YUEYAO ZHAO
Palo Alto,,CA
Summary
Mandarin educator specializing in communicative, task-based, and project-based instruction. Designs inclusive classrooms fostering risk-taking and growth through social-emotional learning and intercultural communication. Experienced in creating authentic language experiences and supporting adolescent development through coaching and advising.
Overview
6
6
years of professional experience
Work History
Graduate Assistant & Language Partner
Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey
Monterey
08.2024 - 12.2025
- Designed instructional materials and guided reading activities for Chinese idioms and four-character expressions featured in the 'Hexi Corridor' documentary to support students' comprehension and cultural connection.
- Conducted weekly one-on-one tutoring sessions to help students review quiz performance, address learning challenges, and strengthen material understanding through personalized feedback.
- Developed culturally responsive learning strategies that linked linguistic forms to learners' personal and cultural experiences, fostering deeper engagement and retention.
Student Teacher (Mandarin)
Synapse School
Menlo Park
09.2025 - 11.2025
- Designed and taught Mandarin lessons for grades 6-8 using inquiry-based, SEL-integrated, and project-based learning approaches aligned with the school's EQ framework.
- Led thematic lessons on topics such as family relationships, Chinese solar terms, and cultural traditions, incorporating visuals, authentic tasks, and scaffolded language tasks appropriate for Novice-Intermediate learners.
- Supported student growth through formative assessments, individualized feedback, and adapted instructional strategies to promote communication, cultural understanding, and learner confidence.
Student Teacher, Mandarin
Middlebury Summer Language Program
Middlebury
07.2025 - 08.2025
- Led individualized Mandarin-speaking and pronunciation coaching sessions for language learners in an immersive summer language environment.
- Supported students through guided oral reading and targeted pronunciation practice, with particular attention to tone accuracy and tone combinations.
Cooperating Teacher (Volunteer)
Cornerstone Learning Foundation
Palo Alto
11.2024 - 12.2024
- Co-taught an intensive after-school Mandarin enrichment course for mixed-grade middle and early high school students, emphasizing high-frequency idioms through immersive target-language instruction.
- Designed and facilitated performance-based learning tasks, such as oral recitation, written production, and mini-skits, to support deep processing of idiomatic language and cultural meaning.
- Adapted instructional strategies to a low-technology environment, using board work, modeling, and repetition to maintain student engagement, and linguistic accuracy.
Assistant Coach, Boys' Varsity Basketball
Woodside Priory School
Portola Valley
09.2023 - 03.2024
- Served as Assistant Coach for a high school boys' varsity basketball team, supporting player development, team culture, and competitive preparation within a growth-focused program.
- Facilitated skill-development segments of practice, and contributed to game planning through opponent scouting and film analysis, with a strategic emphasis on defensive principles.
- Led group and individual film sessions, guiding student-athletes to reflect on decision-making, habits, and at both micro (individual execution) and macro (team systems) levels.
- Built strong, trust-based relationships with student-athletes by providing timely feedback, mentorship, and individualized support, including one-on-one development sessions beyond scheduled practices.
- Supported students through a challenging, development-oriented season by emphasizing resilience, accountability, and learning from setbacks, while helping to mediate peer conflicts and communicate with families.
Part-Time Mandarin Teacher
Woodside Priory School
Portola Valley
10.2023 - 12.2023
- Taught Mandarin I, II, and IV to middle school and high school students. Analyzed modern film and pop culture to breakdown and compare Eastern and Western ways of thinking.
- Integrated differentiated learning by adjusting standards for each student in regard to their understanding and application of Mandarin vocabulary, grammar structures, and depth of analysis through skits, in-class discussions, and short essays.
- Organized and operated cultural activities such as 'A Taste of Your Hometown' and 'Night Market in Taiwan' for middle school and high school students to help drive learners' cognition and pragmatics within language learning.
Assistant to the Athletic Director (Volunteer)
Woodside Priory School
Portola Valley
01.2020 - 03.2022
- Coached a 7th-grade girls' basketball team, leading practices, supporting skill development, and fostering teamwork, accountability, and confidence among student-athletes.
- Supported middle and high school physical education instruction through co-teaching and supervision, emphasizing student engagement, cooperation, and safe participation, especially in the post-COVID era.
- Assisted the Athletic Director with program operations, including equipment inventory, setup, and game-day coordination, contributing to a well-organized and supportive athletic environment.
Education
Master of Arts - Teaching Foreign Language - (Mandarin)
Middlebury Institute of International Studies At Monterey
Monterey, CA12.2025
Master of Science - Sports Management
University of San Francisco
San Francisco, CA12-2022
Bachelor of Arts - Recreation, Sport, and Tourism
University of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL05-2020
Skills
- Communicative, task-based, and project-based Mandarin instruction
- Proficiency-oriented and content-based curriculum design through backward design
- Inquiry-driven learning and authentic language use
- Differentiated instruction for mixed-proficiency learners
- Collaborative planning and co-teaching
- Interdisciplinary project design
- Social-emotional learning integration
- Google Slides and Sheets (advanced)
- Microsoft Office (advanced)
- Canvas (intermediate)
Timeline
Student Teacher (Mandarin)
Synapse School
09.2025 - 11.2025
Student Teacher, Mandarin
Middlebury Summer Language Program
07.2025 - 08.2025
Cooperating Teacher (Volunteer)
Cornerstone Learning Foundation
11.2024 - 12.2024
Graduate Assistant & Language Partner
Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey
08.2024 - 12.2025
Part-Time Mandarin Teacher
Woodside Priory School
10.2023 - 12.2023
Assistant Coach, Boys' Varsity Basketball
Woodside Priory School
09.2023 - 03.2024
Assistant to the Athletic Director (Volunteer)
Woodside Priory School
01.2020 - 03.2022
Master of Arts - Teaching Foreign Language - (Mandarin)
Middlebury Institute of International Studies At Monterey
Master of Science - Sports Management
University of San Francisco
Bachelor of Arts - Recreation, Sport, and Tourism
University of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign