Teaching Whilst Embracing Cultural Differences

Leslie Ying is a professor at the University at Buffalo. She moved to the US about twenty years ago from China, seeking better opportunities for education. Upon moving to the United States, Ying lived in Wisconsin and attended graduate school at the University of Illinois. After receiving a better job offer, Leslie and her family finally put down roots in Buffalo, NY. 

The transition was not easy for her. In an interview, she talked about how coming from a different cultural background sometimes made it challenging to adjust to American life and make friends. After being in the US for more than twenty years, however, Leslie was able to establish a good network and make meaningful connections, both in and out of her place of work. Since she has experience with both Chinese and American schooling, Leslie often recognizes the similarities and differences between the two approaches. Both she and her son, Grant Wang, note that American schools prioritize sports, hobbies and soft skills more than Chinese schools. 

“Schools in China are more strict, and focus on precision, knowledge and hard skills more than schools in America,” said Leslie in an interview. “Schools in America work more on soft skills, creativity and leadership.” Her son, Grant, who is going to be a senior at Williamsville East High School, adds that American schooling gives students more opportunities to pursue hobbies, passions and extracurriculars; he often plays tennis with his friends both in and out of school and volunteers in the local community, among other things. 

Even though there are differences between Chinese and American schooling, Leslie sees the advantages in both. When she teaches her students at UB, she combines the two approaches when appropriate. For example, when she teaches them math, she leans more toward the Chinese approach, with a more strict and precise curriculum. Other times, she uses the American approach to encourage creativity and leadership in her classes. Since this method allows her to be both a lenient and strict teacher, Leslie notes that this combined approach gives her the best of both worlds and allows her to better connect with her students. Leslie is actively involved in the education and empowerment of youth, bringing her cultural experiences and teaching expertise into her field to create a nurturing environment for her students conducive to learning and growth. 

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Leslie Ying is currently a professor at the University at Buffalo (UB), who helps her students learn and grow by employing both American and Chinese teaching methods, paying homage to her school years in China.