Celine Tan

Most people know a few words or phrases of Italian — ‘Ciao,’ ‘Grazie’ or ‘Prego’ — but learning the whole language isn’t easy. Burlingame’s newest Italian teacher, Celine Tan, will apply her mindset of personal growth, combined with her meticulous work ethic, to the difficult task of teaching the language to high school students.

In Italy, Tan worked as a translator for two years and later tried her hand at cultural consulting — essentially, she adapted advertising or business projects for a certain culture. After this, she came from Italy to California to become a teacher at Burlingame.

“My favorite part of my job is having fun with the students, but also when I perceive those ‘a-ha’ moments, seeing you guys grow in the language or push yourself to speak, or try things that are intimidating, that you’re not sure about and ask questions,” Tan said. “Those are really precious to me.”

Tan spent most of her childhood in Singapore before moving to Italy at 16 to finish high school.

“People were a lot more result-oriented and incredibly competitive back at home, in a way that really overshadowed a lot of growing up,” Tan said. “What I see in the classroom here at Burlingame is the opportunity for a lot more personal growth, and you have a lot more ways to explore your interests in high school.”

Aside from teaching, Tan has a multitude of other hobbies. She enjoys sewing, takes careful care of her plants, and is an avid reader.