Annie Kuan 关晓雯

Director of Studies

Where are you from?
Taipei

What are your teaching qualifications?
I have a TCSOL Certificate and three years of Spanish teaching experience in Spain

When did you start teaching Chinese?
Summer of 2015, starting in Madrid, Spain.

Favourite Taiwanese dish?
My favourite Taiwanese dish will always be pearl milk tea.

Where is your favourite place to go in Taipei?
There is a private beach next to my house. It’s beautiful and only a handful of people know about it so I can read my books in peace and quiet.

What is your top tip for people learning Chinese?
TALK, TALK and TALK

Tell me something about you that would surprise me!
I visited the city of Nanfa and walked the same road as the famous artist Van Gogh.

What is your favourite place in Taiwan and why?
Hualien’s Qixingtan, because there are many beautiful stones, you can draw and write poems on it.

Celine 陳瑋婕

Language teacher

Where are you from?
Taoyuan , Taiwan.

What are your teaching qualifications?
I have a Certificate of teaching Chinese as a second/ foreign Language from MOE.

When did you start teaching Chinese?
Summer of 2016.

Favourite Taiwanese dish?
My favourite Taiwanese dish is Douhua (豆花). Try it!

Where is your favourite place to go in Taipei?
Da-an Forest Park. It’s a wonderful place that I love to hang out in and read a book

What is your top tip for people learning Chinese?
Talk with the locals! Don’t be shy we’re a friendly country!

Tell me something about you that would surprise me!
I have 17+ years of experience of training Tibetan Mastiffs!

What is your favourite place in Taiwan and why?
Taoyuan, because it is my hometown. I love going back to see friends and family.

Shayla 蘇士恬

Language teacher

Where are you from?
I am from Taipei, Taiwan

When did you start teaching Chinese?
I’ve been teaching Mandarin for over 10 years

Favourite Taiwanese dish?
My favourite Taiwanese dish is scallion pancakes. Please try it when you come!

Where is your favourite place to go in Taipei?
I love Dihua street. It’s a beautiful street full of old buildings.

What is your top tip for people learning Chinese?
I think being able to read characters is very important!

Tell me something about you that would surprise me!
Aside from teaching Mandarin I’m am also an artist and graphic designer.

What is your favourite place in Taiwan and why?
I love Taipei. It’s my home town so I’m a little bias but I really think it’s an incredible city and a wonderful place to live.

Rushi 金瑞强

Digital Content Creator

Where are you from?
I am from Mumbai, but I live in Taipei!

What are your qualifications?
I am a videographer, photographer and drone pilot.

When did you start learning Chinese?
Late 2016.

Favourite Taiwanese dish?
My favorite Taiwanese dish is Mapo Tofu 麻婆豆腐, surely recommended.

Where is your favourite place to go in Taipei?
Teapot Mountain, it is my second home. The views are amazing with mountains on left and beach on the right!

What is your top tip for people learning Chinese?
Be shameless to talk in Chinese no matter the fluency, that’s the only way to learn.

Tell me something about you that would surprise me!
I am an active martial artist (Muay Thai and Jiu-Jitsu) and an aspiring snooker professional.

What is your favourite place in Taiwan and why?
Dulan, Taitung. It is a paradise for surfers and beach lovers.

Hannah 涵涵

Digital Marketing Executive

Where are you from?
I’m from a small town in the middle of England!

What are your qualifications?
I have a BSc in Medical Biology with International Experience and am currently working towards my Master’s in Learning and Instruction.

When did you start learning Chinese?
I started learning Chinese (properly) during the early days of the pandemic – ironically just after I left China!

Favourite Taiwanese dish?
Does bubble tea count as a dish? If not, then it would have to be 蛋餅 danbing. It’s like a mini omelette, but better!

Where is your favourite place to go in Taipei?
I love 西門町 (Ximending)! It’s a great little shopping district that’s always bustling. There’s usually something fun to watch, like street performers and dancers. Plus it’s home to my favourite bubble tea place- 幸福堂！

What is your top tip for people learning Chinese?
Avoid using your native language. As soon as I switched to immersive classes, my Chinese improved massively. And yes, that includes at beginner level!

