Teacher Tales #30 – Many faces, many masks – immigrants in our schools: Bonnie, Chinese teacher, immigrant and co-founder of Courageous Dialogues with Chinese Educators

In this episode, Bonnie, a teacher who immigrated from China, helps us gain valuable insight and heart connections to the culture shock and linguistic challenges that she experienced both as an immigrant student and as a teacher. Bonnie first came from China to study at an American university in Oregon. She then moved to North Carolina to pursue a higher degree and eventually became a Chinese teacher. She shares the challenges, struggles, culture shock and even trauma that she has experienced as an immigrant. She talks about the micro aggressions that surfaced in schools at the onset of the pandemic and how she worked with other Chinese teachers to form a group called Courageous Dialogues with Chinese Educators whose purpose is to raise awareness of social injustices and promote networking to find one’s inner power to stand up for self, but also to stand in solidarity with others who are marginalized. Bonnie explains that most immigrants have a “face” they wear at home, and then, when they get to school, they put on a “mask” (now literally and figuratively) to hide or blend in and not draw any attention to themselves. This needs to change, and Bonnie is collaborating with others to do just that. For her students, she has brought forth the healing practices of mindfulness, tai chi and calligraphy to help develop peace, understanding and appreciation of one’s own identity – to be brave enough to be authentic and unmasked. Check out her beautiful tai chi video she made to honor her students. Also, if you know of any AAPI or other marginalized students or teachers, please share Courageous Dialogues with Chinese Educators for more information, insight and guidance.