introducing ms. wang

By: Rose Lindstrom

Recently, Oyster Bay High School added Mandarin as a new language course. The first teacher to instruct this course at OBHS is Ms. Wang. She shared her story with The Harbour Voice:

Where did you attend high school, college, and grad school?
I attended high school and college in Shanghai, China. I went to East China Normal University. NYU Shanghai is one of its affiliated schools. For grad school, I attended Hunter College grad school.

How long have you been teaching, and where have you worked before coming to OBHS?
I have been teaching since 2016. I worked in the Jericho School district for five years before coming to OBEN.

What made you want to start teaching?
I had some wonderful teachers when I was young. They opened my mind and touched my life. Even today, after I grew up and started my own family, I still visit my teachers. The lasting impression a teacher can have on students makes teaching a very unique and rewarding experience.  

How would you describe your teaching style?
To be honest, I cannot define my teaching style. It is more like a blended style. It really depends on the students’ ability, personality, and the content that I teach for the class. I simply try my best with each student, and give them the support they need.

What is your greatest professional achievement? What is one moment from your career that makes you proud?
My greatest professional achievement was being told by a senior class, which I taught since they were freshmen, “You are the best teacher we ever had.” My proudest moment from my career was being told by my students, after they had an exchange trip to China, about what they have done with what they learned in my class, and what amazing things they have learned from the trip about China and the culture.

What do you hope to accomplish at OBHS? How do you hope to grow as an educator here?
I hope I can bring the best language learning experience for the students and include the community to learn about Chinese and its fascinating culture.

Any fun facts about yourself?
My favorite subject in school is English (as a foreign language) because I know it’s fine to make mistakes. This was very different from my other classes. I still remember my English teacher telling us “don’t be afraid to make mistakes.” In real life, you just speak and communicate, even if you do poorly on grammar. Until today, I am still sharing this story with my students and encouraging them to speak the language without being afraid to make mistakes. Building your 
comfort level in speaking a new language is more important than speaking the language correctly.