Ben Wang

Appointed 2009

World Languages Instructor

mailto:bwang@vermontcommons.org

Undergraduate Degree

AB in International Relations, Stanford University

Graduate Degree

M.S. in Natural Resource Planning, University of Vermont

Activities in College

Associated Students of Stanford University, Senator
Cast of Evita production
News reporting internship in Hong Kong
Overseas study and extensive travel in China
Undergraduate Chinese American Association, volunteer coordinator
Wilderness Skills group (backpacking, rock climbing, backcountry skiing)
Summer Symphony
Association of Asian American Students

Best VCS Moment

The twelve of us took our seats at a banquet table at Zen Gardens, and our pre-ordered food was brought out in heaps. We had worked hard on our choices collaboratively, so the result was a superb meal that achieved balance in all aspects. Most memorable.

Inspirational quotation

"Only those who have great doubts can truly be enlightened. But a fool always believes that he or she is enlightened, and that is why, in the end, he or she is a fool."

- Zhuangzi

Interests and Hobbies

Irish traditional music
Wilderness pursuits: canoeing, backpacking, backcountry skiing, climbing, trail running, snorkeling
Lots of others on hiatus: dancing, astronomy, drawing, singing, travel, soccer and inline speedskating

Biography/Personal Statement

I was born in Taipei, Taiwan and moved to the Philadelphia area for fifth grade, learning English for the first time. It took a few years to adapt to the new language and culture and I finally became confident in high school, participating in many extracurricular activities. At Stanford I became very interested in American perceptions of the Chinese and Chinese perceptions of the Americans, and I majored in International Relations with a focus on Greater China. I also went backpacking for the first time and fell in love with the Sierra Nevada Mountains. I shifted my academic focus and came to Vermont for graduate school in natural resources, eventually conducting social science research in the U.S. National Parks for a number of years. After a nine-month trip in Asia and a stint managing a remote medical clinic project in Tibet, I returned to Vermont, built a relationship with Heather whom I married in 2005, and started a company developing ESL software. Today I share stay-at-home parenting of our son Jesse (born 2007) with Heather, teach Chinese as an adjunct at St. Mike's and CCV, translate professionally, and perform and teach Irish traditional music on the fiddle when I have the time! Teaching at Vermont Commons School is a very enjoyable part of that mix. It's a privilege to be able to independently create course curriculum in such a supportive and vibrant environment. I find it an enjoyable challenge to introduce the Chinese-speaking world and worldview to curious and inquisitive students.