Faculty Profile: Xuemei Li

Xuemei Li, Mandarin Chinese Grades 5-8 and Grade 6 Advisor.


 
Xuemei Li joins Burke’s with 25 years of teaching under her belt. She grew up in a family of educators, with her mother teaching math and working as a middle school Principal, while her father taught Physics. Her sister is a history teacher, her sister-in-law is a kindergarten teacher and her brother is a P.E. teacher.
 
Xuemei grew up in Harbin, China, where she earned her BA in English. She began teaching English in Harbin and later moved to Cambridge, England, where she earned her MBA at Anglia Ruskin University. She also earned her MA in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language(TCFL) in Middlebury College, Vermont. She has taught Mandarin to middle and upper school students at ViewPoint School, CA and St. Paul’s School, NH. In addition to Mandarin and English, Xuemei also speaks German, and she lived in Berlin for a time, where she taught German Chinese. 
 
Xuemei knows the importance of being aware of and having knowledge of different cultures and enjoys seeing her students use their language skills as they learn and grow. She chose to come to Burke’s for a variety of reasons. “I think Burke’s is a wonderful environment for girls to grow, where they can develop their confidence and leadership skills. If my daughter was younger, I would have enrolled her here. Burke’s students are encouraged to take leadership roles, speak up, and talk about their thoughts. It’s a very supportive and friendly environment. My team is great and very helpful. I love teaching the students. I can be who I am here.” Xuemei also enjoys the multicultural environment of San Francisco. “It feels like home. There are a lot of places to go and it’s a fun place to be after work.”
 
In Mandarin class, Xuemei likes to make learning fun, through the use of songs, games, technology apps, and interactive projects. The students recently interviewed a Burke’s staff member who speaks Mandarin and they have penpals in China. They also spent time writing scripts for skits, tried Chinese calligraphy, and recently went on a museum visit to see the extraordinary designs of Guo Pei, a famous Chinese fashion designer.
 
In her free time, Xuemei loves to swim, and play ping pong and pickleball. She enjoys yoga, walking on the beach, spending time with friends and family, and getting out in the city to take in theater and symphony performances. 
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