Teaching Statement
My teaching philosophy is underpinned by three fundamental principles. First, I am firmly committed to independent thinking, including encouraging students to take an active role in the classroom and employ creativity in solving problems. Thus, I adopt a research- and inquiry-based pedagogy. Second, my teaching methods vary according to different learning contexts and situations. I pay close attention to individual learning styles among the students. Third, my teaching focuses on developing both intellectual and practical skills such as formulating research questions, conducting research, analyzing collected information, and communicating effectively in speech and writing.
At the University of Arizona, my teaching focuses on popular culture and media in East Asia. I have taught a number of courses, including three courses listed in the University Catalogue (HIST/EAS 270 “Modern East Asia,” CHN/ENG 429/529 “Chinese Immigration Literature and Film,” and HIST/CHN 460 “Modern China”). I have taught several special topical seminars under EAS 496/596 -- “Consumption, Popular Culture, and Social Justice in China,” “Chinese Popular Culture,” “Ethnographic Studies of China.” In addition, I have developed several new courses, including CHN 245 “Chinese Popular Culture,” CHN 444 “Chinese Culture and Media,” CHN/ANTH 410A/510A “Ethnic Diversity in China,” and CHN/ANTH 410B/510B “The Anthropology of Contemporary China.”
In the past, I taught at other public universities. My courses at both graduate and undergraduate levels examined comparative popular culture studies, with a focus on East Asia and North America in the global context. I chaired and served on numerous dissertation and thesis committees. My students achieved success in being admitted to top graduate programs, finding academic jobs, publishing their work in refereed journals, and receiving awards and fellowships.
