Alin 周愛凌

Director of Studies

What is your Chinese name?
My Chinese name is 周愛凌.

Where are you from?
I’m from Taiwan.

Favourite Taiwanese dish?
I love 手搖飲. It’s actually a type of drink rather than food!

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
New Zealand is the most beautiful place in my mind. I’d love to visit

If you could be an animal, which you be and why?
A cat because of its lightness and elegance.

If you could have dinner with anyone in the world, who would it be?
God, we could talk about the future world.

Where is your favourite place to go in Taipei?
Any restaurant where they offer delicious food. That’s most of them!

What is your top tip for people learning Chinese?
Speaking is the most important thing. Don’t be scared to get things wrong. We don’t mind!

Tell me something about you that would surprise me!
I’m an amateur dancer.

What is your favourite place in Taiwan and why?
My lovely home. East or West, home is the best.

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.

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.

Ottavia

Social Media Assistant

Where are you from?
I’m from Bologna, Italy.

How long have you been with LTL?
I started in March 2023.

We asked everyone to bring their favourite item, what item did you bring and why?
I chose to bring my microphone because I love podcasts. I really enjoy both listening and recording them. I think they give you the opportunity to meet incredible people! Moreover, this microphone was a gift from my very best friends, so it’s special.

Favourite dish?
I love dumplings, I can’t get enough of them!

How many languages can you speak?
I can speak 4 languages: Italian (my native language), English, Chinese and Spanish.

If you could have dinner with anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
Simone Pieranni. He’s a famous Italian journalist and sinologist, I admire how passionate he is about his job. Thanks to his books and podcasts, I learnt so much about China and Asia.

What is your top tip for people learning Chinese?
Don’t underestimate tones! At the beginning, I mainly focused on remember how to write tons of characters without learning the proper pronunciation. Now I see how tones are crucial while learning Chinese!

Tell me something about you that would surprise me!
I took part in the Dance World Championship 2018 and 2019 with my hiphop crew! I started hip hop when I was 12 and I never gave it up.

Where is your dream holiday destination?
I always dreamt of visiting Marrakech!

Riona 陳渝涵

School Manager & Culture Specialist

What is your Chinese name?
My Chinese name is 陳渝涵.

Where are you from?
I’m from Taipei.

When did you join LTL?
I joined towards the end of 2022.

Favourite Taiwanese dish?
I really love 金沙豆腐, it’s a kind of tofu dish.

Favourite place to go in Taipei?
My two favourites are Dadaocheng and Taipei fine art museum

Favourite place in Taiwan and why?
I’m loyal to Taipei! I’d say it’s the best place on the island. I love going to art exhibitions here. There are always lots of new exhibitions to see in Taipei.

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
Morocco, I want to explore blue alleys of Chefchaouen and desert. l’m a big fan of Islamic mosaic art too.

If you could have dinner with anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
San Mao (Echo Chan). She is one of the most important travel writers in Taiwan. I want to know more about her stories in theSahara!

If you could be an animal – which would you be and why?
A bird. because flying in the sky must be cool.

What is your top tip for people learning Mandarin?
Get chatting with the locals and don’t be shy.

Tell me something about you that would surprise me!
I do oil painting on Saturdays and sometimes my mom will join me. She was a designer when she was young.

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

Manuel 夏馬諾

Student Advisor

What is your Chinese name?
夏馬諾

Where are you from?
I’m from a beautiful city in Southern Spain called Seville.

When did you join LTL?
I joined LTL at the start of 2023.

Favourite Taiwanese dish?
ooo, I love Taiwanese Guabao 刈包 with peanut powder and cilantro.

Favourite place to go in Taipei?
Going to Ximen-ding always gets me in a good mood. It’s one of the more popular spots in Taipei.

If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be and why?
Port Barton in the Philippines. One of the nicest most beautiful spots I have ever been to. It’s also really close to Taiwan!

If you could have dinner with anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
My older sister, 100%. She always cheers me up.

If you could be an animal – which would you be and why?
A capybara. They are friendly, compassionate and very cute!

What is your top tip for people learning Mandarin?
Don’t just stick to the books. Make local friends and bring the language into things that bring you joy even if they are unrelated to the language. In my case that means watching anime in Mandarin.

Tell me something about you that would surprise me!
I’m not a natural redhead. Shhhh!

Tell us about the item that you brought in for your picture?
These are gudetama (蛋黃哥) and my little Lex (LTL’s mascot). They brighten my days at school.

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!

Marine 柯海娜

Vice Marketing Director

Where are you from?
France

What are your qualifications?
I have a Master’s degree in Culture and International Affairs, with a focus on China.

How long have you been with LTL?
I have a long history with LTL! I used to be an intern in 2015, then a student, then a free-lancer a couple of years after that, and now I work full time at LTL Beijing since August 2019.

We asked everyone to bring their favorite item, what item did you bring and why?
I brought my scarf, it is just very cosy and super warm, I have been wearing it every autumn/winter for years now. My mum and I spotted it at the same time in a thrift store and really liked it, but she let me have it.

Favourite Chinese dish?
There are so many I don’t know if I can choose only one! I really like baozi, sweet and sour pork, the way they cook eggplants, all the soups with lots of vegetables in it, and the hotpot of course!

Where is your favourite place to go in Beijing?
Beihai Park, definitely.

If you could have dinner with anyone in the world, who would it be and why?
Greta Thunberg, I have a lot to learn from her.

If you could be any animal, what would you be and why?
A cat! I’d love to be able to just play, eat and sleep all day long.

What is your top tip for people learning Chinese?
Get the tones right from the beginning and basically imitate the sounds you hear the best you can. Also, never give up! Chinese is a difficult language but it is so worth it.

Tell me something about you that would surprise me!
When I was younger I trained with a pretty renowned French Mountain Infantry Battalion in the Alps, they taught me how to climb mountains with and without gear and how to survive if I ever found myself lost.

What is your favorite place in China and why?
I would say Hangzhou. It is a very peaceful city with a lot to visit. Also, the lake reminds me of the one in my hometown, they look a lot similar.

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?

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.