My name is Iris Lai, and I'm from Taiwan, a small island in East Asia renowned for its vibrant and diverse ethnic cultures. I got my Bachelor's degree in Media Design in Taiwan and continued doing a Master's degree in the field of language teaching in the United States. Although some might question my decision to switch to a completely different field after four years in media design, the signs pointing to this change had been present long before. I've been learning languages since a young age, but I've focused solely on those that genuinely interest me. However, ever since I attended an internship that provided me the opportunity to encounter people from different cultural backgrounds, I started to gain an interest in teaching English and my L1 Mandarin Chinese. That's how I decided to join the LTS program here at the University of Oregon and continue my education.

From my past experiences, language learning is commonly seen as necessary to find a better job in Taiwan. It isn't considered fun or engaging, but part of responsibility. To improve this situation and make language learning interesting and meaningful, I hope to make use of the teaching styles, theories, methods, and practical experiences I've learned in this program, and combine them with the education system in Asia to find a better teaching method for further improvement in my future career as a teacher. 

As an MA student in Language Teaching Studies at the University of Oregon, I bring a diverse background in education to my role. My experience at UO includes tutoring university students for the Chinese Flagship Program and teaching Chinese to elementary heritage speakers in Oregon. Before this, I worked as an assistant lecturer in Shanghai and a cram school assistant English teacher in Taipei, providing me with various educational experiences across different age groups and cultural contexts. My teaching beliefs center on fostering motivation and autonomy in language learning. I strive to create engaging, learner-centered environments that encourage interaction and creativity. I believe in making language learning fun through gamification and cultural immersion, helping students connect language to their daily lives. With skills in multiple languages, including Mandarin, English, and Taiwanese Hokkien, I'm committed to creating inclusive and communicative learning spaces. A goal of mine is to inspire long-term motivation in my students, making language learning an enjoyable, lifelong journey.

My multilingual background and passion for teaching create a unique approach to language education. By fostering an environment where languages are not just learned but lived, I aim to help students discover the joy of linguistic diversity and cultural understanding. Through this, I hope to develop not only language skills but also a genuine love for the learning process itself, empowering students to become confident, global communicators.