This year, the Spokesman is thrilled to welcome Ms. Vicky Chang to the PDS community as a full-time teacher. Ms. Chang brings warmth, curiosity, and a deep passion for language into her classroom. With a master’s degree in foreign language education, she has long been fascinated by how language shapes how people think and communicate. Her teaching journey began when her own children were young—she essentially ran a small daycare at her house, sparking her interest in how children think and learn.

Now a dedicated Chinese teacher, Ms. Chang teaches Chinese levels I-V at PDS. After joining the school last year as a part-time teacher, this marks her first year in a full-time role. Her classes are student-centered, and she adapts her curriculum each year based on what students enjoy and respond to the most. She emphasizes never underestimating her students, as they constantly surprise her, shifting her own mindset from fixed to growth-oriented.

Ms. Chang believes language learning strengthens the brain and opens new perspectives to students. She encourages students to take risks, be spontaneous, and use as much Chinese as possible—even if it is imperfect. One of her favorite techniques is “Movie Talk,” where students watch silent movie clips and create their own dialogue before seeing the real version. This approach fosters both creativity and fluency.

She describes herself as highly organized— “almost to the point of OCD,” she says– and deeply caring for her students, both inside and outside the classroom. She remembers birthdays, asks about sports games, and supports students going through hard times. Her goals vary by level—building foundational skills in Level I, encouraging spontaneity in Level II, and fostering expressive, opinion-based dialogue in Level V.

In her free time, Ms. Chang enjoys being active and spending time outdoors. She loves hiking and biking with her family in the Sourland Mountains and continues to refresh her Spanish and Japanese whenever she can. 

Above all, Ms. Chang is grateful to be at PDS. She was drawn by its strong sense of community and how welcoming people are to newcomers. Her advice to students: “Don’t be afraid to experiment with language. Whatever you know, put it out there.” Through her passion, dedication, and belief in every student’s potential, Ms. Chang continues to inspire a love for language and learning that reaches far beyond the classroom.