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Bishop Noll Bids Farewell to Teacher Julie Niu After 17 Years
After 17 years of fostering a love for Mandarin Chinese and its rich culture, Bishop Noll Institute teacher Julie Niu is set to retire in June.
Niu’s tenure at Bishop Noll has been marked by the advancement of Chinese language education as the school’s Chinese program provided students with new opportunities in a global market.
Niu said she is proud of the success of her students in regional and national competitions. From 2012 to 2019, 18 Bishop Noll students garnered 29 awards in Valparaiso University's Annual Great Lakes Region High School Chinese Speech/Writing Contest.
Niu’s tenure at Bishop Noll has been marked by the advancement of Chinese language education as the school’s Chinese program provided students with new opportunities in a global market.
Niu said she is proud of the success of her students in regional and national competitions. From 2012 to 2019, 18 Bishop Noll students garnered 29 awards in Valparaiso University's Annual Great Lakes Region High School Chinese Speech/Writing Contest.
Her students also demonstrated proficiency on international standardized examinations, with several passing various levels of the Youth Chinese Test (YCT) and the Chinese Language Proficiency (HSK) exams. Notably, one student received the Encouragement Award in the "Confucius Institute Cup" International Chinese Composition Competition, and another won the Golden Apple Award in the CLASS (Chinese Language Association of Secondary & Elementary Schools) National Essay Contest, with two others earning Silver Apple Awards.
Three of her students received a combined $52,000 in scholarships to Valparaiso University, for Chinese studies. The essays of two of her students were published in the Indy Asian American Times. Over its history, Noll’s National Chinese Honor Society has inducted 86 Bishop Noll students as members.
Niu herself has been recognized for her contributions to language education. She was honored as 2014 Teacher of the Year by the Indiana Foreign Language Teachers Association and 2014 Indiana Chinese Teacher of the Year by The Indiana Chinese Language Teachers Association. The Confucius Institute at Valparaiso University also awarded her the Excellent Chinese Teacher distinction.
When asked about her teaching methodologies, Niu emphasized a comprehensive and engaging approach.
“Based on the course syllabus, I created a study plan for each lesson and prepared a variety of exercises in different formats,” she said. She also leveraged technology, setting up “a complete set of Chinese vocabulary learning exercises for each lesson on Quizlet, where students can test themselves and play vocabulary games.” This blend of teaching, practice, and games is what she believes interests students in learning Chinese.
Her lessons extended beyond textbooks, incorporating elements of Chinese culture. Students had the opportunity to sing Chinese songs, recite ancient poems, practice Tai Chi and meditation, engage in traditional paper cutting, play jianzi (kicking the shuttlecock), and learn to cook Chinese food. Students watched Chinese movies, visited Chinatown, and some even traveled to China.
“Mrs. Niu has been an integral part of our World Language Department,” department head Patricia Castellanos Agulia said. “Her passion for the Chinese language and culture, unwavering dedication to her students, and constant support for her colleagues have left a lasting mark. She brought warmth, wisdom and a deep sense of community to everything she did here at BNI. We are incredibly thankful for her years of commitment. Her impact goes far beyond the classroom. We wish her all the best in her next chapter.”
Among those whose lives Niu profoundly shaped is former student Daniel King, who credits her teaching skills and encouragement for much of his post-Noll international business success.
King, who began studying Chinese with Niu his freshman year, recalls her as a teacher who invested in her students.
“Mrs. Niu made sure that we just didn't go through the motions to pass the class,” King said. “She challenged us to focus on listening comprehension and accents, which really helped us sharpen our conversational skills.”
Beyond making classes enjoyable, Niu pushed her students to excel. She encouraged King to enter the Confucius Institute High School Speech competition during his junior year. Despite King’s initial reluctance, Niu highlighted potential college scholarships and convinced him to compete. He placed 2nd that year and went on to win 1st place the following year.