Tell me something about you that would surprise me!
I used to work in a surf camp in Portugal! But my surfing skills are still appalling…

What is your favourite place in Taiwan and why?
So far I’d say my favourite place is Kaohsiung, it’s a city in the south of Taiwan and as all the ex-Taipei foreigners will tell you, it’s rains a lot less down there! Perfect for a mini seaside getaway.

Peinie 林珮瑜

Language teacher

Where are you from?
I’m from Taiwan

What are your teaching qualifications?
My university major is Chinese literature. I was trained at National Taipei University of Education and International Han Institute.

When did you start teaching Chinese?
I’ve been teaching since 2016

Favourite Taiwanese dish?
I love spicy and hot pot. I think I’ve almost every restaurant in Taipei!

Where is your favourite place to go in Taipei?
National Palace Museum, because I have an old soul and think it’s a wonderful place to hang out.

What is your top tip for people learning Chinese?
Imagination is your superpower, and forget your native language when you speak Chinese.

Tell me something about you that would surprise me!
I have taught at Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Mexico (Mexico) and National Chengchi University (Taiwan)
I also have taught a Malaysian ambassador and diplomat in Taiwan.

What is your favorite place in Taiwan and why?
National museum of marine biology and aquarium, because when you sleep in an aquarium, you’ll see the fish swimming above you, as if you are embraced by the sea.

Deila Huang 黃文俞

Language teacher

Where are you from?
Taiwan.

What are your teaching qualifications?

Certificate of Qualification to Teach Mandarin Chinese as a 2nd Language (MOE)

When did you start teaching Chinese?
2015

Favourite Taiwanese dish?
Pig Blood Cake

Where is your favourite place to go in Taipei?
Dadaocheng

What is your top tip for people learning Chinese?

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Listen more, speak more, and practice more!

Tell me something about you that would surprise me!

I can’t tell the difference between a duck and a goose

What is your favourite place in Taiwan and why?

Taitung. Beautiful scenery, relaxing life pace, and friendly people.

Julia Chang 张淑婷

Language Teacher

Where are you from?
Taipei, Taiwan

What are your teaching qualifications?
I studied at National Taiwan Normal University, majoring in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language.

When did you start teaching Chinese?
2017

Favourite Taiwanese dish?
Intestine Vermicelli

Where is your favourite place to go in Taipei?
Shida Nightmarket

What is your top tip for people learning Chinese?
Find something you love! Maybe follow some Chinese TV shows, Chinese songs, or Youtubers!

Tell me something about you that would surprise me!
My hair used to be pink, blue, and purple, though it’s black now.

What is your favourite place in Taiwan and why
National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium in PingDong
You can explore the breathtaking underwater world through those massive display windows and the biggest underwater tunnel in Asia.

Ehana 朱宥颖

Language Teacher

Where are you from?
Keelung, Taiwan.

What are your teaching qualifications?
A certified Mandarin teacher with TCSL certification, AKA the certificate of teaching Chinese as a second language. I have 2 years of experience teaching Chinese in Shanghai as well as Taiwan.

When did you start teaching Chinese?
I started teaching in 2017 and have loved it ever since!

Favourite Taiwanese dish?
Easily my favourite Taiwanese dish is a Fan Tuan (飯糰). It’s a burrito like roll or sticky rice!

Where is your favourite place to go in Taipei?
If you get the chance go to Danshuei. I love that district.

What is your top tip for people learning Chinese?
Don’t be shy to speak Chinese. The more you talk the faster it will come to you

Tell me something about you that would surprise me!
I know how to say “I LOVE YOU” in Somali.

What is your favorite place in Taiwan and why?
Keelung… I’m a bit bias because that’s where I’m from however it truly is a beautiful place

Tammy 徐夢書

Language Teacher

Where are you from?

