Cai, Jie

Dr. Jie Cai moved to the greater Philadelphia area with her family in 2004 and joined the MLCCC community in 2006. She enjoyed the rich programs and the generous members of the MLCCC in the past years. Her two kids also studied at the MLCCC between 2006-2018.

Since 1997, when she graduated from Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China, Dr. Cai has worked with students directly in/outside the classroom, and participated actively in coordinating educational resources. Since 2008, her teaching started focusing primarily on Chinese Language and Culture at the secondary and post-secondary education levels. Over the years, she has remained as active member at the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL). She is committed to being a constant learner, and enjoys fostering 21 century skills alongside her students, such as: critical thinking; creativity; collaboration; communication; information literacy; media literacy; technology literacy; flexibility; leadership; initiative; productivity; and social skills. Yes, believe it, Dr. Cai’s classroom can have them all! In sharing Chinese language and culture, it is her objective to improve cross-cultural understanding and to enrich everyone’s life that she reaches. In addition to teaching at the MLCCC weekend school, she is currently an adjunct professor at the Department of Languages, Literatures & Cultures at the University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware.

A wife, a mom, a gardener, a writer, a teacher, Dr. Cai resides at Glenmoore with her husband and two children.

Gao, Baoli

I am a Kindergarten Teacher with 10 years of experience teaching 3 - 5 year-olds. My keys to guiding each of my students are Love and Encouragement. As a parent and teacher, I actively communicate with parents and administrators for the growth and well-being of each student. Long term Vision, Mission and Goals I have for each class:
Vision:Love one another. (Treat others how you want to be treated)
Mission: Help people in your surroundings. (Your class, family, community…)
Goal:Excellent Chinese speaking Boys and Girls.

I had been a civil engineer for 9 years. I graduated from Union Gansu University. Currently I’ve been working in the financial service industry for over 10 years. Our firm is located at King of Prussia.

Hu, Wenyao

Hu，Wenyao(胡文耀)，a native Mandarin speaker from Zhejiang China. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Wuhan University. His full time job is a software engineer.

He believes language and culture go hand by hand. They are two intwined components. Both of them define a person, their views, traditions, habits, and almost everything about daily life. Chinese language teaching is a cross-cultural communication activity. His ultimate goal of teaching is that students who learn Chinese can acquire both language and culture.

Iris Teng

My name is Iris Teng, which children can call me Ms. Iris or Teng Laoshi. I earned my Montessori Teaching Certificate in 2010 and had worked in a Montessori school for 3 years. Then I graduated in 2013 with a duel master degree in Elementary and Special Education from Saint Joseph's University. I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 3 years and am a high school special education teacher in Upper Darby School District. This is my 6th year teaching at MLCCC and it has been a wonderful journey for me.

I love teaching Mandarin with young kids because I want to bring the fun of learning Chinese to class as the first step of learning path. The main goal of my course is to have the children feel comfortable and confident speaking and communicating in Chinese. All vocabulary will be repeated and reinforced throughout the whole school year in the method of singing, playing games, coloring and quick one-on-one conversation. I add new list of vocabulary each week and the worksheets are sent home.

Huimin Li is a native Chinese speaker from Hubei Province, China. She earned her Ph.D. degree from Drexel University in the United States. She works at West Chester University (WCU) as a professor in Finance. Since summer 2014, she has been taking WCU students on exchange study trips to China. WCU students who went on the trips have enjoyed immersion in Chinese culture and gained first-hand experience with Chinese economy. It has been a great experience for herself too as she wants to be a bridge between Americans and Chinese.

She has been teaching Chinese in MLCCC for years since 2014. Currently, she is also teaching Math Enrichment class for 4th and 5th graders. Her teaching philosophy is to let students enjoy learning and stimulate their interest and willingness to apply knowledge. Interaction with students in class is important in her class as she engages everyone in class activities.

Li, Jing

Jing Li is a native Chinese speaker from Henan Province, China. She Graduated from East China Normal University with a master’s degree. Before moving to United State, she had taught in Shanghai Normal University for eighteen years.

Since 2016, she has been teaching Chinese in MLCCC for years. Currently she is teaching MLP 4th graders and MZHY 4th graders. She introduces related Chinese history and culture into the regular class, according the content of textbook, and encourage students to restate or express in Chinese using previously learned words, and further to enhance students’ interest on learning Chinese language, history and culture.

Li, Ran

Li Ran is a native Chinese speaker. She can speak standard mandarin without accent. She has been United State for 5 years. She earned her statistics M.S. from the University of Delaware.

She has been teaching Chinese in MLCCC since 2016. She has taught MZHY Grade 4th ,MZHY Grade 6th, MLP Grade 6th. Her love teaching and enjoying helping kids to learn Chinese. She like making friends with kids and sharing Chinese traditional culture with them. At the same time, she is active to evoke kids’ Chinese interesting.

