Amber Wang provides a summary of her first year teaching Mandarin at Ross School. She teaches several Mandarin language and culture classes across grades and has a full schedule from early morning until late at night, including planning lessons. Some of her students question the value of learning Mandarin or find it difficult. Wang offers tips for building rapport with students and establishing clear expectations and discipline in her largest 8th grade class.

1. New Teacher’s Report
Amber Qianyun Wang
awang@ross.org

2. About Ross School

3. My department

4. Hide and work!
7 ESOL
teachers
3 Mandarin
teachers
2 Spanish
teachers

5. Mandarin Corner

6. 大家好，
我是Kyle.

8. Curriculum and Lessons
No textbook, design your own curriculum.

9. My Classes and Schedule
• 8th grade Mandarin
• Mandarin I
• Mandarin III
• Mandarin Culture
and Conversation II
• HS study support
• HS advisory
• Get up at 6:15 am
• Arrive at school at
7:30 am
• Leave school at
4:00 pm
• Plan lessons until
11:59pm

10. My Kids
Why we
have to learn
Mandarin?
Mandarin is
soooo hard!
We are too
old to learn
Mandarin.

11. How do I get along with them?
• Slow down the class.
• Get to know their learning styles.
• Talk with them.
• Let them know me.
• Be humorous and open-minded.
• Be dramatic.
• Be happy.

12. How do I fix my 8th graders?
• Reported a Korean boy to the dean for
the 1st time. – Feeling sad
• Established a reward-punishment
system.
• Discipline before teaching
• Be clear and consistent

13. Live in the Hamptons

14. Tips for future teachers…
Get your driving license!!!!!!