Interviews with our new teachers!
Recently, we were delighted to hear that a new Chinese and biology teacher would be joining the upper school. We were eager to learn more about them and because not everyone has a class with them, we would like to give them a chance to introduce themselves through this quick interview.
Ms. Xu's Interview
How do you like the school so far? I transferred from Basis Independent Fremont campus and Basis is my second home. Even after only one week I love our community and am so lucky to work with those dedicated students. What made you come to BASIS Independent Manhattan? During Pandemic last year, my parents decided to move to NC. So It is a good chance to work here and close to my parents. What do you like to do in your free time? I like singing karaoke and cooking Chinese food. Where are you from? I was from China and grew up in a city called Hangzhou in the east of China. Did you have any jobs before becoming a teacher? No. Being a teacher is my dream job. What is your favorite thing about teaching? I love to communicate with my students and see their growth not only in my subject. What are your favorite teaching techniques? I like to use technology in my class and use some online websites to help my students to review vocabulary and grammar. What did you major in and why? My major for my undergraduate is Teaching Chinese as a second language and my master's is focused on Bilingual Education for secondary Education. Why did you become a teacher? I grew up in a teachers’ family. My mom was a teacher. My uncles were teachers. They influenced me a lot. Also, I want to make my students’ life different. How is New York different from where you moved from? So different. I need time to get used to public transportations here.
Dr. Monea's Interview
How do you like the school so far? It has been an extremely positive experience so far. I received an extremely warm welcome by students, teachers and staff, and I am impressed by the super-efficient organization and the patience of my coworkers to help me to get up to speed with the school's system. I enjoy my classes, and I found the students interested and eager to learn. I love the new, beautiful facility with the bright and functional lab that I am looking forward to using soon for many experiments. What made you come to BASIS Independent Manhattan? It seemed a good fit for me. I was attracted by the international environment, the rigorous curriculum, the offer to teach the subject I love at different grades and levels. What do you like to do in your free time? I enjoy cooking, sewing, listening to music, going to the theater, and spending time with friends. Where are you from? I was born and grew up in a small town in Northern Italy. Did you have any jobs before becoming a teacher? I have been a scientist and I worked in cancer and neurobiology research. What is your favorite thing about teaching? I try to transmit my enthusiasm about biology to my students, and I hope to expand their knowledge so that they can make informed decisions in their everyday life. What are your favorite teaching techniques? I always try to connect the topics we study to the life of students and their interests. What did you major in and why? I majored in Cell and Molecular Biology. I was interested in understanding the pathology of diseases at the cellular and molecular levels. Why did you become a teacher? When I was presenting my research work at conferences, people seemed to appreciate my way to communicate science in an easy and understandable way. I wanted to help young minds to grow and become interested and inspired by science.
How is New York different from where you moved from? I grew up in a small town in the countryside in Italy, then I moved to a larger town to attend University, but New York is unique and very different than anything I had experienced before. Here, I like being exposed to different cultures, along with the theaters, concerts, activities, classes, cuisines, and the lights and sounds of a city that never sleeps...