Mike Ma

Job Description

Educator/ Teacher/ Boarding Assistant/ Library Assistant

Relevant School Subjects

• English as Second Language
• Mandarin Chinese
• Arts
• Health & Physical Education
• Career Studies
• Philosophy
• Psychology
• Religion
• IB PYP, MYP, DP

Areas of Expertise

• Education/Training
• Language Teaching & Learning
• Leadership
• Organizational Behavior
• Parenting
• Teacher’s Professional Development

Career Story

My approach to learning and teaching centers on education, language, and life. I firmly believe that life serves as the foundation. Education is essential to life and is meant to lead to a better one. A good education nurtures the mind and awakens the inner world, rather than simply shaping competitive test-takers. Regardless of who you are or what you do, you are, first and foremost, a human being. In the pursuit of your dreams, never forget the importance of a kind heart.

I'm an educator and a lifelong learner. I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Teaching English as a Foreign Language and my Master’s Degree in Education. I am deeply passionate and experienced in areas such as language teaching and learning, intercultural communication, holistic education, social-emotional learning and life education, positive psychology, work-integrated learning and career education, philosophy, Islamic and Muslim studies, death education, and hospice palliative care.By the way, I am good at Chinese calligraphy and I'm interested in art education as well.

Over the past 20 years, I’ve worked in Canada, China, the UK, and the USA, holding roles such as associate professor, department chair, and institute director. I am working full time at an independent boarding school in Waterloo and and I'm a volunteer of Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery & Hospice Waterloo Region. I am eager to meet new people and help them understand themselves, others, and the world, preparing them to face life’s challenges with wisdom and compassion. The answers are not something you find — they are something your life creates. I invite you to connect with the BEP Speaker’s Bureau and work with me to create meaningful answers together.