Welcome to the GLOBE Academy!

Ni Hao Mandarin Kindergarten Families!

Welcome to Kindergarten at The GLOBE Academy! My name is Vivian Liu, and I will be your child’s Lead Mandarin Speaking Kindergarten teacher.  I know starting a brand new school can be nerve wrecking, but hopefully this letter answers many of your questions.

A little about me

I was raised in Taiwan and came to Atlanta for college when I was eighteen. My passion for teaching started young, as both of my parents and sister are educators. After receiving my degree from Georgia State University, I taught first and second grades in Gwinnet County Public Schools. Being able to teach has been great, but being able to feel rewarded, inspired, and valued at GLOBE is something else. The freedom to be creative and immediately watch the children sprout has made my career more purposeful.  Watching five and six year olds pick up a foreign language and converse with it is not something you see at a traditional school everyday.  When I am not at work, I enjoy spending time with family, cooking vegan dishes, and traveling. 

What does a Mandarin Immersion Classroom look like?

Your child will be immersed in Mandarin across all content area as well as art, music, culture, and many more. Beginning the first day of school, students will learn routines and “survival” words in Mandarin.  There will be lots of opportunities for your child to learn the skills by acting out, drawing, pointing, and sharing.  The first few weeks could be interesting for your child and he might show anxiety towards a new language. Please know that it is totally normal.  Most language learners go through the silent stages and it can vary how long it will take for them to start imitating or responding. 

My Teaching Philosophy

I have taught in a variety of classroom settings throughout my nine years of teaching.  It is my belief that all students are capable of achieving at different rates. While some may be extremely verbal, she may require extra support in another area.  Identifying the strengths and weakness in students is most helpful for students’ overall success.

Homework Assignment and Communication

To learn and master a new skill, repetition is essential. Although we will not be sending home busy work, you will assist your child in creating some of the homework assignments. These assignments will be announced on the newsletter as well as the blog.  Many of the assignments involve speaking in front of a camera or teaching a family member new words or phrases learned in class.  If you have any questions regarding assignments or events, please check the newsletter or blog (globemandarin.blogspot.com) on a weekly basis. I can also be reached via email at vliu@theglobeacademy.net .

Sincerely,

Vivian Liu