What are your teaching qualifications?

When did you start teaching Chinese?
From 2013

Favourite Taiwanese dish?

Where is your favourite place to go in Taipei?

What is your top tip for people learning Chinese?

Tell me something about you that would surprise me!

What is your favorite place in Taiwan and why?

Jassie Zhu 邱筱筑

Language Teacher

Where are you from?
Taiwan

What are your teaching qualifications?
I have a degree in Chinese language and teaching from National Taiwan University

When did you start teaching Chinese?
I started teaching Chinese in 2017

Favourite Taiwanese dish?
I love Oyster omelettes

Where is your favourite place to go in Taipei?
Xiangshan is really great!

What is your top tip for people learning Chinese?
Don’t just recite words, remember to write down the whole conversation, preferably with pictures!

Tell me something about you that would surprise me!
I am a lifeguard, so I go swimming every morning. I have painted more than ten murals.

What is your favourite place in Taiwan and why?
Little Ryukyu and Lanyu! They are very beautiful islands! You can forget all the troubles there, swim with the fish, and the residents on the island are super friendly!

Tammy 徐夢書

Language Teacher

Where are you from?

What are your teaching qualifications?

When did you start teaching Chinese?
From 2013

Favourite Taiwanese dish?

Where is your favourite place to go in Taipei?

What is your top tip for people learning Chinese?

Tell me something about you that would surprise me!

What is your favorite place in Taiwan and why?

Jassie Zhu 邱筱筑

Language Teacher

Where are you from?
Taiwan

What are your teaching qualifications?
I have a degree in Chinese language and teaching from National Taiwan University

When did you start teaching Chinese?
I started teaching Chinese in 2017

Favourite Taiwanese dish?
I love Oyster omelettes

Where is your favourite place to go in Taipei?
Xiangshan is really great!

What is your top tip for people learning Chinese?
Don’t just recite words, remember to write down the whole conversation, preferably with pictures!

Tell me something about you that would surprise me!
I am a lifeguard, so I go swimming every morning. I have painted more than ten murals.

What is your favourite place in Taiwan and why?
Little Ryukyu and Lanyu! They are very beautiful islands! You can forget all the troubles there, swim with the fish, and the residents on the island are super friendly!

Eden 陳麗卿

Language Teacher

Where are you from?
Taiwan

What are your teaching qualifications?
My university major is Chinese literature and I was trained in the TLI Chinese language institute.

When did you start teaching Chinese?
I started teaching in 2014 and never stopped. It’s wonderful meeting people interested enough to leave their home country to come study with me and experience my language and culture.

Favourite Taiwanese dish?
Don’t leave Taiwan without trying an Oyster omelette. The best thing around!

Where is your favourite place to go in Taipei?
Dihua street, especially at night. It’s beautiful. I spend a lot of time there.

What is your top tip for people learning Chinese?
Watch some Chinese Drama on TV. It’s a great way to get invested in learning a language but also you’ll fall in love with the characters.

Tell me something about you that would surprise me!
I taught Chinese in India for 2 years.

What is your favourite place in Taiwan and why?
Taitung is a place so beautiful you believe your eyes

JuJu 蔡宜伶

Language Teacher

Where are you from?
Taiwan

What are your teaching qualifications?
Teachers of Chinese to speakers for other language: TCSOL Certificate
The TCSOL Certification to Teaching Chinese for Business Purpose
Teachers of Chinese to speakers for other language: TCSOL Certificate
The TCSOL Certification to Teaching Chinese for Young Learners

When did you start teaching Chinese?
From 2019

Favourite Taiwanese dish?
Fried sauce noodles

Where is your favourite place to go in Taipei?
Hsing-Tian Temple.

What is your top tip for people learning Chinese?
Listen more, speak more and practice more.

Tell me something about you that would surprise me!
I love drawing, design and some psychology stuff.

What is your favorite place in Taiwan and why?
Minsheng Community, Taipei.
Because the place has an countryside feel.