American Teacher in Ningxia University in Northwest China
By sally on 2016-06-17

Melissa Kay Smith is a 47-year-old American teacher in Ningxia University in northwest China.She has been teaching English in China for a decade and won 2014 "Friendship Award" .

Melissa has a Chinese name - Shi Meichun.She was granted 2014 "Friendship Award" by the Chinese government one month ago.

China conferred the award on 100 foreign experts from 25 countries this year for their contributions to the country's economic and social development.

SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH): MELISSA KAY SMITH, American teacher "When I was in Beijing with other award recipients, I thought they are all doing amazing things, and I am just being a normal person. They are doing cancer research or things related to technology. Many of them are doing things in education, but big things in education. And I feel like I just a normal person".

The first time she came to China was in 1991. She trained Chinese teachers in the summer.

After receiving her doctoral degree in the United States, Melissa came back to China and became a teacher in Ningxia University in 1993.

SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH): MELISSA KAY SMITH, American teacher "I had been in Ningxia for totally 10 years. And Ningxia feels like my hometown to me. Because my entire professional life I have spent in China, in most of that time I spent in Ningxia, so it feels like my home."

Besides the faculty job, Melissa also cares about children living in remote mountain areas in southern parts of the province.

They live in poverty with no access to good education.

SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH): MELISSA KAY SMITH, American teacher "I would read books for them, and sometimes we do activities with the book. Anything to get them interested in reading, because we all know that students who read do better in school. So if I can get them interested in reading by reading to them or doing activities with the books, talking with the books to get them start to read them".

Melissa says she is very happy to be with children, and they are willing to share interesting things with her as well.

She donated over 5,000 books to local schools, and offered financial support to poor kids.

SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH): MELISSA KAY SMITH, American teacher "It's very small amount of money. My bigger goal is to encourage them in their spirit. I can help them a lot financially, but I want to encourage them in spirit to help them to know they are not alone in the world. Outside their family they may feel there is no one cares about them. But I want to let them know there are other people who care about them".

Melissa also received gifts from the kids, which, she says, is also an encouragement for her.

SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH): MELISSA KAY SMITH, American teacher "It's that people are supposed to do. They are suppose to live with each other and take care of each other and help each other. I feel like I am just doing what every person should be doing. It's to help other people".

The Friendship Award is an annual award issued by the Chinese government to honor outstanding foreign experts in China. The scheme was established in 1991.

If you want to know about Ningxia University , please contact:

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