For the past five years, Mintong Westcott has brought her passion for language, culture and connection to the halls of Wootton, where she teaches Chinese.
Originally from Beijing, China, Zheng’s journey to becoming an educator has taken her across countries and cultures that now shape how she connects with her students every day. “I grew up in Beijing, and I went to Beijing No. 161 High School, and I knew even back then that I wanted to become a teacher,” Westcott said.
Her path toward that goal began at Beijing International Studies University, where she earned her undergraduate degree in education before continuing to the University of Maryland for graduate school. Westcott said her studies helped her understand how to reach students from different backgrounds and learning styles. “It took two years to get my education degree,” Westcott said.
During her junior year of college, Westcott studied abroad in Russia, where she experienced a completely new culture and language. “It was very different, the language was hard, and sometimes people weren’t as welcoming to those from outside,” Wescott said.
Westcott said that learning happens best when students feel supported and connected. “The thing I like the most about teaching is building relationships with students,” Wescott said.
Her students admire her patience and kindness in the classroom. They say she takes time to make sure everyone feels included and understood. “She is really patient with us and understanding,” junior Angie Shen said.
Other students describe Westcott as approachable and positive. They appreciate her calm energy and how she creates a welcoming learning environment for everyone. “I love our teacher, she is very nice,” junior Skylar Wade said.
Westcott approaches teaching Chinese not just as a language class, but as a way to explore culture and identity. She reminds students that learning a language also means understanding the people and stories behind it. “Language is included in culture, sometimes there’s culture in the language, and sometimes there’s not, it’s about 50/50,” Westcott said.
Her lessons often include personal stories and cultural experiences from her own life. She wants students to leave her class with both knowledge and appreciation for Chinese traditions. “I want my students to take away an appreciation for the culture and a lifelong interest in learning,” Westcott said.
Westcott is known for being encouraging, especially when students struggle with certain aspects of Chinese. She offers extra practice and retakes to help them succeed. “Some people are better at writing and reading than speaking, so I try to encourage them positively and offer help,” Westcott said.
Even as technology continues to evolve, Westcott said that genuine human connection is at the heart of learning. She worries that artificial intelligence could make communication less personal but remains optimistic about her role as a teacher. “Nowadays, technology is everywhere, but I still want to keep the interpersonal, face-to-face part of learning,” Westcott said.
Outside of teaching, Westcott enjoys bouldering and climbing, hobbies that mirror her adventurous spirit. “I hope my students remember me as someone who was nice and made class a pleasant place to be,” Westcott said.
