老子曰："受之以鱼不如授之以渔。”
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.--Lao-Tzu
My Teaching Methodology
My approach to teaching is a combination of a Structured Teaching Method, Situational Teaching Method and a Communicative/Functional Approach. In elementary/basic Chinese, I use a Structured Teaching Method to present grammar and use of vocabulary. I also use a Situational Teaching Method with drill practices that ensure my students express their new Chinese language skills in a meaningful communicative setting. In intermediate and advanced Chinese, I use a Communicative/Functional Approach and a Task Teaching Method to inspire students to think critically and cross-culturally.
I adapt my teaching methods according to the need of students and I have grown professionally through my diverse teaching experiences. For example, at the University of Oxford in 2002, I used a Translation Method to teach a 2nd Year Chinese Reading Course and an Advanced Reading Course for Cantonese speakers. Later in 2004-2005 at Wesleyan University, Connecticut and the Duke University summer programs in China I used a CET/Middlebury Summer Language School model to conduct the Chinese courses. I have also attended training sessions on AIM (Accelerative Integrated Methodology), Counterbalanced Instruction, PSDL (personalized self-directed learning) and Flipped Classroom.
I am a recognized instructor for Chinese teachers for developing culture awareness/competency in a Chinese Language class. I encourage my students to experience and practice cultural knowledge, cultural understanding, cross-cultural competence and international perspectives by using the "Experiential Learning" model (Kolb, 1975). I prefer inductive methods over deductive methods. I prefer student-centered instruction over a stand and deliver approach. I prefer that students experience language and culture over "teaching" the language and culture. I prefer using an educating process that produces results over using a checklist of content to be covered.
My favorite and commonly-used teaching methods include semantic mapping, word association, idioms, role playing, conversation analysis, strategic questions, group discussion, culture comparison, tasks based on authentic materials and an ethnographic methods.