Meet Your Teacher: Boyi Jiang 老师 lǎo shī

1. What inspired you to become a Mandarin teacher?
As a native speaker from China, Mandarin is more than just a language to me—it’s
my roots and my identity. I want to bridge the gap between my cultural heritage,
inspiring children to discover the beauty of Mandarin through the eyes of someone
who grew up living and breathing the language.
2. If you could describe your teaching style in three words, what would they be?
Creative, Energetic, and Patient.
3. What’s your favorite part about working with children?
I love their limitless imagination. It’s incredibly rewarding to see them use Mandarin
naturally during play.
4. What’s a funny or memorable moment you’ve had while teaching?
While explaining the word for 'Airplane' (飞机 - Fēijī), I naturally started explaining
how wings generate lift. The kids were so fascinated that we spent the rest of the time
making paper planes.
5. What’s your favourite Mandarin word or phrase, and why?
朋友 (Péngyǒu - Friend). It’s one of the first words children learn, and it perfectly
represents what language is about: building bridges and making friends.
6. If you could teach students only one Mandarin phrase to use every day, what
would it be?
你好 (Nǐ hǎo)! A simple 'Hello' is the key to opening doors to new cultures and
starting any great conversation.
7. What’s a cool or surprising fact about Mandarin that you love to share?
That Mandarin is like music! Because it’s a tonal language, speaking it feels a bit like
singing.
8. What’s the trickiest part of learning Mandarin, and how do you make it easier for
students?
The four tones can be tricky. I make it easier by using physical gestures (Total
Physical Response) and catchy songs so children can 'feel' the melody of the words.
9. If you weren’t a teacher, what job would you love to do?
I’ve always loved traveling, so perhaps a travel photographer, exploring different
cultures!
10. What’s your favourite childhood story or book?
The stories of the Monkey King (Journey to the West). I loved his bravery, wisdom,
and the magical world he lived in.
11. If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?
I would love to travel to Portugal, specifically to Madeira, the hometown of Cristiano
Ronaldo. I’ve been a huge fan of his for ages.
12.Do you have any hobbies or hidden talents?
I am a passionate storyteller through film. I’m proficient in Adobe Premiere Pro and
love creating vlogs.
13. What’s one thing your students would be surprised to learn about you?
My background is in Aerospace Engineering; I think they’d find it cool that their
Mandarin teacher knows how to build things that fly in space.
14. What’s the best advice you can give to someone learning Mandarin?
Don’t be afraid to 'sing' your words! Since Mandarin is a tonal language, it’s much
more about the melody than just the sounds. My advice is to listen to the rhythm, use
your hands to trace the tones in the air, and most importantly, don't worry about being
perfect—just keep curious and keep practicing every day.
15. What do you hope every child remembers from your lessons?
I hope they remember that learning a new language is an adventure, not a task.
16. If your students described you in one sentence, what do you think they would
say?
I think they would say: 'He is the energetic teacher who makes Mandarin feel like a
fun space mission and always has the coolest stories to tell!'