Upper School Mandarin Teacher (0.8 FTE)
SCALE: Professional Scale
CONTRACT: Professional Staff Contract (0.8 FTE)
SUPERVISOR: Upper School Administration / Upper School World Language Department Chair
DIVISION: Upper School
JOB SUMMARY
Taipei American School (TAS) is seeking an Upper School Mandarin Teacher to join a collaborative and student-centered World Language Department. Upper School Mandarin teachers play a critical role in advancing students’ linguistic proficiency and cultural competence as they progress through a rigorous, standards-aligned Mandarin program. Teachers demonstrate a deep content of Mandarin language instruction, strong pedagogical skill, and an understanding of adolescent learners’ cognitive, social, and emotional development. This position will include teaching four sections of Upper School Mandarin across multiple levels.
Responsibilities include planning and delivering engaging, differentiated instruction across multiple levels of high school Mandarin, potentially including IB, AP or Honors coursework, aligned with both departmental goals and the broader mission of the school. Teachers use a variety of research-based instructional and assessment strategies to support student growth by providing timely and meaningful feedback and use feedback to inform instructional decisions. Creating a respectful, inclusive, and engaging classroom environment that encourages risk-taking in language exploration is essential.
In alignment with TAS’ mission and values, teachers actively collaborate with department colleagues, participate in professional learning, contribute to departmental and divisional initiatives, and engage in the broader life of the school, which may include advisory responsibilities, student supervision, extracurricular involvement, and school events.
A strong commitment to professional growth, collaboration, and student well-being is essential, as teachers support students in developing their capacities to be critical and creative thinkers, self-directed learners, collaborative communicators, well-balanced individuals, and globally-minded contributors that will prepare them for life beyond TAS.
REQUIRED EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE
- A minimum of three years of teaching experience
- Experience teaching Mandarin in an international school setting preferred
- Experience teaching IB Chinese A: Language and Literature preferred
- Bachelor’s degree in Education, Mandarin, Language Acquisition, or a related field (Master’s degree or higher preferred)
- Fluent Mandarin Chinese and proficient English communication skills
IDEAL TRAITS / CHARACTERISTICS
- Passion, joy, and enthusiasm for teaching Mandarin at the Upper School level
- Empathy and understanding of diverse student backgrounds and learning needs
- A reflective, student-centered, and growth-oriented teaching approach
- Strong commitment to the TAS mission, values, and schoolwide learning outcomes
- Flexibility, adaptability, and creative problem-solving skills
- Willingness to collaborate and contribute positively to the school community
POSITION SPECIFIC: UPPER SCHOOL MANDARIN
Upper School Mandarin teachers at TAS demonstrate strong content knowledge, pedagogical skill, and cultural competence. Position-specific expectations include:
- Design and deliver rigorous, engaging, and culturally rich Mandarin curricula that develop proficiency across listening, speaking, reading, and writing
- Differentiate instruction to meet the needs of heritage learners and Mandarin as a foreign language learners
- Apply strong knowledge of second-language acquisition methodologies, incorporating technology, interactive tools, and authentic texts
- Use a range of formative and summative assessment strategies to monitor student progress and inform instruction
- Integrate DEIB principles explicitly through curriculum design, instructional practices, and text selection aligned with TAS values
- Support or lead Mandarin-related cultural events, activities, or experiential learning opportunities for students
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Collaborate regularly with department colleagues to plan, evaluate, and refine curriculum
- Attend department, divisional, and school meetings as required
- Serve as an advisor and facilitate advisory lessons as assigned
- Engage in ongoing professional learning and reflective practice
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.