From a Chinese kindergarten: A personal journey

How do Chinese kindergarten teachers understand their teaching practices? How are these influenced by cultural, political and economic forces? What do their classrooms look like from the perspective of a Chinese New Zealander? This paper is based on interviews with Chinese kindergarten teachers in ChangChun City following two days of classroom observation in June 2011. With the guidance of YingHui Qu, an early childhood education (e.c.e.) professional development facilitator, it is written from the perspective of a Chinese émigré, Karen Guo, whose professional knowledge about e.c.e. has been largely constructed in New Zealand over the past ten years as a mother, teacher, postgraduate student and lecturer. YingHui Qu’s input included setting up the visit and interviews, providing information about Chinese e.c.e. context, as well as planning the paper and reviewing the text.