Welcome Yang Jinqiong

Kahutara School’s Mandarin speaking teacher Ning Li has returned to China,however having such a teacher has proved very successful and will continue. Ning’s place has been being taken by Yang (pronounced ‘young’) Jinqiong who will be with the school for 2015.

Yang is one of 38 Chinese university graduates who will spend a year in New Zealand schools. The cost of bringing the group to New Zealand and the payment of their wages is covered by the Chinese Government with their placement being arranged by Victoria University.

Yang comes from Anxi which is on the Chinese mainland across from Taiwan and known as the China Tea Capital, Yang knows all about tea (her preference is Tie Guanyin). She attended Xiamen university where she majored in economics and English with special study in teaching Chinese to English speaking students with Western culture and history being important parts of this study.

Teaching experience includes at a rural primary school near Zhangzhou City where Yang taught Chinese, English and Music. At Kahutara Yang works with the younger children during the morning assisting with their normal lessons with Mandarin and Chinese culture being included when it naturally fits in.

Afternoons are spent with the older children where Yang is taking over from where Ling Ni left off. Yang said that she was delighted to be greeted in Mandarin by these pupils on her first day, “ it was exciting and new for me” she said. After two weeks at Kahutara Yang said that she was “very happy” and is finding the children to be very interested in the Mandarin language and Chinese culture, “ It is exciting to share my knowledge, at the same time I am learning from them”.

This year Yang will be sharing her time around spending Wednesdays at Martinborough School and Fridays at Featherston School.

Yang says that she is optimistic and attracted to challenges, and she is clearly very outgoing. Keen on sport she lists Tai Chi, Marathons, mountaineering, cycling and Badminton as her favourites. Other interests include art, sewing, calligraphy, music and cooking.

The Jamieson family who hosted Ning last year will also be ‘home’ for Yang. Also as with last year, Kahutara Principal Clare Crawford is keen for Yang to see as much of the South Wairarapa (or further afield) as possible while she is here. Clare asks anybody who is doing something or going some where of interest to invite Yang along with them.