Meet Your Laoshi
Vicky Huang
Hello, I'm Vicky! My Chinese name is ็ญฑๆถต Xiวo Hán. You can call me Vicky Laoshi.
Born and raised in Taiwan, I've spent 9 years working with people from all over mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Malaysia. Whether it's Northern Mandarin, Southern Mandarin, Taiwanese Mandarin, or Singaporean Mandarin, I've heard most of it firsthand. The diversity of native Mandarin Chinese is fascinating, and my goal is to help you communicate and connect with Mandarin speakers everywhere in the world! ๐
I'm a TEFL-certified teacher and a 5-time winner of the world's most prestigious English-Chinese translation awards. As a translator, I follow 3 principles: faithfulness, expressiveness, and elegance. I abide by the same rules when teaching so you learn knowledge that's accurate, relevant, and culturally respectful from me!
My 9 Years of Teaching
Now
Online Teacher
Instagram + TikTok, Earth ๐
Every day is a happy day. I'm grateful that more than 138K Chinese learners choose to have Vicky as part of their journey!
2021
Mandarin Chinese Coach
The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada ๐จ๐ฆ
At the largest Chinese Language Program in North America, I facilitated one-on-one and small group oral practice sessions.
2020
Teaching Assistant
Southwest University, Chongqing, China ๐จ๐ณ
I designed and taught literary analysis lessons to 3rd-year English Literature majors.
2019
Chinese Philosophy Scholar
East China Normal University, Shanghai, China ๐จ๐ณ
I studied Chinese philosophy and did my final report on Confucian humanism.
2018
Guest Lecturer
Confucius Institute, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia ๐ง๐ด
Thanks to my knowledge of traditional characters, I led a fun lesson on pictographs.
2017
English Teacher
Füle, Hungary ๐ญ๐บ
I earned my TEFL certification and did my practicum in Hungary, Poland, and Czechia – but my students asked me to teach them Chinese! ๐
2013–2020
Private Tutor
Vancouver, Canada ๐จ๐ฆ
Over the years, I've offered one-on-one English coaching to more than 50 Chinese students aged 5–50 years.
5 Awards I've Won
English-to-Chinese literary translation is my strong suit. It's also the secret sauce to my unique teaching style. Below are my winning pieces:
National Taiwan Normal University
Liang Shih-Chiu Literary Award
๐ 2017: "Tame" and "The Flirtation," Judges'โ Award for Translation in Poetry Category (English to Chinese)
๐ 2016: "Hoffmannschen," Judges'โ Award for Translation in Prose Category (Chinese to English)
Hong Kong University
Youth Literary Award
๐ 2021: English Journey, Honourable Mention in Literary Translation Category (English to Chinese)
๐ 2015: Old Filth, Honourable Mention in Literary Translation Category (English to Chinese)
Chinese University of Hong Kong
Global Youth Chinese Literary Award
๐ 2017: "A Flower for Your Window," "On Education," and "Charles Dickens," Second Runner-Up in Literary Translation Category (English to Chinese)
Why I Teach
Language is more than a communication tool. It's a key to a new world full of ideas, stories, and opportunities that can change your life for the better.
Many students said my lessons helped them relate to their Chinese partners better. Some thanked me for bringing them closer to their Chinese roots. Others stumbled on my page and wanted to try their hand at the "most difficult language in the world."
I'm so happy that many of you find my teaching style practical, relatable, and fun! Teaching is what gets me up in the morning and puts a smile on my face throughout the day. I can't wait to continue exploring Chinese with you!
3 Facts About Me
I'm "small bamboo."
My Chinese name is ็ญฑๆถต xiวo hán. ็ญฑ sounds the same as ๅฐ "small" but has a ็ซน zhú "bamboo" radical. It refers to a type of small bamboo. In Chinese culture, bamboo is a symbol of integrity, strength, and resilience.
I'm from "new bamboo."
My hometown is ๆฐ็ซน xฤซn zhú, which means "new bamboo" (Hsinchu). It's among the world's top semiconductor hubs. Your smartphone probably uses semiconductor chips manufactured by Hsinchu-based companies.
I speak 3 languages.
Besides Mandarin and English, I'm also fluent in Taiwanese (Hokkien). I speak it with my grandparents. Taiwan had been a Japanese colony until 1945. So my grandparents spoke Taiwanese at home and learned Japanese in school.
