From Chalk Dust to Clicks - How I Built the Mandarin Plus Website—One Passion at a Time

May 22

Twelve Years in the Classroom (and Beyond)

When I taught my first Mandarin class in 2013, I had no idea it would one day lead me to build an entire brand around language, culture, and connection. Those early days were full of whiteboards, improvised lesson plans, and the joy of helping students find their Mandarin voice.

Alongside Mandarin, I’ve also spent 12 years teaching Business English to Chinese professionals, helping them navigate meetings, presentations, and negotiations with clarity and confidence. During the COVID years, I took the opportunity to earn four English teaching licenses, sharpening my skills and proving that learning never stops—no matter the circumstances.

For three years, I was also a home tutor for children in Shanghai’s international schools. That experience gave me an inside look at global curricula like IB and AP, which now influences how I design programs for adult learners and professionals.

Trading the Whiteboard for Walking Shoes

About five years ago, I decided to step outside the classroom—literally. I became an English tour guide, foodie guide, and hiking team leader for expats in and around Shanghai. What started as a side hobby quickly became one of the most fulfilling parts of my life.

Through these roles, I’ve learned so much:

Nature taught me patience and perspective.
Foodie walks taught me how to tell a story with flavors.
Expat conversations taught me how people from around the world experience China—and what they’re truly curious about.

Seeing China, Deeply

One of the biggest blessings of my 20s was the chance to travel all over China. From the deserts of Gansu to the rice terraces in Guangxi, the tea fields of Fujian to the snowy mountains in Yunnan—I’ve explored cities, villages, and nature reserves that most people only see in documentaries.

I walked the colorful bazaars of Xinjiang, soaked in the vast silence of the Taklamakan Desert, and trekked all the way to Mount Everest Base Camp, surrounded by prayer flags and thin air. These were not just trips—they were life-changing experiences that shaped how I see culture, language, and resilience.

These journeys taught me how diverse, layered, and human China really is. They also gave me a unique lens through which I now teach language and culture, not just as textbooks, but as lived experiences.

The Supporting Roles

Everything I’ve done in the past decade somehow contributed to Mandarin Plus:

Translator for exhibitions – Precision, deadlines, and communicating across cultures.
German-Chinese cultural exchange program manager – Learning how to bridge cultures, manage people, and create meaningful dialogue.

All of these roles showed me that my calling has always revolved around people, culture, language, and history.

I always told myself: “Try everything before 30.” And I did. I tried. I explored. I said yes. I failed. I learned. I grew.

“Try Everything Before 30”

As I approached 30 last year, I realized it was time to bring it all together—my years of teaching, guiding, photographing, translating, and connecting. That’s when Mandarin Plus was born.

Pixels, Posters, and Plenty of Coffee

Could I have hired a professional web designer? Sure. But I’ve always loved learning, so I took the challenge head-on. I learned how to:

Build a website from scratch on Squarespace
Design posters, social media graphics, and branding assets
Choose my color palette
Write copy that sounds like me

It was slow. It was steady. And it was 100% worth it.

Gratitude Makes the Code Compile

This website—and this brand—wouldn’t be possible without so many people who inspired and supported me:

My boyfriend, who has always been by my side. His support, honesty, and sometimes tough love pushed me forward. He saw my potential, my strengths, and my qualities long before I saw them clearly myself. Without him, I would never have had the courage to start Mandarin Plus.
Frank Tsai ,from China Crossroads,I learned so much from those talks!! Stephane Monsallier, AI talk taught me how to train tools like ChatGPT for my business.
Genie, Digital Consultant&China Travel Advisor, who gave me feedbacks when I needed it most, who support my Mandarin plus all the time! Good friend, good business partner!
My IPWS family, the amazing women who show what courage, resilience, and leadership look like.
And to all my students, hikers, foodie friends, collaborators, and neighbors—thank you for being part of the journey.

What’s Next?

Mandarin Plus is live, but I’m just getting started. I’m working on:

• Online&offline Mandarin courses