Qi, Zhigang

Zhigang Qi is a native Chinese speaker from Beijing, China. He earned his Master degree from Northeastern University in the United States. He works at Verizon as a Software Engineer. He has been interested in Chinese culture since a very young age and wants to introduce the great cultue to people who are also interested in learning it.

Mr. Qi started teaching Chinese as a Heritage Language (CHL) classes at the MLCCC in 2007. Currently, he is teaching the 8th lessons. He usually engages students in the classes with multi-media contents that are closely related to the teaching plans. Learning Chinese with a deeper understanding to the culture is his goal throughout the entire teaching activity.

Wang, Liping

MLCCC First Grade Chinese Language Teacher. A graduate from Henan Medical University, I have been working at the University of Pennsylvania as a cancer researcher for the last 25 years. This year will be my thirteenth year teaching at MLCCC’s Weekend School. Before teaching, I was, like many parents, an enthusiastic volunteer at our school and frequently served as a homeroom parent. During my college years, I had received professional training in Mandarin pronunciation and served as a campus radio broadcaster. That experience has been quite rewarding and ignited my love for our language and culture, and eventually facilitated my teaching career when I was called on to sub a class. It has been my love for teaching at MLCCC ever since.

My teaching focuses on the fun part of learning because children learn best when they are having “a fun time”. Audio/video/slideshow presentations are integrated parts of my teaching in every class. It is to help children develop their perception and cognition of Chinese language and culture and lay the foundation for future learning. At the same time, I also advocate and encourage parents to participate in my teaching, maintain clear communication. My goal is to keep every child in learning.

Yuan, Honglei

Honglei Yuan is a Chinese native speaker from Shanghai, China. She received the master’s degree in sociology from Shanghai University in China, and the master’s degree in education from Villanova University in the U.S. She has been teaching Chinese language at Villanova University since 2009.

Honglei Yuan has been a Chinese teacher at MLCCC since 2009. She has taught Chinese as second language (CSL) classes for adults and high schoolers and currently she is teaching CSL level 1 and 2 classes. She also teaches Chinese language at MLCCC summer camp, after-school program, and as a private tutor. She employs positive feedback and multiple teaching methods, such as interactive class activities and fun games, and emphasizes applying the language skills into real life. Her ultimate teaching goal is to encourage the students become lifelong learners of Chinese language and culture.

Janice Zhang Guenot

My name is Janice Zhang Guenot. I was born and raised in Beijing, China. I graduated from Beijing Normal University in Management with a major in Education. I gained skills and experience working as a teacher for over 10 years in Beijing, China. I am working for a Special Education Program at a local school district in PA. I am also certificated in teaching Mandarin Chinese. I have been tutoring and teaching at Main Line Chinese Culture Center (MLCCC) since 2017. Throughout my education and working experience, I developed supervisory skills to encourage children to learn and follow the rules while always maintaining the classroom in a safe environment. I can interact efficiently with students to help them stay focused to grasp and learn new things so they develop to the next level. I work well with any child or family while providing the best learning environment for every student.

If I am not teaching, I love to travel or watch a football game with my husband. My favorite things to do are sitting on my porch, listening to country music and enjoy wine with my husband. I never stopped learning new things. I am a foodie; French food is my first choice. I have no pets, because we travel a lot, but I love pets. I have no kids either, but I work with children every day. I love them, and they love me, too.

Liu, Yan

Yan is a passionate tennis player, a long-time member of the Philadelphia Chinese Tennis Association (PCTA), and is the current captain of PCTA Dragons men's tennis team in the USTA (United States Tennis Association) league.

Yan is always interested in helping to improve the fundamental skills and techniques of tennis players at different levels. For the kids, Yan not only focuses on improving their general athletic abilities, balance, and other physical conditions, he also emphasizes the importance of mental elements such as motivation and concentration, especially for young beginners.

Ma, Weiwei

Weiwei Ma is a Chinese dancer, teacher, and choreographer who started professional Chinese dance training at age eleven. She studied choreography at The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Academy of Arts where she graduated with a BFA degree. Before coming to Philadelphia, Weiwei taught Chinese classical dance and choreography at Beijing Contemporary Music Academy. Weiwei graduated with her MFA degree from Temple University in Philadelphia in 2016. One of her works was selected in 2015 for performances at Boyer College, which she represented at the 2016 ACDFA conference in Brockport, NY. Weiwei has been a member of Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers since 2013 and is the lead Chinese dancer for KYL/D's cultural programs.

Weiwei has been teaching Chinese dance in MLCCC for years since 2016. Currently, she created and directed nearly 10 dance works for dance students of MLCCC, and won well reviews in spring gala from 2017-2020 by Greater Philadelphia Chinese School Union. Her teaching strengthens students’ physical coordination and flexibility. And take this good opportunity to make students learning some elements of movements of Chinese Classical and Folk dance. Students will experience the special aesthetic and form of movements in Chinese dance.

