An experienced Primary School teacher, Susan has been working with CISS as a Professional Development Officer, since 2020. However, as the Co-ordinator of Stirling’s Primary Confucius Classroom, she has been closely involved with CISS since 2015.
Over the last few years, Susan has focussed on the delivery of Professional Learning for teachers of Chinese and the development of the Mandarin Framework, a Progression Pathway for Chinese Exchange Teachers (CETs) and others delivering educational opportunities in Chinese language in Scottish Schools.
As well as creating a four-year Chinese language progression with pupils at Braehead Primary School in Stirling and running innovative language and culture projects, Susan has been working with Stirling Council and CETs for the last few years, teaching Chinese to around 600 primary pupils every week.
Susan developed her passion for Chinese language and culture whilst living with her family in Beijing from 2006 to 2008 during the build up to the Olympic Games, a time when the city and indeed, the whole country, was undergoing huge cultural change with a tangible sense of excitement across China.
Whilst in Beijing, Susan spent time studying the language and also worked as a volunteer teacher of English at a local school for the children of migrant workers, a hugely rewarding experience. Since her return to Scotland, she has continued to study Mandarin and she has resumed her long-dormant study of Gaelic and German.
She gained GTCS Professional Recognition in 2019 through SCILT’s 1+2 Language Leadership Programme and she plans to continue to focus on development work to support the network of Confucius Classrooms in Scotland to deliver a high quality of learning and teaching of Chinese language and culture.
Contact:
The Ramshorn
98 Ingram Street
Merchant City
University of Strathclyde
Glasgow, G1 1EX
susan.lawson@strath.ac.uk