Becoming a kindergarten Chinese immersion teacher at Madison Elementary School was the furthest thing from Summer Yang-Farmerie’s mind while growing up in China. Yang-Farmerie grew up in western China and began learning English in middle school, but she never dreamed she’d be teaching her native language as an adult.
“When I went to college,” says Yang-Farmerie, “somehow they assigned me to an education major. My dad said, ‘You know it’s good for a girl to get a teacher job.’ Did I really want to be a teacher? Not at all.”
Early on, Yang-Farmerie’s own education didn’t give her a fun experience. The idea of teaching the same thing for over twenty years did not at first appeal to her. She began working in youth hostels after college graduation where she honed her English language skills. She enjoyed speaking to foreigners from all over the world.
During that time, she made the decision to move to the southern part of China closer to Shanghai. She’d grown up in an area that was less developed, and she yearned for a new experience.
Once she moved, she obtained a teaching position and taught English as a second language to adults and college students as well as some younger students.
“I fell in love!” laughs Yang-Farmerie. “[That’s when] I knew that I could do it [teaching].”
Yang-Farmerie taught English for six years. It had always been her dream to study abroad, but finances were always a hurdle.
“I never thought I’d be able to do it,” shares Yang-Farmerie. “Then, one day, my co-worker said, ‘You know, Summer, you should go study abroad. You can go to the school I went to and apply for graduate assistance. They’ll cover your schooling, and you’ll make a little bit of money.’ Imagine how life works out! She graduated from St. Cloud State and we met in China.”
From then on, Yang-Farmerie worked hard to pass the required test and apply to St. Cloud State University. She was accepted to the school and moved to the United States to fulfill her dream.
Pursuing her dream is how Yang-Farmerie stumbled on the partnership between St. Cloud State University Confucius Institute and St. Cloud Area School District 742. She was amazed to discover the local public school system had a Chinese Immersion program offered to students starting in kindergarten.
In 2015, she accepted a position with District 742 teaching Chinese to first graders. After two years, she switched to kindergarten.
“There is a huge difference in teaching here,” says Yang-Farmerie. “When I was hired, I was very confident. For seven years, I worked with students from all different ages. I had no clue teaching younger kids could be that different!”
A lot of the things she knew about teaching were thrown out the window. The learning environment is different in China. Teachers specialize in one area. They teach for 45 minutes and move on to the next class while the students stay in the classroom. Here she had to teach math, social studies, science and Chinese.
Though there was a bit of culture shock, she figured it out. Her students astounded her. She didn’t realize how much Chinese her students knew already in first grade. When she switched to teaching kindergarten two years later, she saw first-hand how quickly students absorbed the language.
“When I taught first grade, they came in with basic Chinese,” explains Yang-Farmerie. “I could speak Chinese right away. When I switched to kindergarten, they knew zero – nothing about Chinese. They just walked in. By December, they are all talking in Chinese. Being in immersion, you teach like you’re teaching in your native language. I was really really shocked how good they can use the language at five years old.”
However, it’s not just about the language but the culture. Yang-Farmerie is able to share her culture with her students – the holidays, food, folklore, even cartoons. It gives students a chance to explore new things.
“Outside of the classroom, these students don’t have the opportunity to learn another language and culture,” says Yang-Farmerie. “I’m very lucky to have the opportunity to see that [growth]. Then they go on to higher grades and you get to talk to one of your old students. You feel super proud.”
And proud is how Yang-Farmerie feels today. Her unconventional journey to fulfill her dreams led her to the very profession she never thought she’d do, let alone love – teaching Chinese to English-speaking students. She couldn’t be happier.
Fun Facts:
- Yang-Famerie loves to travel.
- She enjoys trying new foods.
- In her downtime, she loves to unwind with American TV shows and movies.
Learn more about the Chinese and Spanish Immersion programs in District 742. Kindergarten enrollment information can also be found on the District 742 website.
You must be logged in to post a comment.