Katherine Taiqin Yu

485 Lisbon Street

San Francisco, CA 94112
(415)-672-7922
May 9, 2016.

Dear Mr. /Ms.:

I was sent the information by a friend that your school is currently looking for a Mandarin
teacher, and I believe I am fit for this job and will be a valuable asset to the school because of my
background as an educator in languages, my experience working with youth of all backgrounds, and my
passion for teaching and education.
I was a foreign language teacher in a high school in Kunming, capital of Yunnan, in China for
more than 10 years. I loved my job as a teacher and enjoyed all the time there; so in order to become a
teacher in the United States, I went back to college to get my degrees. In college, I learned not only
valuable knowledge, but also different strategies of teaching and learning in a diverse culture. My
classmates came from different language backgrounds and have differing cultural norms. Through them,
I realized that diversity is not an obstacle, but a tool to help us understand more about other cultures.
After college, I worked as a teacher in several Chinese schools with youth of all ages, and as a substitute
Mandarin teacher for two private high schools. Meanwhile, I was one of the teachers sent by East Bay
Chinese School to teach Mandarin in American Indian Public Chart School and was considered as the
best one by my students there. Presently, I am teaching Mandarin in East Bay Chinese School and Holy
Name School, and also I had experience as a student teacher in Galileo High School and actually had
been independently teaching two classes there for a whole semester. I believe these experiences and my
skill set make me an ideal candidate for your Mandarin teacher position.
In my careful classroom planning, I take into account the various learning styles of learners and
employ diverse practices to help students grasp the knowledge and include various activities in my class
so students can learn both consciously and unconsciously. For instance, I integrate hands on activities,
like art projects, for kinesthetic learners. These practices are very helpful to various students who cannot
learn in traditional lecture form. My previous and current teaching job includes students with different
Mandarin levels in one class. Some may have learned Mandarin for many years, some may have learned
for one or two years, and some may have even shorter than that. Because of this, I have to adjust my
presentation to make sure they all learn the lesson in class. I also make myself available during break
periods or by email so students can contact me if they are struggling or need extra help. In all, I will not
allow anybody to get behind.
My resume will detail how my experience and knowledge is a great match for the Chinese
Mandarin teacher position. I would love the opportunity to discuss this job in person, and could make
myself available for an interview at your convenience. Thank you and I look forward to hearing from
you!
Sincerely,
Katherine Taiqin Yu