Immersive Class Entering Chen Tianlong Art Museum

January 29, 2021 | Lecture Exhibition Forum | wangzhiyao
Recently, Chen Tianlong Art Museum ushered in a cohort of young friends. Danny Dyer, English lecturer of Liberal Arts, brought his ESL speaking class here, giving his students a genuinely immersive class, which wittily combines English teaching with arts appreciation.
After celebrating constructions like the Grand Business Building and the splendid Gehekai Building, the University’s introduction of this art gallery was a smart move. Art is essential for a diverse community because it endows the community with a sense of humanity.
 
It is an interesting approach for an English lecturer to have class at the gallery. “Art gives students something to talk about. I think that is one of art’s purposes. Talking about art is talking about culture.” He went on to explain, “When a student talked about the significance of the painting “God of the Door,” it deepened my understanding of Chinese faith and religions. And I think he liked explaining as much as I liked listening.”
For Danny and his students, the class was much more fun after moving to the Art Museum because it enriched the content of the class.
 
“I’m not an expert, but some of those paintings seem to integrate elements of Monet and Picasso’s styles. They incorporate Chinese elements as well, making a unique kind of unity. Thus, it is a wise decision to have these paintings at a Sino-Foreign Cooperative University with mixed educational philosophies.”
This distinctive ESL class also won the favor of his students, who showed more interaction during the class. Ms. Li, an English major, praised the class, saying, “This immersive style sounds more appealing and innovative to me, which arouses my attention. I feel more motivated in class.”
Another student from accounting was impressed by the painting “Red Mountain” and its overlapping colors. This painting demonstrates multi-layer illustrations, which reveal the strong emotions of the creator. “I could feel a beam of hope breaking through desperation. It touched me deeply.”
 
Danny Dyer said he looks forward to having more ESL classes at the Museum to nurture WKU students in a stimulating environment. He hopes other teachers will consider using the art gallery as a teaching tool in their classes.

 

Writer:Alisa LAI

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