* We are gradually moving the communication from the yahoo group to a closed parents FB page: Baba Mama Mandarin Community www.facebook.com/groups/BabaMamaMandarin/ Please do request and join! Mandarin Speaking Playgroup, a YAHOO GROUP Mandarin Speaking Playgroup (MSPG) is a free Yahoo Group that was established in San Francisco in 2009 by a new mom, Jamie Gao who just moved to San Francisco and faced raising a child without much resource. With a desire to connect with the Bay Area Mandarin families, she started the playgroup. Later, inspired by members' requests but largely by a member's mom- Sharon Po Po (grandma) who is an amazing Mandarin storyteller, Jamie started to lead Mandarin Song& Storytimes in the Bay Area. There are also many wonderful volunteers who came to share their story telling , cooking or painting talent. MSPG It's children centered, Mandarin learning based, members-only platform that designed to serve the needs of the communities. No matter you are searching for Chinese-speaking nannies, post Mandarin immersion school discussions, or parents and educators who want to exposing children to Chinese language and culture to prepare them for the 2030! MSPG is a free and opens space for all. The Mandarin Songs & Story Times is ongoing throughout the year. If you want to lead a story time, drama play or any activities in Mandarin for the group, such as regular play dates in your neighborhoods or Chinese festival gatherings such as Autumn Moon Festival or Lunar Year celebrations, please do contact us.
If you'd like to become part of our community and join the Mandarin-Speaking Playgroup, please join us @ Face Book: Baba Mama Mandarin Community or Mandarin Speaking Playground
Welcome! 歡迎!欢迎!
warm regards, Jamie Gao
[Who is Jamie?] Jamie kicked off her "Journey to the West" in Boston right after she received her BFA from Tunghai University, Taiwan, where she studied Classical Chinese Art. During her graduate study at Tufts University and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, she picked up mixed media and filmmaking. Her works, which focused on gender bias in patriarchal societies, were awarded and exhibited internationally. While experiencing real life in New York City, she screened her independent films in various art houses and received awards in film festivals. Aiming to distribute her films, Jamie picked up media licensing and later worked as an executive for distribution companies in Los Angeles. After her son was born in San Francisco, she was eager to learn everything about a child, a whole child, so she dived into studying child development and later received an ECE Site Supervisor Credential. In 2008, Jamie found Mandarin-speaking Playground and hosted monthly book readings and social events to serve the communities. Jamie has been a teacher throughout most of her life, but her passion for education was only re-ignited by the Reggio Emilia approach. For the past ten years, Jamie has taught in Chinese Immersion Schools in the Bay Area. She was invited to share her students' projects with her cohorts. Gao has been an avid writer since 4th grade, and in New York, she was a columnist for an e-newspaper. In her spare time, she continues to work on her second children's book and writes educational blogs. Currently, she teaches at an independent high School as the Mandarin Language Literature Teacher. From Thailand to Ice Land, Jamie enjoys traveling and exploring the wonders of the world with her son.