Wuhan English Class

This is a picture of a 1st grade teacher teaching English (yes they start in 1st grade and it is incredibly effective).  This particular teacher is considered the best primary English teacher in Wuhan and after sitting through her entire class, I would have to believe that she is.  She is an absolute dynamo who kept, get this, 48 1st grade students ACTIVELY engaged in the lesson for 45 minutes!  The students were learning to say, "Mama, what's for breakfast, I'm hungry for milk and corn flakes/orange juice/ a roll/ ham/toast and jam/etc."  The entire class was conducted in English at first grade! It was very impressive.  The primary classes are organized just like our MS abd HS, the students change classes every 45 min. And the teachers specialize in a subject area.  I have heard/read many times that this is not possible or advisable at the early grades, well China obviously hasn't heard that and it works very well for them.