Teacher-Made: A Hands-On Workshop for Educators, by Educators at Huntington Chinese Garden (January 11, 2025)

This workshop at the Huntington Library is designed to introduce K-12 educators across all subject areas to the Huntington Library's educational resources, with a special focus on the Chinese Garden ("Liu Fang Yuan"). It was created by teachers, for teachers. Participants will learn ways to incorporate these unique cultural assets into their curriculum, enriching student engagement and promoting cultural literacy across subjects like history, literature, art, science, and language. This experience will include contact hours and offer a full curriculum package centered on the cultural and educational potential of Chinese gardens.

Register Here! (The priority goes to current K-12 Chinese teachers in school settings.)

No Cost:

• Admission ($25) is fully covered. 
• 4 admission tickets to visit the Huntington Library.
• Lunch is provided.
• Ready to use resources and materials for the Chinese Garden group project.

Schedule:

• 10:00-10:05am Check-in
• 10:05-11:00am Introduction to Huntington Resources
• 11:00-11:30am Presentation on Liu Fang Yuan (Chinese Garden)
• 11:30am-1:30pm Hands-on Group Project Development (including lunch)
• 1:30-2:30pm Group Discussion and Reflection
• 2:30pm - Free Exploration

Speakers:

Lois Chung | Upper School Mandarin | Polytechnic School

Lois Chung founded the Upper School Mandarin Program at Polytechnic School in 2010, building a robust curriculum that spans from Introduction to Mandarin through AP Chinese. Currently teaching Mandarin III, IV, and AP Chinese, Lois is committed to creating a collaborative, joyful, and supportive learning environment where students feel emotionally supported, academically challenged, and genuinely seen. A proud Taiwanese American, Lois brings her cultural heritage into the classroom, aiming to deepen her students' understanding of both Taiwanese and Chinese cultures through language study. In the summer of 2024, she launched a Language and Culture Immersion Exchange Program to Taiwan, offering students a transformative, hands-on learning experience that extends beyond the classroom. This program reflects her mission as a Mandarin teacher: to use language as a bridge for understanding and appreciating diverse perspectives and to help students make meaningful connections with people from different backgrounds. For Lois, teaching Mandarin is not just about language mastery but also about fostering empathy, curiosity, and respect for other cultures, empowering her students to engage with the world in a thoughtful and open-minded way.

Bin He | Chinese Language and Interdisciplinary Studies and Independent Research (ISIR) | Harvard-Westlake School

Bin He is a Chinese Language and Interdisciplinary Studies and Independent Research (ISIR) educator at Harvard-Westlake School, where he teaches courses such as Chinese II, Chinese IV, AP Chinese, Honors Chinese Literature and Arts, and China Studies. He has developed curricula that integrate classical Chinese literature with contemporary topics, including AI, mental health, and space technology, to engage students and enhance cultural relevance. Bin co-founded the Global Leadership Institute internship program, supporting students’ leadership development, and leads a cross-departmental teaching cohort that fosters collaboration and innovation among faculty. An active board member of the Chinese Language Teachers’ Association of Southern California, he also organizes workshops on immersive teaching practices for language educators.

This workshop is presented in collaboration with The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, with sponsorship from the Polytechnic School, Harvard-Westlake School, and the USC U.S.-China Institute. Special thanks to the Chinese Language Teachers Association of Southern California (CLTA-SC) for their support in promoting this event to the community. Offered in partnership with the  National Consortium for Teaching about Asia and with support from the Freeman Foundation, this workshop is designed to enhance teaching about Asia. Join our Teaching about Asia Facebook Group to connect with fellow educators and stay updated on professional development seminars, Asia-focused events, international study tours, and other resources to help you bring Asia into your classroom.