Before coming to CIE I founded a non-profit organization, the Pentok Institute, to promote quality education for Tibetan girls. Together with my team, we raised millions in grants for the programs. We worked closely with ten public schools and 7,000 children in the communities. We provided “culturally relevant curriculum” and teaching practice via several programs during summer and winter holidays.
In 2014, I established the very first private school in the area with authorization from the local government. The school is a pre-school that uses Montessori techniques combined with culturally relevant materials and activities. Subsequently, the local government employed the Montessori teaching philosophy in the region and shifted the traditional teaching mindsets of local Tibetan teachers for early education of children.
My passion for education grew while I was a teacher at the English Training Program at Qinghai Normal University. Better known as ETP, this program has transformed the lives of numerous young Tibetan students, many of whom were the first university students in their families and communities. Through ETP, I established a Development Studies Program and taught English, Development, and Education. ETP modified conventional teaching strategies widely employed in the area and proved that culturally appropriate, student-centered teaching helps maximize students’ learning outcomes. While teaching Development Studies in the classroom, I organized students to bring their real ideas to action in the service of their villages and communities.
In 2010, I was one of very few Tibetans invited to speak about Tibetan Education for nomads at a conference on Tibetan Herders' livelihoods at Leipzig University in Germany. Other participants were Western or Han Chinese Tibetologists. I spent the next two years conducting field research on education in our program area. In my spare time, I also write stories in Tibetan language for young Tibetan children. My first published illustration book “Looking for a baby yak” touches the souls of many young readers in Tibetan language.
After graduating, I am looking for suitable professional opportunities.[3-23]
Email: xmaotai@umass.edu