♥ memories of teaching Chinese
- Our team
- ♥ memories
why did I start this website?
written by Wang Yi
In 2015, I was teaching Chinese at a private school and felt frustrated with the school system and my boss. One day, my student and I were chatting. After knowing my situation, he suggested that I should start my own business. He and his friend own a website design company. He created this website for me and encouraged me to be self-employed.
Over time, the website has grown with more content, and I am grateful for the assistance I received and for having two good partners join me last year.
This website has become more than just a job for me. It also marks the beginning of many wonderful memories.
My lovely teammates
written by Wang Yi
2022 was definitely a tough year for me. I felt tired of my full-time teaching job and it seems like I couldn’t improve anymore. It’s time to step out of comfort zone.
After I share this feeling with two other teachers, they also felt related. Bill Gates and Walt Disney started their businesses in garages, whereas we started ours at McDonald’s! Perhaps we all are “French fries lover”.
Our goal is to create a teacher-friendly community where individuals can showcase their talents and creativity without excessive limitations to make teachers’ life better.
I truly appreciate that we became a team and we have had so much laugh and good time so far. I hope one day we can have our own office with abundant French fries. 😛
Newsletter from students' company
written by Wang Yi
Teaching Mandarin in a company is an incredible experience. I have designed a series of courses, including common phrases used in convenience stores, a brief introduction to the company, and ordering food in a restaurant.
I firmly believe that teaching is a two-way process, and I have learned a lot from my students. Enthusiasm, self-discipline, an open atmosphere, and well-established systems are crucial factors for a company’s success. These principles have also become the guiding focus for our team. Thanks to these students for not only teaching me the principles of management but also enabling me to apply them in my own life.
Field trip in Dadaocheng(大稻埕)
written by Wang Yi
Dadaocheng is one of my favorite places in Taipei. You can either bike along the riverbank or take a short walk from Zhongshan Station to reach here.
I took my student to a historical and famous temple, Xiahai City God Temple (霞海城隍廟). I showed her how to pray and use the divination blocks (擲筊) to ask questions of gods. Next to the temple is Yongle Market (永樂市場), where you can find a variety of fabrics. We both thoroughly enjoyed the nostalgic atmosphere there. Lastly, we visited Grandma’s Museum (阿嬤家-和平與女性人權館), where we learned about the harsh realities of war and the resilience of women.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to explore Taipei with my student. It offered a fresh perspective on the history and culture of my country.
friendship with Orrawan
written by Wang Yi
Some teachers would like to keep distance with students after class. I don’t insist that every student likes me, but I don’t mind becoming friends with them.
I had an instinct that we would be friend after the first class. Yes, Since then, I’ve taken several Thai classes with her (practicing my rusty Thai). She went to visit my hometown. We also went to an interior design fair for her business. The conversations between us remain vivid in my mind, even though she has already gone back. We discussed various topics, such as observations of different cultures, work environments, and career advice. I enjoyed discussing with her because she provided me with another perspective.
I admire her thoughtfulness, sense of humor, and diligence. These qualities are what I appreciate about her. What I admire the most is the laid-back attitude for life that Thai people have. It reminds me to slow down and enjoy life.
Her growth
written by Wang Yi
When I first met Cookie, I remembered she carried a fashionable handbag and wore a pretty dress. My initial impression of her was trendy. As time goes by, her caring nature, warmth, and wisdom have left a lasting impression on me.
I have watched her get married, become pregnant, and now her child is almost five years old. Countless memories are etched in my heart. I feel extremely lucky to be involved in her life.
Yesterday, we went to Dayou Park (大有梯田生態公園) with her daughter. I became her playmate, and we had a great time together. I remembered that Cookie asked me why her daughter immediately connected with me long time ago, especially since she is a shy girl. I realized that it is because I have been there since she was in Cookie’s belly, watching her grow.
As a teacher, I am genuinely happy to witness my students’ improvement in Chinese. Even more blissfully, we have become friends and can accompany each other through every stage of life.
Eating hotpot buffet
written by Wang Yi
Going to this Japanese hotpot restaurant for a meal has become a ‘tradition’ for me and my colleagues. Every year, we gather here to discuss what we’ve accomplished during the year. This time, we decided to invite students and my Taiwanese friends. Some are vegetarians, and some avoid starch, but hotpot is always the best choice!
The longer I teach, the more I realize that helping students make connections is the most challenging. Building friendships with locals, going to places that real locals visit – these emotional connections significantly influence language learning motivation. However, these connections are challenging to replicate in the classroom. We hope to organize more similar events, allowing Taiwanese and international students to understand each other, experience using different languages, and adapt to various chatting habits or ways of thinking. It might be a bit awkward or nervous at first, but the fun generated from communication outweighs any discomfort!
Our team
written by Wang Yi
Every month, we have an online meeting with our teachers. Since our teachers are currently located in various parts of the world, apart from discussing teaching matters, we also listen to their suggestions regarding our system.
While online meetings are convenient, we still prefer the opportunity to interact in person.Sometimes, when the teachers are in Taiwan, we seize the opportunity to have meals together and chat. I cherish these gatherings a lot.
Teaching foreign students often makes me realize that once the course ends and the students return to their own countries, we never know when we’ll meet again. So, when we have the chance to meet, we make the most of it by chatting and embracing each other warmly when it’s time to part ways!
