Our people

A few months interning in Beijing were the catalyst for Jeremie’s return to China and subsequent launch of Hutong School. As a fluent Mandarin speaker, talented entrepreneur and China enthusiast, Jeremie works to promote the Chinese language to students and young professionals around the world in the hope they’ll gain as much from it as he did.

Ida has lived all over the world, but it was China that drew her back with its incredibly diverse cuisine, culture and people. Since settling in Shanghai, she’s been continuously amazed by the eclectic mix of old and new that characterises the country’s most international city. As Ida says, it’s hard to put into words how fascinating China is – you simply have to see it for yourself!

It was Rob’s passion for Chinese language and culture that inspired him to move to Beijing, where he soon realised there’s no better way to learn the language. Though he’s called China home for several years, he’s always discovering new things about the city. When he’s not ensuring the smooth running of our Beijing office, he’s sure to be exploring the city and enjoying its vibrant music scene!

Astrid’s fascination with Asia was what first brought her to China, where she began her adventure with a Hutong School internship in Beijing. She had such a good time that she later returned, this time to Shanghai, where she has since been organising study and internship programs in China for people around the world and helping them discover what it was that made her come back.

Experienced teacher Bibi helped hundreds of Hutong School students reach their Chinese learning goals before becoming our Education Manager. Today she oversees our teaching team, helping to maintain our high standard of teaching and ensure our students get as much out of their Hutong School studies as possible.

After starting her career in Wuhan, Kate headed to Shanghai in search of new opportunities. She soon found her way to Hutong School, where she now works as part of our local sales team to encourage more people to learn Chinese. As someone who values her culture and language, she enjoys helping our students learn about China and benefit from all that Shanghai has to offer.

After visiting China as a child and not fully appreciating it, Megan decided to return as an adult to reconnect with her roots, be with her family and learn more about the country’s vast history and culture. She’s lived in various cities since arriving in China and is now based in Shanghai, where she works hard to help more and more people around the world discover Hutong School.

A stroll through Chinatown was what sparked Judith’s interest in China and inspired her to start learning the meaning of the intriguing characters she saw. A few years and a Chinese language major later, she understands a few thousand and now helps others get to China, settle in and discover for themselves why she can’t live without stinky tofu, dockless bikes and WeChat!

After hearing a friend’s story of studying in Beijing, Amy was inspired to experience it for herself. A few months soon turned into a few years after she joined Hutong School as a Program Consultant in 2012. She’s since moved back to the UK, where she now works to help people get a taste of China in London, inspiring them to one day begin their own China adventure.

True Beijinger Sarah isn’t shy of telling people how she feels about her home city; very positively. She loves the contrast of the city’s ancient buildings and modern skyscrapers, and she never ceases to be amazed by how many foreigners can speak fluent Chinese. Sarah dreams of helping more and more people learn her language – join us in Beijing and help her realise her dream! 

Bubbly ex-professional English interpreter Nicole completed an internship in New York before joining the Hutong School family in Shanghai. She enjoys working in a multi-cultural environment and loves using her own experience of interning abroad to help our students settle in. Her friendly face is one of the first you’ll see when you enter our school and one you certainly won’t forget!

Since joining Hutong School, Karen has been working tirelessly to make sure our students have the best experience possible. Her top-notch organisational skills and passion for helping people settle in are two of the main things that make our events a success. Between planning activities and excursions, she spreads her love for Chinese culture through teaching – a true all-rounder!

The glue that binds our Shanghai school together, our office angel Chenjie ensures the smooth running of everything from finance to maintenance. When she’s not hidden behind stacks of paper, she’s sure to be running errands around the city. So, though you may not get to meet her, you can rest assured she’s playing a vital role in making your Hutong School experience a success.

As a member of our logistics team, Shanghai local and football fanatic Philip works hard to ensure our students have a safe and comfortable stay in his city. One of the first people you'll meet when you arrive, he's responsible for meeting and greeting our students at the airport, and he's always on hand to help solve any problems that arise. 

Bishuai’s passion for sharing his culture and language with curious foreigners led him to pursue a career in teaching. After completing his studies, he left his hometown in Henan for Cambodia, where he spent a year teaching Chinese before heading to Shanghai. He’s been a key member of our team ever since, putting his all into making his classes enjoyable.

An expert on Chinese character etymology, Emily has over 8 years’ experience teaching students from around the world. Since graduating, she has lived and worked in the Philippines, Singapore, Germany and Austria, helping to promote her native language and culture around the world. Today, you’ll find her in Shanghai using fun methods to help our students master the language and adapt to life in China.

Born in Wenzhou, raised in Shanghai, Chen Nanyi achieved a master’s degree in teaching Chinese as a second language before starting her full-time teaching career. She enjoys learning about her students’ cultures and challenging herself to pick up a few basic phrases in their languages - she's tried her hand at Arabic and French... will your language be next?

Born in Beijing, Mei Han graduated from Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology before deciding to become a Chinese teacher. She’s taught Chinese as a foreign language for over 12 years now, adopting various techniques to suit the different needs of her students. Mei Han’s open-minded and easy-going personality makes her a pleasure to learn from and is one reason why students love her classes!