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Biographies of Invited Speakers for October 10th 2020

Eric Shepherd (谢博德)

Eric Shepherd is an associate professor of Chinese at the University of South Florida. Professor Shepherd received his PhD in Chinese Language Pedagogy from the Ohio State University. His research focuses on integrating language, culture, memory, and stories in classroom instruction.

Dr. Shepherd is the author of many published research essays and Chinese teaching books, which include Real Life Chinese, Eat Shandong: From Personal Experience to a Pedagogy of a Second Culture (Ohio State University Foreign Language Publications, 2005), Chinese Communicating in the Culture: Beginning Course in Spoken Mandarin textbook series (Galal Walker and Yong Lang, National East Asian Languages Resource Center, 2004-2007) and Tell It Like It Is: Natural Chinese For Advanced Learners (Jianqi Wang, Yale University Press, 2005).

Since 1998, Dr. Shepherd has worked with K-16 teachers and students to increase the sophistication of Chinese language learning experiences by integrating learner needs and perspectives into classroom instruction. He has been a master teacher and a lead trainer for the Chinese Flagship Program, the Office of Chinese Language Council International’s Train the Trainers and Confucius Institute Directors‘ Training programs, Startalk, The Ohio State University SPEAC program, the Ohio Regents Chinese Academy, US-China Links, and the USF Startalk Academy for High School Students.

张霞 (Ms. Xia Zhang)

Ms. Xia Zhang received her Master’s degree in Music from Chongqing University, China. She currently teaches all levels of Chinese, including AP at St. Brendan High School. She is also an instructor of Business Chinese at Florida International University. Ms. Zhang has extensive experiences of Chinese Language and Culture teaching at college and high school levels. She is the creator of the Hua Mei Children's Performance Art Group, which has close involvement in the Chinese Community. She is also the vocal trainer for several choir groups in Miami. Her forte in Chinese teaching is in applying music and other art forms into Chinese teaching.

张霞老师毕业于重庆大学音乐系研究生专业，主修声乐美声和视唱练耳专业。连续两年参加由联合国中文组织举办的南京大学美国中文教师培训的学习并担任班长。现任佛罗里达洲国际大学商务中文教师，迈阿密私立高中St.Brendan High School 全职中文教师，教授课程从初级到AP全部课程。张霞老师担任迈阿密唯一的华语合唱团声乐指导教师，也是迈阿密华美儿童艺术团创始人，美国陈正雷太极促进会理事，佛罗里达州教师协会会长助理，多次组织与策划演出当地各大比赛与才艺秀活动，她擅长用音乐，歌舞，乐器，厨艺，与太极传统文化结合的真实生活互动交流性的教学方式，调动学生长期学习的积极性，擅长组织与调节课堂气氛。让学生在快乐的音乐旋律中学习中文，自编教材，寓教于乐，灵活运用“音乐律动”技巧帮助学生快速掌握语言能力，通过大量的歌曲学习中文，在长期实践中创立了一些新方法，擅长帮助老师们组织策划演出排练活动，拥有大量丰富资源与经验与大家分享。