A shared journey: how CertPT helped three educators rethink their teaching
Names: Lina, Shaofu and Pei
Trinity qualification: CertPT
For Shaofu, Lina and Pei joining CertPT wasn’t just about learning something new, it was about finding better ways to support their students across very different subjects.
From architecture and tourism to hospitality and teacher training, each of them came to the programme with their own teaching context. What they discovered was a set of approaches they could adapt, apply and grow with over time.
Starting with curiosity
Shaofu, who teaches architectural design, was looking for something practical that could improve how students learn in small groups.
“I was quite interested in how to use a new method in architectural study. It felt like a chance to change something,” he explains.
For Pei, the shift began when she started teaching EMI (English as a Medium of Instruction) classes in hospitality management.
“I wanted to move from teacher-centred to student-centred teaching. I wanted to speak less and let my students talk more.”
Lina’s journey was slightly different. Originally trained in TESOL, her career had already moved across disciplines, from tourism and event management to teacher training.
“This programme helped me build up the fundamental techniques I need for my classes now,” she says. “It’s also one of the reasons I was able to move into teacher training.”
Small changes, big impact
One of the biggest shifts for all three was moving away from traditional lecture-style teaching towards more active, student-led learning.
Pei shares a simple but powerful example from her hospitality classes:
“Before, I would explain hotel services using text or video. Now, I start with visual aids, then take students to a real hotel environment. They work in groups and take on roles, like serving different types of guests.”
Instead of just listening, students experience the task themselves.
“They remember it because they did it, not because I told them.”
Lina also redesigned her classroom activities to encourage deeper thinking. In her event management classes, students don’t just learn about crisis management, they act it out.
“I ask them to run a press conference. They explain what happened, what the crisis is, and what their solution is. It becomes very practical and engaging.”
For Shaofu, the change was about structure. Teaching architectural design can be complex, so he began breaking projects into smaller manageable parts.
“I divide the work into sections, like structure or interior design and students focus on one part at a time before bringing everything together.”
This not only saves time but also makes it easier to see where students need support.
Finding a system that works
While the changes in the classroom were important, the process of getting there wasn’t always easy.
“At the beginning, it was quite a struggle,” Shaofu admits. “The coursework took time, almost six months to complete.”
But that effort paid off.
“After finishing, I understood how to redesign my courses, even those not taught in English. I could use the same structure and approach.”
Lina describes CertPT as something you grow into.
“It’s like a toolbox that becomes easier to use over time. When we have a topic, we can break down the knowledge and choose the right techniques and design activities around it.”
Pei found a practical way to manage the workload by linking it directly to her teaching.
“I used my class materials for both the course and my teaching. That way, I was improving both at the same time.”
Learning together
A key part of their experience was the support they built as a group.
“We meet regularly, about twice a month,” Lina explains. “We share ideas, discuss challenges, and give feedback on each other’s materials and we also discussed it with Steven (our CertPT trainer).”
This collaboration helped them complete the course and continue developing afterwards.
“I think the reason we kept going is because we had each other,” she adds.
Their work has also extended beyond their own classrooms. Together, they’ve presented at workshops and annual conferences, sharing their approaches with other educators.
“We show how we design our classes and how CertPT works in practice,” says Lina. “It’s very interactive, teachers join the activities and discussions themselves.”
A lasting change
Looking back, all three agree that CertPT has had a lasting impact on what they teach and how they think about teaching.
“It changed the old-fashioned teaching style,” Pei reflects. “I think I’m the one who gained the most from it.”
For Lina, it’s about confidence and flexibility.
“Now we can take any topic and design something meaningful and engaging.”
And for Shaofu, the message to other teachers is simple:
“Just do it! Experience it for yourself.”
Because for these three educators, what started as a course has become something much more, a way to rethink teaching, engage students more deeply, and continue growing long after the programme ends.
