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- Five Minutes of Fame with Jenny Zhang
Head of Mandarin in the Junior School, Jenny Zhang
Where else in the world have you lived?
I grew up in Shanghai, whose downtown area is exactly as big as Singapore! I made the move to Singapore in 2016 to take up my role at Dulwich.
Tell us about your family.
My husband James is a determined journalist who works in a business magazine in Singapore. My daughter Joy is in Year 8. She is very creative in origami, which certainly brings lots of joy to our family.
What’s your favourite weekend activity in Singapore?
I really enjoy being out in nature. On weekends our family often enjoy walking in a nature park, cycling along East Coast Park and we love to attend outdoor concerts in the Botanic Garden.
Did you always want to be a teacher?
Yes, in fact when I was eight years old, I succeeded in gathering a group of my neighbours, who were even younger than me, and told them stories. That was my earliest memory of being a teacher.
What is your favourite book and who is your favourite author?
My favourite book is River Town, written by my favourite author Peter Hessler.
Tell us about a hidden talent or a top secret that no-one would know about you.
My hidden talent is that I can play a traditional Chinese musical instrument called Guzheng. After learning to play for only one year, I once performed at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party, dead or alive?
I would invite Mark Rowswell, my favourite Mandarin-speaking comedian; Peter Hessler, my favourite author; Julia Roberts, my favourite actress; Yao Ming, my favourite NBA star; and Confucius, the most knowledgeable Chinese.
What does a typical day at the College look like for you?
I teach Mandarin from Year 3 to Year 6 which I am always passionate about. My typical day at the College always starts with a quiet campus in the morning and ends with “thank you for the lesson” from my lovely students.
I organise and lead Chinese Lunar New Year performance every year which is my favourite event. I also organise the Chinese House challenge every year, ensuring that Chinese culture a part of our important House competition.
Do you have a motto or saying that really resonates with you?
“We must travel in the direction of our fear”
Do you have a most memorable teacher moment?
My memorable teacher moment is always when my students ask me at the end of the school year, “Will you be my teacher next year?”.