Category: Education

Education, Music

Out of Key: Why China is Stepping Back From Piano Lessons


Zhang Weiwei ended her 11-year-old daughter’s piano lessons in January after three years of practice, citing costs and her child’s lack of enthusiasm. The fifth grader had been taking lessons from teachers at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing and had managed to progress to the fifth of 10 levels of certification before quitting. “Piano lessons were more of an investment in nurturing a … Continue reading Out of Key: Why China is Stepping Back From Piano Lessons

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Culture, Education, Society

In China, Life Coaches Are Seeing Booming Demand From Gen-Zers


SHANGHAI — As she got ready to graduate this May, Zhao Xinli recalls feeling “very confused” about her career plans.  The history major had some hard decisions to make: She had a job offer on the table, but it was “completely irrelevant” to her studies. Though she hated the idea of settling for a boring role, she also knew that the job market was fiercely … Continue reading In China, Life Coaches Are Seeing Booming Demand From Gen-Zers

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Education

In China’s Dance Schools, a Dangerous Obsession With Weight Loss


SHENZHEN — When 12-year-old Ziqi won a place at a specialist art school in April, it was a proud moment for her family. The school has one of the most competitive dance programs in the country: Thousands of students apply each year, but only 30 are admitted. Training there would allow Ziqi to achieve her life’s ambition of becoming a professional dance teacher. “We were … Continue reading In China’s Dance Schools, a Dangerous Obsession With Weight Loss

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Education, Society

After 3 Years of COVID, China’s Gen-Z Are Mourning Their Lost Future


In October, Chen began to feel seriously unwell. Worried he might need emergency medical treatment, the 20-year-old student went to his tutor for help. The tutor’s response frustrated him. Rather than ask Chen how he was doing, his tutor bluntly informed him that he would need to apply for permission to leave campus due to the college’s strict virus-control rules. For Chen, the incident encapsulates … Continue reading After 3 Years of COVID, China’s Gen-Z Are Mourning Their Lost Future

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Culture, Education, Gender

In China, Millions of Women Never Learned to Read. Can TikTok Help?


At first glance, Liu Bingxia’s lesson looks like any regular Chinese class: The 47-year-old stands in front of a blackboard, reading out the characters she has neatly written in white chalk. “Siji — driver,” she says, then calls on students to repeat the word back to her. But Liu is no ordinary teacher. Each of her online lessons is attended by thousands of people from all … Continue reading In China, Millions of Women Never Learned to Read. Can TikTok Help?

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