During the past year, we have had Liping, a Mandarin Language Assistant (MLA), working alongside us. On Tuesday, we said goodbye to her and thought about all the great things she has done for us.

Liping helped not only in the classroom but her teaching also had a big impact on our tamariki, and our kaiako. Our children had fun learning with Liping, singing Mandarin songs, and practising the language through games. Learning basic greetings became easy and fun for them.

Some children wanted more challenges, so Liping created a special program with interesting stories. They listened to or watched these stories and then completed set tasks to understand them better. This program not only helped with language but also made them think more.

Liping did more than just teach from books. She made our learning place positive and welcoming, encouraging us to love language and different cultures. The connections and lessons from Liping will stay with our kids for a long time.

Now, Liping is going back to China, and we want to say a big thank you to her. Thank you, Liping, for helping us learn Mandarin. We'll miss you, and as you start your new journey back home, we wish you all the best for your future. Goodbye, and 谢谢 (xièxiè) for everything!