Greetings From Current Teaching Staff

Jene Bellows USA, Senior Advisor and Teacher, 1999

It was in mid December 1998 when Ping asked me to go with him to see the venue he planned to rent, which later became Gateway Language Village, but started out as the “International Peace Club.” Ping, who grew up learning English from tourists on the streets of Hangzhou, knew that English cannot be learned just from books. He would always give the example of learning to swim. Can’t learn from a book, you need a swimming pool. That was the beginning.

Ping wanted to bring the world to the Chinese people. Not everyone will be able to go abroad, he would say. So we will bring the world to the Chinese! Our goal was big, to bring peace to humanity, we had to know each other, and learn from one another.

People came when he opened the doors two weeks later, and they are still coming to learn. The method of teaching has evolved from chat groups to so much more. Total immersion in the English language has not just succeeded with the students. Having been part of the school since the beginning, I have seen the wonders of our growth. The school has always been a family. The Chinese and non-Chinese, the support staff; from the cleaners, the van drivers, to the teachers and the managers, all work in harmony, and nearly all are speaking English. We work together in a harmony that never could have been planned or programmed. It is a unity of understanding that what we are doing is important, that everyone who comes in the doors of GLV is important, and that this kind of harmony has to go beyond our doors to the world. The best stories are those of the students whose lives have been changed, who have gone from GLV to new lives. We all get letters. And we keep the doors open – always – for new learning, for all of us. It is my joy to teach the more advanced students, to take them on a journey of opening minds, to face reality of the 21st century and all its challenges, and there is nothing that makes me happier than hearing the students chatting comfortably together in English. What better way is there to learn?

As one family, we open our hearts as well as our minds. It’s a happy thing, this kind of work…this kind of study! We are learning that good communication is the first step to thinking “world peace”. This is the legacy of GLV, born as the “Peace Club”.

Always with love!

Jimmy Tan China, Teacher, 2000

GLV, you’ll be ten years old on the 20th of this December. This forthcoming event is evoking countless thoughts and memories in me. What was then called Peace Club seems like something that just happened yesterday: passing out flyers on the street, organizing English corners in the evening, having English KTV parties on the weekend and arranging English summer camps ….. In the twinkling of an eye, you are already ten years old! These ten years, though rough and full of hardships, did not hinder your growth, but rather strengthened you. Instead of being subdued by all the difficulties you had to go through, you thrived and developed into such a reputable school! Now our students can be found everywhere in this country. I believe that in the near future you’ll be able to bear fruit in all corners of the globe!

Throughout these years, the changes in you are obvious to everybody. The only thing that hasn’t changed is your guiding principle: Total Immersion English. Because of everyone’s persistent efforts in following through with this principle, our hard work has paid off and our dreams have finally come to fruition. Under Ping’s leadership, I firmly believe that our joint effort will bring us even greater success in the next ten or twenty years! On your twentieth anniversary, we’ll be even more proud of you, GLV!

Cheers, friends in Zhuhai!Happy birthday, GLV!

Kelly Morine Canada, English Program Teacher Training and Program Development Administrator,2000

I have been teaching in GLV for over 8 years .It really is a great environment.

To be involved with so many different personalities and cultures keeps every day interesting .With GLV’s unique approach to teaching, teachers really can see the progress of students and, even more important, students can see their own progress.

I have learned much since being in GLV and China. My move to China has been a life-changing experience. This is my home. I love this country and its people.

Roger Lei China, Teacher, 2000

On your 10th birthday, I’d like to congratulate you on your success and give you my best wishes for the time to come. Cheers!

Claudia Swan USA, English Program Administrator, 2001

What makes GLV special? I think it is its international staff and the opportunity for students to experience English as part of an international community. Having been associated with GLV essentially from the beginning, it has been exciting to see its growth and development over the years into what it is now, a nationally recognized and well respected English language school. Congratulations, GLV, on your 10th anniversary and for all the anniversaries to come.

Sandra Lee USA, Teacher, 2001

When I began working as a teacher at GLV Zhuhai, in May, 2001, we were known as The Peace Club and were located in a former karaoke lounge. . The students were few and the building was not in good condition; when it rained we had to use umbrellas to get to our classrooms. In contrast, our spirits were high and hopeful. Ping Hong and Gordon Kerr were committed to the total immersion theory of education and most of us were new teachers who were very willing to create this new school with them. Eva Lynne, Kelly Morine, Jimmy Tan, Kevin Morton and Roger Lei were already teaching when I arrived. Claudia Swan had just arrived and we were soon joined by many others. The Chinese staff was a blessing, and often kept us from falling apart. We had receptionists and the first Administration Assistants (AA’s), supply people, a handyman, and a cleaning staff. Denny Wu did everything but teach. He is Ping’s nephew and Ping says he was the only one who would work for that tiny salary! I remember having twenty-eight students so if you do the math, you realize we had more teachers and staff than we had students. A scary proposition for a new enterprise!

Everyone was learning together and though there were many bumps in the road there also was the excitement and satisfaction of creating something worthwhile. The students came from all over China and were a learning experience for the teachers. Each day teachers, students and staff taught each other about our varied cultures and we happily shared experiences.

When we were able to move to a spacious building with a big main hall, dining room, classrooms and teacher’s office we were overjoyed and knew we had survived the often trying times of the first phase of our growth.

I am blessed with a family who support and encourage me to always follow my dreams. It is difficult, though, to be so far away, so I started writing stories to them to try to give them a sense of my life in this country so different from our own. This encouraged me to write more about my experiences here in China and those efforts eventually resulted in a book called “A Dragon’s Tales.” The title reflects my Chinese zodiac sign as a Dragon which may explain why I am always charging around China and other parts of Asia, often in trouble!

I hope you enjoy this glimpse of life for a wide-eyed “laowai” during her first few days in the Middle Kingdom.

Mary Lewinski USA, Teacher Recruitment Manager, 2003

When I was asked to comment on my feelings about GLV, it made me stop and reflect on my five years at the school. What have I enjoyed most? I really think what has impressed me most and given me the most pleasure is the desire and continual effort put forth by our staff to have a “quality school” with a “quality product” in regard to English education. All of our divisions are focused on a single objective and that objective is to educate informed and confident English speakers. I am always very proud when the students cite what they have learned at GLV. Besides English, it is almost always – “Self Confidence”. It is our hard working staff at GLV that makes it happen!