A maths and Mandarin teacher is still appearing before his students in a Darwin classroom, even though he is in self-imposed quarantine at home after returning from holidays in China.

Key points: Maths and Mandarin teacher Victor Sun is teaching school students via video link while he is in quarantine at home

Maths and Mandarin teacher Victor Sun is teaching school students via video link while he is in quarantine at home He has to retreat to his bedroom when his flatmates return home

He has to retreat to his bedroom when his flatmates return home The students have a teaching assistant in the room to keep them honest

Hardworking Victor Sun refused to let his St John's Catholic College students go without their classes, so he is teaching via video link from his living room in Alawa, 8 kilometres away.

And riots have not erupted in the classroom. Not with the senior students, anyway.

"Year sevens are very active I have to say," he said diplomatically to ABC Radio Darwin's Jo Laverty.

"Overall I think it's going well, so far, with their behaviour.

"My students are still interacting and engaging with the virtual classroom.

Victor Sun teaching via video-link from his home in Alawa to his students in nearby Darwin. ( Supplied )

"I have found different age groups do show some different responses and feedback to the virtual lessons.

"Our senior students, especially our strong cohort of those doing specialist maths in year 12, they are really glad of still being taught and supported by me through the virtual classroom instead of, say, leaving them with a relief teacher."

Initial concern waived off

The students were told what was happening before the classes started.

Year 11 student Felicia Wiwarsomo said it has been a unique experience, but Mr Sun's technology skills made it easier.

"We've never had something like this before," she said.

"It was scary too, because we didn't know how he was going to be talking to us.

"And he's just come from China. We want him to come back to school safely."

Student Mirabelle Matyorautah says she wouldn't mind if it was like this all the time. ( ABC Radio Darwin: Conor Byrne )

Year 9 student Mirabelle Matyorautah said it was business as usual.

"It's kinda the same," she said.

"The teacher is still at the board and the worksheets are in front of us. I wouldn't mind if it was like this all the time."

Lost in translation

The younger students are a good example of where the virtual classroom model is challenged.

For them, Mr Sun had his work cut out for him.

"This teaching mode for them is very new, especially for a language class like my Mandarin class," Mr Sun said.

"The students want to take the opportunity to talk with me in Chinese to practice.

"There was a moment when they talked together and I couldn't really hear clearly what they were saying, so luckily I've got another teacher in the classroom to organise the students so I can focus on the teaching."

Victor Sun self-quarantined at home after he returned from China, where coronavirus is in transmission. ( Supplied )

Mr Sun is probably lucky he is still able to teach as he can not interact with his flatmates.

He retreats to his bedroom when they return from work.

When there, he fills his time with even more work.

"I'm preparing for the new school year," he said.

"It's fine. It's not that bad. At least I'm able to do my job at home."

Learning all the time

Mr Sun returned on Friday from Chinese New Year family celebrations in Shanghai, 700 kilometres from the centre of the coronavirus outbreak in the city of Wuhan.

With principal Cameron Hughes they discussed the Federal Government's health advice for travellers from China to quarantine for two weeks.

They rented the virtual classroom equipment over the weekend.

He said he and other Catholic schools are thinking about how this can be a lesson for the administration, saying small classes studying specialist subjects in different schools could benefit from this technology.

"The students have been engaged," he said.

"The younger students are more active in the classes. The senior classes just want to get in and get the work done.

"You never know when we might be able to use this technology in the future."

Asked if he may have hit a money-saving jackpot for the school budget, he said "nothing replaces the teacher in the classroom".

"Teachers in the classroom are definitely a priority," he said.

