Patriotic Education Subtly Nurtures Minds
西安市西光中学 封辛颖
We constantly think that patriotic education exists only in ideological and political classes. However, as a senior high school English teacher, I firmly believe that patriotism education is subtle and pervasive, for everywhere can be a classroom. True patriotism often emerges from ordinary teaching details and is hidden in students' sincere expressions and personal growth.
A few years ago, when I was teaching in the class, the students and the class left me a deep impression, and gave me a profound understanding of integrating moral education into academic subjects and nurturing patriotism within the classroom. It was a reading passage about the introduction of Tu Youyou. The article documented her winning of Nobel Prize and the journey of dedication to scientific research. During the class, I asked students to analyse and then summarize Tu Youyou's spirit using English vocabulary. What deeply moved me was that they didn’t mechanically answer good or great. Instead, they genuinely analyzed her life experience and used words like "devoted" and "committed". With simple yet meaningful English sentences, they conveyed Tu Youyou's qualities—her selfless dedication, unwavering perseverance, deep commitment to research, and pride in serving her country.
During that class, we discussed for a long time. The students vividly described their feelings and tried to express in English their love for these great individuals and nations. At that moment, I was deeply moved. What had originally been an ordinary reading class transformed into students’ sincere expressions of tribute to China's backbone and praise for their spirit. What the students truly grasped was not merely a text or a few words, but also the dedication of Chinese scientists—modest, selfless, and committed to long-term national progress. This made me realize profoundly that English was not just a tool for communication, but also a window through which we could tell China's stories and convey China's voice to the world.
It was also from this class that I started making small changes in my teaching. Compared to reading classes, grammar lessons had fewer content restrictions and were more flexible in form, making them perfect for expansion and extension. So, alongside regular grammar teaching, I specifically designed to add more Chinese elements in the class, moving away from mechanical sentence pattern exercises and encouraging students to use their English skills to share our traditional culture and classic stories.
To my delight, the students were extremely enthusiastic. When they were assigned the tasks, they actively gathered materials and organized sentences, confidently showing what they found in English, such as the traditional myths, festivals, and Chinese culture. Standing on the podium and telling stories in English, they were so proud and their eyes were full of pride and joy. They told the story of "Journey to the West" in English, translated many ancient poems in English, introduced Chinese traditional mythological stories in English, and talked about various customs of our hometown in English. The knowledge became a tool for showcasing Chinese culture, and the classrooms about passively doing exercises transformed into the fertile ground for growing cultural confidence.
The ultimate meaning of language learning is not only to broaden horizons but also to stay rooted in our culture. Students’ paying tribute to Chinese scientists and telling classic Chinese stories fluently in English are the most vivid form of patriotic education. The students, by applying what they learn, understand the Chinese spirit, see the power of culture, and foster their national pride in the class.
A nation's strength lies in the strength of its youth, and a nation's aspirations are shaped by the aspirations of its youth. The true essence of patriotic education is not to tell grand principles, but to cultivate students' sense of responsibility and commitment. We always guide students to understand that patriotism is never a distant feat, but is embedded in every word and deed of daily life: listening attentively in class and seeking knowledge diligently are the patriotism of the youth; respecting teachers and classmates and being united with peers are the patriotism of the youth; caring for the campus, being thrifty and diligent, and striving forward are the most simple patriotic commitment of the new era's youth.
Education is subtle and imperceptible, and patriotic spirit is passed down from generation to generation. In future teaching work, I will continuously integrate red patriotic education deeply into teaching and life, educating through culture and practice, guiding students to remember history, cherish our country and family, and striving to grow into the new era's outstanding individuals capable of taking on the responsibility of the national rejuvenation.