Yiming Gu - Our Team

May Chen was born and raised in Ningbo, Zhejiang, with its lush sceneries and rich cultural heritage framing her interest in Chinese language and literature. She was first awarded a Bachelor of Arts in English followed by a Master of Arts degree in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language with Credit from Hong Kong Polytechnic University. She then obtained a Professional Diploma in Teaching Putonghua with Merit from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. She is qualified professionally with a Certificate of Grade ONE Level B Putonghua Proficiency Test from the State Language Commission, a Diploma in Early Childhood Education and a Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Education from the Open University of Hong Kong. May was also recently selected as one of the judges for the 2nd Chinese Language Festival.

May has over 15 years’ experience teaching Mandarin Chinese to foreign and local students in bilingual kindergartens to international primary schools. She was most recently at Discovery Mind Primary School, where she was the Mandarin Chinese Teacher and Coordinator for Grades 1 to 6. She combines imaginative specialist methodologies with project-based learning in the classroom to enhance interactive teaching and engagement. To May, learning is not about comparing oneself to others, but to be a better version of yourself; even the smallest improvement each day makes a difference, each 1% change adding up to a long-term positive development that will allow students to grow and surpass themselves.

May’s son is starting his university education, while her daughter is entering her final years of secondary school. Besides enjoying quality parent-child time, May enjoys reading, cooking, swimming and traveling.

Lexa is an exceptional educator who brings a wealth of experience and dedication to her role as a teacher of Chinese as an international language. She holds a Bachelor's Degree of Arts in International Chinese Language Education from Southwest University and a Master of Arts in Teaching Chinese as an International Language from The Education University of Hong Kong, reflecting her strong academic background in the field.

Lexa's teaching journey began at Harbin Shuangcheng District No. 3 Middle School, where she served as a Chinese Teacher Intern for Grade 10. During her time there, she skillfully taught Chinese language and literature to two classes, fostering a deep understanding and appreciation for the subject among her students. Lexa actively engaged with both students and parents, providing regular updates on their progress and maintaining open lines of communication. Furthermore, she eagerly collaborated with experienced teachers, seizing every opportunity to enhance her pedagogical skills and expand her teaching repertoire.

In addition to her outstanding academic and professional achievements, Lexa demonstrated a passion for extracurricular involvement. She served as a Docent at the University History Museum, where she showcased the campus to visitors during the university's anniversary open house events. Her passion for cultural integration was evident during her time as a Team Leader for social practice activities organized by Southwest University. Leading a diverse team of 20 members, including a Russian student team, she facilitated exploration and exchange between Northeastern China and Russia. Lexa's exceptional leadership skills were praised by the Russian team members, and she presented the activities to other university students, inspiring them to engage in cross-cultural experiences.

Outside the realm of education, Lexa's talent for photography flourished as she assumed the role of Photographer for the Southwest University Student Club. Through her keen eye and creative vision, she played an integral part in various filming projects, including a promotional documentary for Deppon Logistics Co. Ltd., capturing the essence of the Southwest University Graduation Party, and documenting the everyday lives of Shuangcheng No.3 High School students. Her ability to capture meaningful moments and convey compelling narratives through photography further contributes to her multifaceted skill set.

Lexa's unwavering dedication to teaching Chinese as an international language, coupled with her exceptional ability to effectively engage with students, makes her an invaluable addition to Bloom. Her commitment to nurturing a deep understanding of Chinese language and culture among her students ensures a rich and transformative learning experience under her guidance.

Shu Chen is an expert in several Chinese dialects. A native Mandarin speaker, she is also proficient in Shanghainese and Cantonese as well as English. Her skills and passion in language learning led her to a career in education where she can share the beauty of Chinese culture with non-Chinese as well as Chinese students.

After her Bachelor of Science degree in business at Benedictine College, Shu obtained her Post Graduate Diploma in Education and Master of Education from the Hong Kong Baptist University. She taught Mandarin for 8 years in local Hong Kong secondary and international schools, as well as Liberal Studies for secondary students. Well-trained in the IB teaching system, Shu was also a grade-level teacher who incorporated interdisciplinary learning across various subjects. She was most recently Year Level Head at the Singapore International School Hong Kong overseeing curriculum planning, designing assessments, and developing immersion programs in cultural studies.

Over her decade-long teaching career, Shu observed how a student’s l environment can impact their mental development. She believes that successful positive learning is best achieved by teaching students to be self-motivated to pursue knowledge and become inquisitive learners through asking questions. Shu’s students practice learning-by-doing to reinforce active recall of their knowledge and language in real-life situations and to acquire critical thinking skills to analyze different situations they might encounter.

Shu is currently working towards her Doctoral Degree in Education with research on the development of Chinese curriculum. She is excited to join Bloom to share her love for Chinese language, history, and rich cultural heritage.