Shelly Xia

Shelly is a bilingual sustainability and teaching professional. Shelly is Program Director at ReGen250 (formerly China Partnership of Greater Philadelphia, CPGP, a non-profit organization that promotes collaboration – primarily on public/private clean technology initiatives – between Greater Philadelphia and China). Prior to CPGP, Shelly was Field Energy Specialist at SolarCity.

Shelly got her BA in Environmental Science from Franklin and Marshall College and Master of International Affairs with a focus on energy and sustainable development Penn State University. Hobbies: photography, martial arts, Argentine tango.

Teaching experience:

• Fall 2019-Spring 2020: two public speaking classes at MLCCC Weekend School, 3-5 grades and 5+ grades
• Spring 2019-Spring 2020: Head Teaching Assistant at International Master of Public Administration (I-IMPA) Program, University of Pennsylvania
• Summer 2018: a two-week summer camp focused on English language and American culture for rising high schoolers at an international high school in Zhengzhou, China.

• Vice President of Education at Valley Forge Toastmasters Club.
• Won 1st Place in Area G73 in the 2019 International Toastmasters Table Topics Contest.

Shelly believes in providing a supportive and positive learning experience in which students are empowered to develop communication and leadership skills, resulting in greater self-confidence and personal growth.

Sun, Wei

Wei Sun is a Leader Developer and works for a Cloud base SAAS software company belongs Roper Technologies. He had earned his Computer Science master’s degree from Villanova University and been a professional programmer since 2003.  He expert on multiple programming languages such as C#, Java, JavaScript/Node.js/TypeScript, Python, HTML, CSS, etc.

Wei Sun started teaching Computer Coding Class on MLCCC since 2016, also covered Computer Animation Class with his daughter Annabelle Sun from 2019.He always encourages his students to be a self-motivation learner beside learning how to code.

Wang, LiAn

Lian Wang (王立安) is a native Chinese Speaker from Harbin, Heilongjiang. He graduated from Penn State with Major in Economics and Minor in Psychology. He has years of experience in the financial industry and now works at Envestnet as a Portfolio Administrator with focus on trading optimization and efficiency.

In addition, he has been performing magic for over 10 years. He served as President for the Penn State Performing Magicians and is an active member of the local magic community. He started teaching magic performance at MLCCC since 2019.

Xiao,Wen

Xiao, Wen works as a data analyst in Great Philadelphia area. She majored in Japanese Language and Culture. She completed Master of Arts degree at Shinshu University in Japan. She also earned her Master of Accounting and Financial Management degree in the United States.

Wen comes from a Chinese Calligraphy family. Her father Xiao, Xingrong is a famous calligrapher in Hubei, China. Wen began learning Chinese Calligraphy when she was 5-year-old. Her artwork and achievements have been reported in local media and papers for many times. She has won over 50 prizes in international and domestic Chinese Calligraphy competitions.  Wen loves Chinese Calligraphy. She enjoys creating her own artwork, viewing other Calligraphers work, and teaching Chinese Calligraphy to children.  Not only does she take pleasure in sharing her knowledge about Chinese Calligraphy, but she wants her students to experience Chinese Calligraphy and understand how much it affects Chinese culture.

Yang,Ziwei

This is Ziwei (Ina) Yang, She got her bachelor degree in China, and as a transfer student in Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München for one year.

She studied chess and draw at a young age. She won the silver medal winner several times in the province competition, and she got the national second-level athlete certificate in chess. She can play the violin and guitar. When she went to university, she was in a swimming and badminton school team. At the same time, she taught students in weekend.

After she graduated from university worked in the Citi bank in Shanghai. She still taught students about math and draw and so on in early childhood development academy. She is responsible for her job and amiableness to the students. She is deeply loved by her students.

Zeng, Yan

Yelena is now teaching Children’s dance class of 5-8-year-old girls. Yelena has 3 years of junior Chinese dance teaching experience with many brilliant children’s dance work.

Yelena is a full-time IT engineer but also lives as an active dancer. Benefiting from solid ballet dance fundamentals trained by professionals in both in China and in the US during her early years of dance learning, she learnt from many professional Chinese dance teachers for Chinese dance. 

She is member of Penn Chinese Dance Club, President of ex-Jasmine Dance Troupe, member of Guanghua Chinese Dance Group, Huaxia Chinese dance group etc. and performed solo pieces, duet programs as well as group dances including both classical (Hantang, Dunhuang) and every type folk dance including Yangge, Dai, Mongolian, Tibetan, Korean, Yi and Xinjiang. Yelena was the lead role in a High-Gold awarded group dance, Korean Fan dance. 

“We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once. And we should call every truth false which

Zhu, Guidong

Guidong has a Ph.D. in Management Sciences from the University of Texas at Austin. He is a quantitative analyst in the area of financial asset management.

He started teaching mathcounts in MLCCC in 2019. He loves to show students different ways to think about and solve math problems.