Meet Your Teacher: Kaia 老师 lǎo shī

I’m Kaia. I became a Mandarin teacher because I love learning just as much as I love teaching. I’ve always been curious—about languages, cultures, and how people connect. These drew me to start teaching. Every time I teach, I learn something new too—whether it’s a creative way a student remembers a tone or a question that makes me see a word differently. Being in the classroom means I get to grow alongside my students, and that’s what excites me most.

If I had to describe my teaching style in three words, they would be: patient, playful, and encouraging. I love working with children because they see learning as an adventure, and their imagination makes every lesson feel alive. My favourite Mandarin phrase is “你可以的!” (nǐ kě yǐ de), which means “You can do it!” It’s a phrase I use often to encourage students to build confidence and to keep going.
Outside of teaching, I enjoy playing and making music, and sports like surfing and snowboarding. I hope to bring that same energy and passion into my lessons, and to remind my students that learning can be joyful, meaningful, and full of discovery.

Thank you so much!