Matthew Hong - Our Team
Matthew Hong
Matthew Hong may be new to the Bloom community, but he is no stranger to the world of education. Born and raised in the small city of North Bay, Ontario, Canada, he went on to study English and earn his Bachelor of Arts from Carleton University. After a few years of working, travelling, and volunteering to teach English to newcomers to Canada, he enrolled in Nipissing University to obtain his Bachelor of Education. This paved the way for him to move to Kuwait, where he taught for 3 years. Now, Hong Kong has become his new home away from home, as he enters his 11th year as a teacher in the city.
As an educator, he is committed to helping students grow as compassionate, kind, and creative learners and global citizens. He nurtures students' self-confidence by identifying their individual strengths and ensuring each child's voice is heard and valued. Through engaging, interest-based lessons, Hong gives students agency and choice as he guides them in developing the skills to pursue their academic interests. He encourages creativity and responsibility via project-based learning, empowering students to demonstrate their learning in various ways, such as writing, art, drama, games, or technology. Additionally, he promotes compassion and understanding by connecting personal experiences to global issues and exposing students to multiple perspectives and diverse authors.
Most importantly, he builds strong relationships with his students, fostering an environment of collaboration, trust, and empathy. It is important that students feel safe, confident, and are able to be themselves. It is integral that students respect one another and collaborate to achieve their learning goals.
In his free time, Matthew enjoys a variety of activities. He is an avid reader, with a preference for nonfiction. Travelling to experience new cultures is another passion, as is learning new board games to play with friends. As a die-hard fan of the Toronto Blue Jays and Raptors, he also tries to catch a game on the weekend whenever possible. When not watching sports, Matthew and his wife can often be found exploring Hong Kong's art galleries or attending concerts.
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