Last year, Xiaona Wang came to Hopkinton from Anshan China not only to teach Mandarin Chinese at the High School, but to fully immerse herself into American culture. Although she will be heading back to China July 3rd, Wang has greatly enjoyed her experience in Hopkinton.
Wang came to Hopkinton through an exchange program grant from the Teachers of Critical Languages program, funded by the U.S. State Department. The High School was one of 15 schools in the country selected to be in the program, whose goal is to promote diplomacy between the US and China by advancing critical language study. Wang taught two levels of Mandarin, and is impressed by her students' growth throughout the year.
Although she will miss her students and colleagues, as well the variety of candy options that the United States has to offer, Wang is excited to see her seven year old daughter, who did not make the trip to the US with her mother. And although the two frequently talked with each other via Skype, Wang acknowledges that it was hard missing some of her daughter's milestones.
Back in China, Wang will teach English at Dalian Yuming Senior High School. She knows that through her time in America, she has become much more comfortable with her command of the English language andbelieves that her passion will translate both to her students' understanding and interest in the language.
Wang's Hopkinton students recently had the opportunity to meet their new Mandarin language teacher Shu-lin Mueller. Unlike Wang, Mueller is not from the exchange program. One of the things that struck her most about Wang's students was their enthusiasm for learning, which she hopes to build upon.
Before heading back to China, Wang will get to have on last adventure as she will visit Yellowstone National Park, but not without one final message to her Hopkinton students.
"Continue to put your time and efforts into Mandarin learning," said Wang. "And keep up good work; show respect, show your trust and your support to your future Chinese teacher. Don't forget the promise you have made to me; we will keep in touch."
