1. Priscilla Chao - Teaching Philosophy
My journey to becoming a Chinese teacher has been full of rich opportunities. I had a
Chinese tutor whom I loved in high school. She showed me that finding things that are
intrinsically interesting to a student can make all the difference. I was not interested in learning
Chinese until she took the time to learn what I enjoyed reading and revolved lessons around
those things. With her I was able to read Chinese science fiction novels and greatly improved my
language abilities. I intend to utilize this knowledge in my own classroom by surveying interests
and allowing for students to choose their own topics for projects sometimes. This would keep my
students engaged and could make them life-long learners.
I will also explicitly discuss with my students why Chinese can be important. I want to
know why my students are taking my class and show them the ways Chinese has been useful in
my own life. In fact, I have experienced how knowing a foreign language can open up so many
doors – study abroad opportunities, getting to know people you never would have otherwise,
even job opportunities. Knowing Chinese, I was able to do Chinese radio programming, study
abroad in China twice, translate at my churches, and more. Moreover, Chinese is a growing
language. My students are more likely to encounter it than ever before, and I hope that knowing
the language will help them get where they want to go.
Since high school, I have worked with a non-native speaker of Chinese at the elementary
level. I learned that students need to have fun with a language and that you do not have to be an
expert in the language for your students to have a valuable experience. In fact, I want my
students to know that messing up is the best way to learn. I will do this by being humble when I
mess up, telling stories about how making mistakes helped me learn, and explicitly telling my
students that it is better to try and be wrong than to be silent.

2. I have worked with a native Chinese speaker at the secondary level. As someone who has
grown up in the America, I know how to relate to my students. I know the pop culture, and I
know the individualistic style of American schools. I would use this knowledge to connect my
students with a world they are unfamiliar with – ways to be polite according to Chinese culture –
and reach them in a way they are familiar with – discussions, group work, games, and creative
projects.
This past summer I worked as a Chinese teacher for Upward Bound, a summer program.
It was the culmination of all I had been learning at university. I found what my students were
interested in, taught about things like Chinese vampires, designed lessons, gave assessments, and
cemented the fact that I love teaching Chinese. One thing I am really proud of and will continue
to do as a teacher is include a class on racism. It took the language and culture from a subject to
be studied to an important, immediately applicable way to relate to others. I had students tell me
that my class was their favorite of the whole summer program.
I am eager to begin my teaching career because I love my subject. I know that having a
passionate, encouraging teacher can make all the difference. I also know that I, as a heritage
Chinese speaker, am in a unique position to teach the language. I have both the ability to relate to
my students and a first-hand perspective on Asia. These strengths will translate well into a
classroom setting.