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Teaching Philosophy
Teaching Philosophy
I believe that the classroom should be a safe community where each student can bring their own wealth of knowledge. I strive to provide an environment where each student can reach their highest potential and build confidence to face the unknown. I aim to be a guide in meaningful activities, cheerleader amidst challenging circumstances, and advocate for joyful learning.
Teaching Approach
I believe that learning a foreign language is best acquired, not learned. This is what children do as they grow up, with their first language. Acquiring a language requires a lot of Comprehensible Input (CI); students must be constantly exposed to the target language in a way that is understandable. Chinese, while a difficult language, is not impossible! My goal is for my students to be able to have Chinese conversations in topics that are relevant to their lives. If you are interested in the methodology and theory behind my teaching approach, I have included some links that cover different aspects. If you have further questions, I would love to talk about it! You can find my contact information on my About Me page.
There is a difference between studying a language and acquiring it through repeated, understandable input.
This is a method I use frequently to introduce new vocabulary and to reinforce previous learning.
Growth Mindset
Growth Mindset
Our brains are capable of growing and changing! I believe that each student is capable of developing their abilities and learning from mistakes. This mindset is important in all areas of life, not just school!
Dr. Krashen is a researcher in the field of language acquisition and my approach is highly influenced by his research. You can find much of his work on his website, linked above. I am also including a few landmark articles. Dr. Krashen is seasoned in the field of language acquisition, not only academically, but also as a student of languages. He speaks several! I had the privilege of meeting him and learned that he is in the process of learning Chinese!
Dr. Krashen and I, Summer 2017
Biography
你好！Hello!
My name is Michelle Chen. I grew up in China and moved to America after I graduated from high school. I completed my undergraduate degree at UNC (Go Heels!) and completed my Masters at UNC-Charlotte. I have one younger brother who is currently living and working in Japan. My parents live in Singapore. My husband works in finance. In my free time, I enjoy like volleyball, hiking, exploring, crafting and many other activities. I also love a good book or movie, so I’d love recommendations! I also love to travel. I have been to 11 countries and hope to keep adding to that list.
I grew up in a home that spoke both Chinese and English. This experience has fostered a great love and appreciation of language. While Chinese is a challenging language to learn, with some investment and teamwork, I know that each student who chooses to learn is capable of learning Chinese. I look forward to helping each student achieve their goals!
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