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.

After finishing her studies in the US, Anne moved to Beijing for a new challenge, joining Hutong School as a Program Consultant. She’s since progressed through various roles, and today uses her extensive network and knowledge of China to develop relationships with companies, agencies and embassies around the world to give their students a chance to experience China.

Experienced Chinese teacher and Chinese language expert Xiao Li has helped hundreds of students achieve their learning goals. Today, she uses her expertise to train our teachers, write our textbooks, and advise on Hutong School learning materials. As if her days weren’t busy enough, she often puts us all to shame by squeezing in a morning workout before arriving at the office! 

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!

Born in China’s northernmost province, Heilongjiang, Li Na majored in teaching Chinese as a second language. Since graduating, she’s gained over 10 years’ experience and an extensive knowledge of the Chinese language. Using various teaching methods to suit the different needs of her learners, Li Na makes the challenge of learning Mandarin much less daunting!

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.

Sonia’s post-graduation hunt for new horizons led her to Shanghai, where she decided to continue her study of Chinese after starting in France. She soon fell in love with the city, found a job and decided to stay. She joined the Hutong School Shanghai team in 2018, where she works as a Program Consultant, helping our students come to China to learn Chinese or intern.

After hearing about China through friends, Maja decided she had no choice but to experience it for herself. Shortly after graduating high school, she headed to Chengdu to study Mandarin, and she soon fell in love with the food, the culture and the people. She later moved to Beijing, where she completed an internship before finding her way to Hutong School.

In hope of broadening her mind and stomach, Kelly traded Chicago for China in 2008. After living in Yunnan and Xinjiang, she settled in Beijing where she helps hungry students use their language skills to discover the best of Chinese cuisine. As Kelly says; there’s no better way to improve your Mandarin than over a cold beer and donkey burgers with a local!

Hope is an essential member of our Beijing team; without her, there would be no hope! She loves her role of getting to know our students and helping them settle in, make friends and explore the city. Her passion for good food, organising events and exploring interesting places means you can’t leave Hutong School not knowing more about Chinese culture and language!

An avid basketball player and gym goer, Dalton is an important member of our Shanghai logistics team. He works around the clock to ensure our students have a safe and pleasant stay and experience the best his home city has to offer. It’s his friendly face you’ll see when you arrive at the airport, and he’ll help solve any problems that arise during your stay.

After leaving his hometown in Henan for Beijing over a decade ago, Yin hasn’t looked back since. A true Peking culture, history and food enthusiast, he loves sharing travel tips with our students, so they can see for themselves why he never left the vibrant capital. When he’s not busy helping you settle in, you'll find him playing sports, listening to music or enjoying a good book.

Fiona’s teaching career took her from a small northern town in Henan to Guangzhou and the Philippines before she decided to settle Shanghai, where she’s been working hard to help our students learn ever since. Her calm, patient attitude and clear explanations help make those difficult grammar points make sense and mastering Chinese seem much more achievable.

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 Harbin, China’s ‘Ice City’, and the home of standard Mandarin, Zhu Cong Ming is an experienced teacher with a passion for sharing Chinese culture with the world. Her 4+ years’ teaching experience and wealth of knowledge about her nation’s history, culture and customs make her lessons extremely rewarding.

Heilongjiang native Guo Li has called Beijing home since 2002. She’s grown to love what she calls the nation’s “thrilling and challenging” capital, where she enjoys teaching Chinese to foreign students from around the world. She believes that working closely with people from different backgrounds helps enrich her personality, and that though it might not be the easiest language to learn, it’s certainly rewarding!

Local Beijinger Yumi is fiercely proud of her heritage and loves spreading Beijing’s rich and colourful culture. She aims to make her classes fun and teach her students not only about the language, but also about the culture behind it. As well as being an outstanding teacher, Yumi is also skilled in the kitchen, and she loves preparing delicious local Chinese dishes for our students to taste!