On June 24, Xia Chunlai, a Special-Grade Teacher from Jiangsu Jurong High School, was invited to deliver a special lecture titled "Teaching and Research: Supporting the Rapid Professional Growth of Novice Teachers" for the faculty and students of the School of Foreign Languages. The lecture was chaired by Li Jiajun, Vice Dean of the School of Foreign Languages, and attended by young faculty members, supervisors for teacher education interns, and all undergraduate students of the Class of 2022 in the English (Teacher Education) program.
Xia Chunlai first shared the growth journeys of two outstanding alumni, Lu Youxian and Wang Huan, tracing their paths from campus to the workplace. Through these vivid examples, he set a benchmark for teacher education students, illustrating the progression from novice to backbone teachers. Next, drawing on over thirty years of frontline teaching experience, Xia provided guidance that combines theoretical depth with practical value for pre-service and novice teachers. He approached this from three dimensions: "tailoring plans to develop a reasonable professional growth strategy," "establishing a solid foundation in teaching to achieve a balance between teaching and research," and "embracing lifelong learning to continuously enhance professional skills."
Drawing from his own professional growth, Xia guided students in constructing clear career development plans. Reflecting on his multiple experiences in teaching competitions, he emphasized that novice teachers should prioritize teaching while also integrating teaching and research. He put forward the practical philosophy that "teaching without research remains superficial, and research without teaching remains empty." He stressed the importance of organizing teaching content around thematic contexts while encouraging the extraction of research questions from daily teaching practices. Through activities such as writing academic papers and conducting research projects, he highlighted how professional capabilities can be enhanced in both areas.
Regarding the cultivation of lifelong learning abilities, Xia shared strategies for utilizing educational publications and tools such as AI technology and mind mapping. He emphasized the professional creed of "simplifying complex tasks, approaching simple tasks with diligence, repeating diligent practices, and infusing creativity into repetitive tasks."
In the concluding remarks, Li Jiajun encouraged young faculty members and teacher education students to take outstanding alumni as role models. He urged them not only to plan how to enter the profession but also to reflect on how to transition from novice to expert educators in their teaching careers. Zhang Mingping, Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Foreign Languages, presented a certificate to Xia and expressed sincere gratitude for his support in cultivating teacher education students. He encouraged young and pre-service teachers to use this lecture as a starting point to proactively plan their professional development goals in teaching.
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