Information About Fen - Cockermouth teacher -

(1 review)

Personal Description:

I am native Chinese and began my career of teaching in the year 2000 at Beijing Foreign Studies University, a highly regarded institute which specialises in foreign languages. I taught English as a foreign language to native Chinese students for four years. I then came to the UK to better understand effective teaching methods by studying for an MA in Language Learning and Education at the University of York. After a few years of raising my family I turned my attention once more to the profession which I am so passionate about, and set about becoming fully qualified to teach Mandarin in the UK.

I completed a PGDE at Moray House in Edinburgh receiving high grades for assessed work, mostly 1st class, and obtained excellent placement reports. I was then offered a probationary placement based at St. Ninian’s High School and I am nearing the end of this as I write. My current position keeps me extremely busy and I am grateful for that as I am enthusiastic and hard working. In the short time I have worked in Scotland, I have taught in nine different schools, to a wide range of ages and abilities. At each school I have received much praise for my teaching ability and am often complimented on my proficiency of English speaking. I am also very easy to get along with and make new friends easily which has allowed me to settle in very quickly at the many schools.

In addition to teaching Mandarin, I have taken every opportunity to enrich the experience of pupils by carrying out cross-curricular activities. For example, Chinese cooking in Home Economics, Chinese Art, Chinese sports, to name but a few. Much of the drive and initiation of these events came from myself and I also took a leading role in the preparation and organisation in most cases. Indeed, before I began my teacher training, I voluntarily organised a number of events at primary schools near my family home, including a Chinese cultural exhibition, Chinese New Year celebrations and Chinese cookery.

During my teacher training I excelled in ICT and focussed on the impact and use of whiteboard technology for one of my dissertations. I use ICT in a wide range of ways to make my lessons interesting and informative, in particular making full use of interactive whiteboards to make puzzles, games and other methods to reinforce taught concepts and engage students.

Teaching in many schools to a range of ages, has required me to prepare a substantial amount of material in the short time I have worked. In the free time which I have, I have recently taken up golf and salsa dancing as I am always interested in facing new challenges.

I hope that this brief account demonstrates that I am a highly motivated, well organised professional Mandarin teacher with drive, enthusiasm and excellent interpersonal skills.

Teaching Experience:

University of Aberdeen Feb 12 - Present
Lecturer in Mandarin
Responsible for teaching Level 1 and Level 2 undergraduate students Mandarin and assessment.

St. Ninian’s High School, Kirkintilloch, Glasgow Aug 10 – 08/2011
Mandarin Chinese teacher
Responsible for teaching S1, S2, S5 and S6 year groups Chinese language and culture; giving lessons to feeder Primary schools; Also involved in organizing useful materials, developing different courses, and preparing some pupils to sit Access 3 and Higher exams; Organizing several cultural activities and interdisciplinary projects

Douglas Academy, Glasgow Aug 10 – Present
Mandarin Chinese teacher
Responsible for teaching S6 Access 3 level Mandarin; organizing assessment materials for pupils to sit advanced higher Mandarin exam; organizing extra-curricular activities about Chinese culture

Irvine Royal Academy, Irvine, North Ayrshire Apr 10 – May 10
Mandarin Chinese teacher
5 – week teaching practice with S1, and S5 classes and giving lessons to Castle Park Primary P7 pupils; Developed additional teaching materials for the school; Attended parents’ evening; participated in school in – service activities and improved knowledge and understanding of the curriculum for excellence (CfE)

Grange Academy, Kilmarnock, East Ayrshire Feb 10 – Mar 10
Mandarin Chinese teacher
6 – week teaching practice with S1, S2, S3 and S6 year groups and Annanhill Primary P7 pupils. Participated in staff in – service activities and actively sought advice from colleagues and co-teachers for self-development

Dalbeattie High School, Dumfries and Galloway Oct 09 – Dec 09
Mandarin Chinese teacher
7 – week teaching practice with S2, S3 and S5-6 year groups; Actively participated in school’s extra curricular activities. Observed experienced teachers and developed practical and useful teaching materials for the department

York City Council Oct 05 – Apr 07
Chinese (Mandarin) Language Teacher
Working in a Chinese School, teaching Chinese to children ranging from 4 to 8 years old

Beijing Foreign Studies University Sept 04 – Dec 04
English Teacher
Teaching English to Junior College students (4 first-year classes and 2 second-year classes)

Beijing Foreign Studies University Sept 00 – Aug 03
English Teacher
Taught English to Junior College Students and Adult learners
Beijing Institute of Applied Technology Sept 02 – Jul 03
Part-Time English Teacher
Taught English to Self-Teaching English majors

Teaching Approach:

interactive, learner-centred, communicative
ICT technology to enhance learning and teaching
Form: one-to-one
small group