My backstory

I go by Susie Woo because it’s my childhood nickname, which happens to be a popular surname in China. My Chinese name is Dai Shuxuan, pronounced ‘Die Shoo Shwen’.

When I was 19, I moved to Shanghai and Tainan for a few years. While I was there, I really enjoyed improving my Chinese and getting to know the local cultures.

I learned a lot during my time away from home, and it made me reflect on my own culture. I slowly began to realize that learning a language can’t be separated from understanding the culture that the language belongs to.

That’s why I’ve created a range of English language and UK culture courses so you can learn about language and culture together.

My qualifications

I have a first-class bachelor’s degree in Chinese and Linguistics from the University of Leeds with a distinction in spoken Chinese. I also have a master’s degree in Translation and Interpreting from the University of Surrey.

I’ve also studied at Chinese language centers at Jiao Tong University and National Cheng Kung University, earning the highest level in Chinese as a foreign language test.

I also have certificates in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (CELTA), Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), and Chinese-English Simultaneous Interpreting.