Learners will learn the twelve animals of the Chinese Zodiac alongside many other simple words and concepts and form a positive association with the sights and sounds of Mandarin Chinese. This class sets a foundation and desire for future learning.

My native language is English—I became professionally fluent in Mandarin Chinese through more than nine years of intense study that gave me a deep appreciation for the Chinese language and culture. I will pass this appreciation on to your learner in my class! During my year of teaching English and German in Taipei, I simultaneously studied Mandarin, which activated my interest in the language. I focused on Mandarin in graduate school and have completed multiple total immersion courses in China, one of which included a language pledge to speak only Mandarin Chinese for six weeks straight! My professional work in China has taken me to many Mandarin-speaking places, including Harbin, Beijing, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Kunming, Taipei, and Hong Kong. Most importantly, from nearly twenty years of total time and experience working with China and Mandarin Chinese, I gained a lifelong love of the language and culture that I can't wait to share with your child.

Summary of Qualifications:
> ESL
Worked as an English and German teacher in Taiwan for one year. 
> EARLY LITERACY
Worked for seven years in the children's department of a public library with a focus on early literacy and multilingual programming.
> EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts degree in INTERNATIONAL POLITICS and GERMAN.
Master of Arts degree in INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS with a language focus on MANDARIN CHINESE. 

Homework Offered
Learners will have one simple worksheet to complete, taking approximately 5 minutes. These worksheets are posted to the welcome message and to the classroom before each class.
Assessments Offered
Grades Offered