Fong ’26 Parlays One-Line ‘English Teacher’ Role to Six Episodes

Initially, Triniti Fong’s role on FX’s English Teacher consisted of three words.

“Originally when I auditioned, [the script] just said ‘Asian girl throwing away her trash.’ I had only one line, three words,” said Fong ’26. “I was only supposed to be there for one day. They decided to upgrade me [to] two more days. I came back to Boston, and they kept calling me back every other week for more episodes and more lines.”

Fong will be in six of the 10 episodes of Season 2 of the comedy, which premieres Thursday, September 25. The show is about English teacher Evan Marquez [show creator Brian Jordan Alvarez] and what it’s like to be a high school teacher.

Filming took place last semester in Georgia, where the Media Arts Production major grew up.

So how did Fong turn three words into six episodes? [By the way, the three words were “What the f—!”]

“They had me ad lib a lot. I did different variations of that line. I guess they thought I was funny and added me with all the kids in the book club scene,” said Fong. “The star and showrunner, Brian Jordan Alvarez, saw something in me and gave me a chance. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have been called back.”

Fong said her character, Tina, is kind of like a version of herself.

“[Tina is] a regular high schooler who says dumb things sometimes and curses a lot. I think they only allow five curse words an episode. It’s funny they gave me one of them,” said Fong.

Fong auditioned for the role on February 24 and learned she was cast on March 3. From March 17 until the last week of the spring semester, Fong was flying back and forth from Boston to Atlanta. She would read and memorize scripts on plane rides. She said every time she finished filming in Atlanta, she figured her role and wonderful ride was over. Then they’d call her back.

“I was very lucky because professors were understanding and supportive. They didn’t dock me for my absences. I got work done remotely, and recorded and sent my presentations to my group partners,” said Fong.

Fong, who credits her screenwriting classes with helping her audition, said prior to English Teacher, she had performed mostly dramatic roles in student films.

The show was filmed in an abandoned school, Fong said.

“They did set dress it to make it look like the show, but some parts of the school, like the waiting rooms and bathrooms, were a little creepy,” she said.

However, the catering line and smoothie station, especially the surf and turf served on the last day of filming, was delicious, according to Fong.

If English Teacher is picked up for a third season, Fong said she would love to continue her role. She also aspires to create and act in her own TV show or movie.

And for the actress who turned three words into six episodes, anything is possible.

“A lot of time I hear, ‘It’s just a one-liner,’ and you don’t have to really try because it won’t matter,” said Fong. “My one-liner changed my life as I became a reoccurring character. Don’t take one-liners for granted. Every audition and every line counts.”