Meet the LTL Team

Alexander Krasnov 朱兆风

Taiwan School Director

Where are you from?
I’m from the southern part of Israel.

What are your teaching qualifications?
Not teaching, but I have a Masters in Ancient Chinese Literature.

How long have you been working for LTL?
Since 2012

We asked everyone to bring their favourite item, what item did you bring and why?
I brought my phrasebooks because I am obsessed with learning languages.

Favourite Chinese dish?
Hui Guo Rou (Twice Cooked Pork)

Where is your favourite place to go in Shanghai?
I absolutely love the Korean BBQ restaurant near the school!

If you could have dinner with anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
Generally, I enjoy discussing languages with other successful language learners and learn the various methods they use.

If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?
I’d prefer to stay human. I think we live in an amazing world, and being human allows us to enjoy it the most!

What is your top tip for people learning Chinese?
Being consistent! Start studying and don’t stop! Daily study will eventually turn into fluency!

Tell me something about you that would surprise me!
I’m able to communicate in ten languages, and I’m studying 13 others (as of March 2017)

What is your favourite place in China and why?
Beijing and Shanghai, because these are the places where most of my friends are.

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.

Shayla

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.

Peinie

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.

Celine

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.

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!

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

Eden

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