Meet Our Talented Teachers
Our passionate and dedicated team work together to plan and deliver Mandarin lessons that will inspire and motivate your children, helping them develop a deep understanding, and love, for language and new cultures.
You can rest assured, all our staff our enhanced DBS checked.
卞老师
Jie Bian
Hi, I’m Jie, the founder and director of Happy Chinese Talkers, formerly known as Little Mandarin Talkers.
With a background in Early Years Education and professional Mandarin teaching qualifications, I have over 15 years of experience teaching Mandarin to children of different ages and abilities. Over the years, I have taught Mandarin in both independent and community school settings, alongside developing and managing Happy Chinese Talkers.
I am passionate about helping children learn Chinese in a positive, engaging and supportive environment. At Happy Chinese Talkers, we combine elements of both Chinese and Western teaching approaches, using language, culture, stories, games and creative activities to make learning meaningful and enjoyable.
Every class is carefully planned to suit the age, level and needs of the children. Our aim is not only to help students develop strong Mandarin skills, but also to build their confidence, curiosity and long-term enjoyment of the Chinese language and culture.
Heather Salthouse
Ni hao! My name is Heather and I have been working at Happy Chinese Talkers since 2019.
I have been involved in language learning and teaching throughout my entire career, working with children from ages 2 to 18. I hold a PGCE in Secondary School Languages, and my degree is in French and Russian.
I have been learning Mandarin Chinese since 2014. I believe that children do not learn well if they feel bored, shy or unsafe so my priority is to settle the children into the classroom and to encourage close bonds between the classmates; my goal is to instil a sense of curiosity and wonder for different languages and cultures, and for the children to feel that language learning is an innate ability that we all possess.
I am meticulous in my lesson planning and tailor make each lesson according to the progress made each week and pay special attention to the classroom dynamics.
Mak Kai Yu(Steven)
麥棨譽
“gok3 wai2 tung4 hok6，zou2 san4 !” This is the Cantonese phonetic spelling for “Good morning! students.”
I am Mr. Mak, and I have been teaching in Hong Kong schools for 14 years, bringing extensive teaching experience to the classroom.
I believe that fostering student motivation is crucial for effective learning. To achieve this, I design diverse and multi-sensory activities that actively engage students and connect learning content to real-life experiences, ensuring that students find their learning meaningful and relevant.
Furthermore, I understand that consistent practice is vital for students to master knowledge and reinforce their learning outcomes.
In addition to my teaching expertise, I have studied Chinese calligraphy for over 20 years, which has provided me with a profound understanding of character structure and strokes. I aspire to help students make significant progress in writing traditional Chinese characters, enhancing both their skills and appreciation for this art form.
梁建鹏老师
（Janice Liang）
Janice Liang is an experienced Mandarin teacher with over 18 years of international Chinese teaching experience, specialising in children aged 5 and above as well as adult learners.
Having served as Acting Head of Chinese Language Studies in London schools, she has extensive experience in curriculum development and teacher training.
Ms Liang combines Chinese language and cultural learning with a child-centred approach inspired by Montessori principles, adapting lessons to each learner’s age, ability and learning pace. Her teaching focuses on understanding, communication and practical use rather than rote memorisation.
Her students have consistently achieved excellent results, including an HSK pass rate of over 94%, while developing the confidence to use Chinese naturally and independently.
王少芳老師
畢業於香港中文大學中文系，擁有豐富的中文教學經驗，現於本地中文社區學校任教，已有兩年時間。課堂設計靈活多元，善於運用遊戲、故事及實用主題引導學生，提升他們對學習中文的興趣與信心。
曾在香港博物館體系從事文字及展覽策劃工作超過十年，具備深厚的文化素養與文字功底。熱愛閱讀歷史書籍，也喜歡與學生分享有趣的文化知識與故事，讓學習更有深度與趣味。
相信愉快學習的重要性，鼓勵學生主動思考、大膽表達，培養語言能力與自我信心。
I hold a degree in Chinese Language and Literature from The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
With strong teaching experience in Chinese language education, I have been teaching at a local Chinese community school for the past two years. My lessons are engaging and interactive, often incorporating games, storytelling, and practical topics to spark students’ interest and build their confidence in learning Chinese.
Before that, I worked for over ten years in the museum sector in Hong Kong, focusing on curatorial writing and exhibition planning—an experience that enriches my teaching with a deep appreciation for Chinese culture and history.
I am passionate about creating a joyful and supportive learning environment where students are encouraged to think independently and express themselves freely.
马海涓老师
（Madge Ma）
Madge is an experienced Mandarin teacher with a strong background in education. She studied Primary Education and Humanities Education in China and holds teaching qualifications for both primary and secondary education, as well as a Level 2-A Putonghua Proficiency Certificate.
She has experience teaching Mandarin to international adult learners in China and is confident in supporting beginners to build a strong foundation in pronunciation, vocabulary and everyday communication. Her clear, structured and patient teaching style helps adult learners understand Mandarin step by step and develop confidence in using the language in practical situations.
Madge also has extensive experience working with children in the UK and currently works as a teaching assistant in a primary school. She particularly enjoys working with children and has a warm, patient and encouraging approach that helps them feel comfortable, engaged and confident in the classroom.
With experience teaching both adults and children, Madge is able to adapt her lessons to different ages, abilities and learning needs.
The teacher is very good at explaining Chinese culture and traditions. My children are gaining a very good insight in to China and its people which inspires them to learn more. My wife (and children) highly recommend them.
Greg, Hatfield