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Mandarin | Christie Barnes
I am the MS and LS Mandarin teacher at Berwick. I grew up in Radnor, Pennsylvania and started studying Mandarin my sophomore year in college.
I graduated from Duke University in 2010 with a major in Anthropology and a minor in Chinese. I played lacrosse there for four years. After college, I got my Masters in Education at Durham University in England where I also played and coached lacrosse on the university team. A highlight of my experience learning Mandarin was living in Shenzhen, China for two years teaching English at Hongling primary school. In my free time, I love to read, run, play soccer, basketball, lacrosse and spend time with my fiancée Tom.
Why do you enjoy teaching Mandarin?
I love teaching Mandarin because it is such an interesting and unique language. It is also fun to share the amazing aspects of China and the various cultures within China with students. Learning Mandarin has brought great joy and taken me many places in my life, from making friends from China in the US to teaching English and living in China, it has allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of the world and myself. I love being able to share this with students so they too can learn about all the amazing things knowing Mandarin and another language can offer.
How do you define great teaching?
Great teaching to me means the ability to connect with kids and share your love and passion so they can open their eyes to new perspectives and ways to be in the world.
Describe your classroom in a few words.
Challenging, fun, engaging, eye-opening
What do you like best about the Lower School?
I love the support teachers give to the students and to one another. It is a welcoming and fun place to work everyday!
Berwick Academy
31 Academy Street
South Berwick, Maine 03908
Contact:
Admission | 207.384.6300
Main Office | 207.384.2164
South Berwick, Maine 03908
Contact:
Admission | 207.384.6300
Main Office | 207.384.2164
Berwick Academy, situated on an 80-acre campus just over one hour north of Boston, serves 520 students, Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 and Postgraduates. Berwick students are from Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and several countries. Deeply committed to its mission of promoting virtue and useful knowledge, Berwick Academy empowers students to be creative and bold. Berwick strives to graduate alumni who shape their own learning, take risks, ask thoughtful questions, and come to understand and celebrate their authentic selves.
