Yeyu Ying, an octogenarian (80 years) from China, has made headlines by securing the Guinness World Record for the longest career as a female language teacher, spanning an impressive 64 years and 33 days. Yeyu Ying embarked on her teaching journey at 17 in a rural school in Zhejiang, China, driven by a desire to support her impoverished family. This decision marked the start of an extraordinary path. Despite retiring at 55 in February 1999, she established Yuying Elementary School and remains an active teacher there. At 80, she still conducts six Chinese language classes weekly, demonstrating a commitment to lifelong learning by continually refining her teaching methods and materials.
“I remember seeing record challenges on TV long ago and thinking about my own passion for teaching. I always believed my lesson plans were the most meticulous in the world. Maybe I harbored a secret desire to challenge the record but never dared to speak it out loud for fear of being laughed at,” Yeyu Ying shares.
“Earlier this year, while chatting with my daughter, we watched some Guinness World Records challenge clips again. I decided to discuss applying with my colleagues, and to my surprise, we succeeded!”
“This recognition is a testament to my lifelong passion. Coming from a rural village in southern China, establishing a school in Lishui in the 1990s, and receiving such an honour for what seemed like an ordinary career fills me with gratitude,” she added.
Following retirement, she encountered the hurdle of establishing a school independently, relocating thrice within four years. Throughout her lengthy teaching tenure, even the simple act of walking to school proved challenging on occasion. In her role as principal, Yeyu Ying would awaken at 5 am, arriving at school by 7:30 am to oversee teachers and students before commencing her teaching responsibilities. When teachers were absent due to meetings or training, she would step in to cut down on school expenses.
At the remarkable age of 80, Yeyu Ying is setting her sights on a new endeavor: the creation of a nursing home to enhance the well-being of seniors.
