Meet Our New Mandarin Teacher

If you’ve taken at least one Mandarin class, you might be able to understand how tiresome it can be. And even if you haven’t, you’ve most likely heard about this workload from a friend or two.

For students at our school, that challenge just got more intense with our new teacher, Ms. Daisy Mi. With a whopping 18 years of teaching experience across international schools — from Prague to Shanghai — she’s bringing a fresh approach to Mandarin at SSIS.

Ms. Mi, or Mi老师’s philosophy centers on building strong relationships with students to help them maximize their potential. In fact, some of her students have achieved top regional awards, including a standout performance in the Chinese Bridge competition.

However, what really sets her apart is her rigorous teaching style. Some might even say she’s a little too demanding. Take it from me — her homework load is heavy, and if you’re not ready for a random oral presentation as soon as class starts, you might find yourself in the hot seat!

But with every challenge comes growth. Sure, her strictness can be tough, but it’s clear that Mi老师 is pushing us to be our best. 不过，铁杵成针(1)。As someone who values discipline, she doesn’t let late work slide easily, but this high standard ensures that we are always prepared. Her perseverance is inspiring, even if it makes you sweat a little!

Outside of the classroom, Mi老师 has a passion for travel and fitness. If you pass by our fitness center in the evening, you might wave hello to her as she gets a good workout in. Her global experience enriches her lessons, making them both challenging and diverse. As students, we’re definitely in for a journey with Mi老师 — one that will push us to new heights in Mandarin.

So, even if you're dreading the next homework assignment or need to get through those several pages of questions, you can be sure: Mi老师会让我们的中国能力更好。And if you need to know what that means, I don’t think I need to tell you who to ask.

1. (tiě chǔ chéng zhēn) — even an iron rod can be ground down to a needle