Tian brings Beijing culture to class

Author: Kerren McKeeman

Meet Zhuo Tian, known to her students as teacher Tian, or Tian Laoshi. She is Middlebury's newest Chinese language professor, hired from the CET Academic Program in Beijing. She is also filling the position of the Chinese house teaching assistant. If asked five years ago what she thought she would be doing now or where she would be traveling for work, teaching Chinese in a small New England college in the United States would never have crossed Tian's mind.

Tian graduated from Beijing University with a masters in National Economics. It was only after a friend's suggestion that she decided to apply to teach Chinese at CET, "just to see if I could do it," she recalled. Tain found she had a knack for teaching, and landed her current job at Middlebury.

When asked what the biggest differences were between teaching college students in Beijing versus teaching American students in Middlebury, Vt., Tian cited the city as a major factor. "There's nothing here," she said of Middlebury, and wrinkled her nose upon mention of Burlington.

There are parts of Middlebury that she truly enjoys and she said that her favorite part of the town was soaking up the clean air and beautiful scenery. Tian also appreciates the dining food, but only if she can go to Ross. According to Tian, Proctor is too "American" for her, but Ross always has food "that Asian people can actually eat."

Tian loves teaching her classes, although her strenuous schedule includes teaching nine hours a week and preparing for four different lessons. "I spend a lot of time preparing for class," she noted. Yet she always manages to bring a zest and playful flavor to her classes - even her 8 a.m. third-year Chinese class is often filled with laughter, as Tian uses guessing games, debates, races and dollar store prizes to provoke competition and keep students enthusiastic about learning.

Even though she enjoys teaching at Middlebury, Tian still misses Beijing and the connections she has made there. When asked what she misses most about China, she emphatically replied, "my parents," without a moment of hesitation. Unfortunately, her visa does not allow her to fly back to China over Christmas to visit her family and her home.

However, Tian expects her husband, to whom she speaks with every night on the phone, to fly to Middlebury over winter break to visit. The two were married a year and a half ago, and she keeps pictures of their wedding in her office. Lucky students may catch a glimpse of her with her hair carefully curled and delicately lofted behind her head as she poses with her husband in front of Beijing park scenes, wearing traditional Chinese dress.

Of all the things she wishes to accomplish here in the United States, Tian's highest priority is to practice her English speaking. "My English is terrible," she said with careful annunciation. She often refuses to speak to her Chinese students in English, in part to help them learn Chinese. But there is one English phrase of which she is quite fond and uses repeatedly. When students seem to drop like flies and a certain student repeatedly misses class, she likes to dismiss the issue by saying, "Another one bites the dust." Perhaps Tian's English is better than she lets on. And for those who are curious, inviting Tian to Ross for a little English conversation over lunch would make her day.