries, overtime hours (to compensate for low salaries), the large daily influx of patients that causes doctors to have a tight schedule and short window for diagnosis, and the physical violence directed at pediatricians when their diagnosis is wrong or insufficient.

It would appear as if there are actually only two problems: 1) pediatricians in public hospitals feel they’re underpaid, and 2) Chinese families with only one child give pediatricians too much pressure. All the other problems are self-caused or stem from the hospital’s business model.

Pediatricians feel they need to work 10-12 hour shifts in order to make as much money as the doctors in other departments. The interviewee, Dr. Huiju Yu, counts how many patients she can see in a morning (36), taking no breaks as to squeeze in more because, as the article mentions, this hospital gives an extra monetary incentive per patient. Sixth Sense attributes this as a normal workload for a Chinese doctor (in a public hospital).  As a result, the doctors can’t afford to spend too much time on each patient and have to make a quick diagnosis for each child they see based on the limited knowledge they can gauge from the short visit and their experience.

Dr. Yu also states that her office has no chairs because families ask too many questions when given the opportunity to rest. She doesn’t care that those families probably trekked from the countryside, waited outside the hospital at the crack of dawn for a number, and then stood around waiting in endless lines, as is customary in public hospitals. Dissatisfied parents, grandparents, and relatives then attack pediatricians who fail to help their child, sometimes resorting to physical violence. This phenomenon is attributed to the ignorance of the parents rather than the negligence of the doctors.

2014 Study by Wei Xu and Shu-Cheng Zhang

What the article fails to mention is the fact that none of the statistics it lists are new. In fact, they all stem from a 2014 study on the malaise state of affairs for public hospital pediatricians, quoting a 200,000 deficit since 2012.  At the same time, the National Association of Pediatricians estimated that it would take five years to train 5,000 practicing pediatricians. Not only has the government been well-aware that the pediatrics department lacks takers, but it has also been common knowledge that many Chinese hospitals have had to shut down their pediatrics departments when they couldn’t find staff to run it.  In fact, according to a 2013 study, China only has 68 specialized children’s hospitals, where most are located in first or second tier cities.  Only sixty eight specialized hospitals catering to 20% of the population? It’s no wonder families flock to major cities for pediatric care, leading to long wait times, lines, and short visits.

In fact, according to Pediatric Society of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association (PS-CMDA), Beijing Children’s Hospital (BCH) can see up to 4,000 outpatient visits in a busy day.  BCH has about 40-50 pediatricians, and each can see about 80-100 patients a day, up to 150 patients in a day if necessary.  One has to wonder, does the problem only lay with the deficit, or with the structure of Chinese public hospitals in general.

Two-child Policy Baby Boom

As the government prepares to sell more baby gear and improve its labor force by introducing a two-child policy, it has made questionable moves to increase interest in pediatric training.  The Ministry of Education has closed all pediatrics departments at the undergraduate level, leaving the training for the graduate level.  Since interest for the department has dropped ever since, the solution has been to lower the threshold for pediatrics compared to other medical departments.  In practice, what this means is that less-than-stellar university students are applying for pediatrics, and the exam is open to any medical student who has failed the general, or other, medical exams.  What’s worse, whether they pass the pediatrics exam and obtain their licenses is based on the combined score of the two exams.   The only other medical department with such low standards is the emergency department (ER).

What all this data tells us is that China has had a deficit for a while, has made moves to reduce the deficit by encouraging students to choose pediatrics as a career (though questionably), and still has an ever-widening deficit.  Pediatricians are underpaid in a salary market where hospitals pay doctors based on the number of tests, equipment, and medication they can sell to patients and consultations start at RMB 10 per visit.

As 90 million women have become eligible for a second child this year, even as 60% will not choose to have one, certain provinces have made changes to accommodate the anticipated “baby boom”. Guangzhou has offered hospitals subsidies, begun building pediatric hospitals, and encouraged universities to train more pediatricians.  Dalian, provincial capital of Liaoning, will hire pediatricians from abroad and train at least 300 more pediatricians by 2019.  Now we’re just waiting for Beijing local government’s response to the existing deficit, lacking training, and upcoming baby boom.

Photo: Nazgul Abazbekova

If your children are thinking of studying languages oversees, The Learning Center is hosting a presentation from the International Language Academy of Canada. This weekend sees two of our International Schools hosting their annual dinner and dance events. The International Montessori School of Beijing is celebrating their 25 years in Beijing with a gala fundraiser, and for Dulwich College it’s a fiesta themed evening to celebrate their 10 years in Beijing. Join the Heyrobics team for an extra special workout, as they bid farewell to two of their instructors.

Studying in Canada
International Language Academy of Canada (ILAC) will be giving a presentation at The Learning Center on Thursday, November 27 from 2.30-3.30pm. Penny Huang ILAC CFO and COO will provide information about studying in Canada, including the application requirements, ILAC programs, and the benefits of studying in Toronto. Huang will also give a brief description of what Canada has to offer, such as its world-class educational experience, cultural diversity, economic vibrancy, environmental splendor, and urban and rural safety. At the end, will be a Q&A session, during which Huang will answer any questions that the audience may have about ILAC and its programs. To book a place contact The Learning Center (8046-3886, registration@hyde-education.com)

MSB Gala
The International Montessori School of Beijing (MSB) will be hosting their fundraising gala on Saturday, November 22 from 7pm at the Four Seasons. To celebrate 25 years of MSB, the event will see current and former MSB families and staff coming together. Guests will have the chance to win great raffle and auction prizes. All proceeds from the evening will go towards local charities, as chosen by the students and parent body.

Dulwich Dinner Dance
This years’ Dulwich Dinner Dance is celebrating 10 years of Dulwich College in Beijing. The event takes place on Saturday, November 22 from 6pm until late, at Hilton Beijing Capital Airport Hotel. Open to all parents, teachers, and the wider community, the Dinner Dance is a fun and relaxed evening. The theme this year is Viva la Fiesta – Long Live the Party! Live entertainment will be provided by Casa Flamenco, Salsation Founder Alejandro Angulo, and Dulwich Student Drummers. The evening will include a four course dinner with wine, a silent auction, and some top raffle prizes. Tickets are still available, to book contact anjanakainikkara@gmail.com. All profits will go to Stars and Rain Autism Project, a Beijing based charity providing educational support for children with autism. Find out more about the charity at www.guduzh.org.cn  

Farewell Workout
Two well-known instructors from Heyrobics are bidding Beijing farewell – Suzanne and Amaya. By way of a farewell party, they will be running an intense 90 minute workout on Friday, December 5 from 8.45am-10.15am, at the Swedish School of Beijing. Also taking part will be Chiara, the new Head of Hey, who will lead part of the session. The price for this extended workout will be the same as normal workouts. For more information and to book your place email info@heyrobics.com or visit www.heyrobics.com

beijingkids Shunyi Correspondent Sally Wilson moved to Beijing in 2010 from the UK with her husband and son. Her daughter was born here in 2011 and both her kids keep her happily busy. In her spare time, Sally loves to stroll through Beijing’s hutongs and parks. She is a (most of the time) keen runner and loves reading: books, magazines, news, and celeb websites – anything really. Sally is also a bit of a foodie and loves trying out new restaurants.

Photos: courtesy of TLC and Heyrobics

Taking the SAT is far more expensive than it should be, especially when you factor in all the tutors, prep courses, and practice books in preparation for the actual test. I didn’t think my intended prep course justified its price tag, so I decided to study for the test myself. Not only was it a great deal cheaper, as I sourced my own materials and was my own teacher, but it was also more effective.