After graduating from Bishop Noll in 2014, King pursued a degree in International Business and Chinese Language and Culture at Butler University. His studies included a year abroad in Guangzhou, participating in a Chinese as a second language program, followed by an internship in Shanghai. King's career began at Lenovo Group in North Carolina, where he regularly interacted with colleagues in Beijing and Shenzhen. While his current role as a Sr. Client Success Analyst at S&P Global doesn't demand daily Chinese usage, he still occasionally onboards clients in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur.
“If it weren’t for Mrs. Niu pushing me, I would not have been where I am today,” King said. “牛老师，祝您退休后幸福快乐! (Mrs. Niu, I wish you a happy retired life!)”
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Three of her students received a combined $52,000 in scholarships to Valparaiso University, for Chinese studies. The essays of two of her students were published in the Indy Asian American Times. Over its history, Noll’s National Chinese Honor Society has inducted 86 Bishop Noll students as members.
Niu herself has been recognized for her contributions to language education. She was honored as 2014 Teacher of the Year by the Indiana Foreign Language Teachers Association and 2014 Indiana Chinese Teacher of the Year by The Indiana Chinese Language Teachers Association. The Confucius Institute at Valparaiso University also awarded her the Excellent Chinese Teacher distinction.
When asked about her teaching methodologies, Niu emphasized a comprehensive and engaging approach.
“Based on the course syllabus, I created a study plan for each lesson and prepared a variety of exercises in different formats,” she said. She also leveraged technology, setting up “a complete set of Chinese vocabulary learning exercises for each lesson on Quizlet, where students can test themselves and play vocabulary games.” This blend of teaching, practice, and games is what she believes interests students in learning Chinese.
Her lessons extended beyond textbooks, incorporating elements of Chinese culture. Students had the opportunity to sing Chinese songs, recite ancient poems, practice Tai Chi and meditation, engage in traditional paper cutting, play jianzi (kicking the shuttlecock), and learn to cook Chinese food. Students watched Chinese movies, visited Chinatown, and some even traveled to China.
“Mrs. Niu has been an integral part of our World Language Department,” department head Patricia Castellanos Agulia said. “Her passion for the Chinese language and culture, unwavering dedication to her students, and constant support for her colleagues have left a lasting mark. She brought warmth, wisdom and a deep sense of community to everything she did here at BNI. We are incredibly thankful for her years of commitment. Her impact goes far beyond the classroom. We wish her all the best in her next chapter.”
Among those whose lives Niu profoundly shaped is former student Daniel King, who credits her teaching skills and encouragement for much of his post-Noll international business success.
King, who began studying Chinese with Niu his freshman year, recalls her as a teacher who invested in her students.
“Mrs. Niu made sure that we just didn't go through the motions to pass the class,” King said. “She challenged us to focus on listening comprehension and accents, which really helped us sharpen our conversational skills.”
Beyond making classes enjoyable, Niu pushed her students to excel. She encouraged King to enter the Confucius Institute High School Speech competition during his junior year. Despite King’s initial reluctance, Niu highlighted potential college scholarships and convinced him to compete. He placed 2nd that year and went on to win 1st place the following year.
After graduating from Bishop Noll in 2014, King pursued a degree in International Business and Chinese Language and Culture at Butler University. His studies included a year abroad in Guangzhou, participating in a Chinese as a second language program, followed by an internship in Shanghai. King's career began at Lenovo Group in North Carolina, where he regularly interacted with colleagues in Beijing and Shenzhen. While his current role as a Sr. Client Success Analyst at S&P Global doesn't demand daily Chinese usage, he still occasionally onboards clients in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur.
“If it weren’t for Mrs. Niu pushing me, I would not have been where I am today,” King said. “牛老师，祝您退休后幸福快乐! (Mrs. Niu, I wish you a happy retired life!)”
Bishop Noll Institute, a diverse, Catholic college preparatory school, partners with local faith communities to empower young adults to live their faith in Christ through ministry, scholarship, and leadership.