Wenchi Yang Selzer

New Upper School Mandarin teacher Wenchi Yang Selzer joins the Poly community with a wealth of immersive Mandarin experience.

Yang immigrated to the United States from Taiwan in 2002. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English Linguistics from San Francisco State University. In addition to teaching stints at the Windward School and the Archer School for Girls, she served as a volunteer assisting students ages 5 to 18 at her daughter’s Mandarin immersion program and after-school art and theater programs for five years. At Poly, Yang teaches Mandarin I and II.

“It’s pretty amazing,” remarked Yang on her time at Poly thus far. “Working with younger kids is a different story than working with much more sophisticated, proactive high schoolers, so it’s a good change.”

Freshman Jemma Yuan, a student in Yang’s Mandarin I class, shared, “I think she’s a really good teacher; she keeps learning really fun and entertaining. We do a lot of creative projects and engaging work. She makes sure that everyone is participating but never pressures anyone to do anything.”

Outside of teaching, Yang enjoys hiking, shopping and cooking. Her favorite dishes include Taiwanese three-cut chicken, braised pork, Chinese soups and stir-fried veggies.