SCALE: Professional Scale
CONTRACT: Professional Staff Contract Part-Time FTE 0.2
SUPERVISOR: Middle School Department Chair and Middle School Administrator 
DIVISION: Middle School

Position Summary 

The Middle School Mandarin Teacher designs and facilitates engaging language-learning experiences that develop students’ ability to communicate meaningfully in Mandarin while deepening their intercultural understanding. Instruction emphasizes authentic communication, functional language use, and the development of confidence and resilience as language learners.

The Middle School Mandarin program at Taipei American School is structured into two tracks, each offering multiple levels to support students' diverse language learning needs:

• Mandarin as a Foreign Language focuses on developing listening and speaking skills through practical, real-world topics while building a strong foundation in reading and writing.
• Heritage Mandarin courses enhance students' proficiency across all four language skills, with a particular emphasis on reading and writing.

The Middle School Mandarin program is rigorous and engaging, integrating technology to enhance instruction and support students' independent learning.

The teacher collaborates with colleagues to design vertically aligned curriculum grounded in ACTFL standards and the Understanding by Design framework to support students in developing proficiency across listening, speaking, reading, and writing while cultivating curiosity about the Mandarin-speaking world. 

As a member of the Taipei American School community, the teacher contributes to student-centered learning and well-being that reflect the TAS mission and schoolwide learning outcomes.

Education and Experience 

• Experience teaching Mandarin in an international school setting preferred.
• Bachelor’s Degree (master’s or doctorate preferred) in education, Mandarin language acquisition, or related field preferred. Three or more years of middle school teaching experience preferred.
• Demonstrated understanding of second-language acquisition and proficiency-based language instruction
• Experience designing or implementing curriculum aligned with ACTFL standards or similar frameworks
• Fluency in English with strong written and oral communication skills 

Position-Specific Responsibilities

This job description outlines the general responsibilities of the Middle School Mandarin teaching position. 

• Teach one section of Middle School level Mandarin to children in grades six, seven, or eight.
• Meets regularly with team and department members to develop, write, update, deliver, and evaluate curriculum.
• Attends department and divisional meetings.
• Participates in twice-weekly conversations with the counselors and colleagues to discuss student well-being and learning needs. 

Professional Dispositions 

Contributes to the development of a community of critical and creative thinkers, collaborative communicators, self-directed learners, well-balanced individuals, and globally minded contributors by modeling the behaviors and mindsets reflected in the TAS Schoolwide Learning Outcomes. 

Critical and Creative Thinker: Reflects on practice, analyzes evidence of learning, and explores new ideas to continuously improve instruction and learning.

Collaborative Communicator: Collaborates with colleagues, students, and families to support shared goals and strengthen our community.

Self-Directed Learner: Seeks feedback and engages in professional learning to improve practice.

Well-Balanced Individual: Maintains a positive professional presence, demonstrates flexibility, and creates a sense of belonging for self and others.

Globally Minded Contributor: Demonstrates respect for the diverse cultures and customs present in our community and advocates for inclusive practices that support belonging.

Professional Responsibilities 

Professional Knowledge

• Demonstrates strong knowledge of Mandarin language, culture, and second-language acquisition, including proficiency-oriented instruction aligned with ACTFL standards. 

Instructional Planning

• Designs units and learning experiences aligned with ACTFL standards and the Understanding by Design framework that prioritize authentic communication and meaningful language use.
• Selects authentic cultural texts, resources, and experiences that support students in exploring the perspectives and practices of the Mandarin-speaking world. 

Instructional Delivery

• Facilitates engaging language-learning experiences that promote inquiry, collaboration, and student agency.
• Supports students in developing communication skills across interpretive, interpersonal, and presentational modes. 

Assessment of and for Learning

• Uses a range of formative and summative assessments to monitor progress and support students’ growth toward language proficiency goals. 

Learning Environment

• Cultivates an inclusive classroom environment in which students feel supported in taking risks and developing confidence as language learners. 

Professionalism

• Collaborates with colleagues to design, review, and refine curriculum and assessments that support program coherence and vertical alignment.
• Contributes to the life of the school through divisional collaboration, advisory partnerships, and co-curricular or community programs. 

Safeguarding Commitment

Taipei American School is committed to safeguarding all children. All employees are expected to support this commitment and adhere to school safeguarding policies.

To Apply

Interested applicants should submit a resume, cover letter, and contact information for three professional references through the online link below. Please note that direct applications via email or other channels will not be considered.

Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible, as Taipei American School reserves the right to close the selection process at any time.