TALENT

Mastering New Skills

Being Neighbourly x Mandy Chen, Linguabox

Author/ Being Neighbourly
12 February 2025

According to Mandy Chen, Co-founder of Linguabox, Hong Kong’s language landscape is evolving as global connectivity increases. While English remains prominent, there’s a growing interest in Mandarin and, they say, Cantonese, fueled by business opportunities and cultural integration.

“Expats and locals are recognizing the value of mastering these languages for professional growth and personal connections. Additionally, the rise of online learning platforms has made language education more accessible than ever, allowing more people to explore bilingualism or even trilingualism,” opines Chen.

Chen began her career in Taiwan as a marketing assistant in a large firm and later moved to Hong Kong, where she held roles in international companies and legal firms. Despite these experiences, she felt unfulfilled and realized her true passion was for teaching, a realization that led her back to school to earn a qualification as a Mandarin teacher, after which she notched up a decade’s worth of work experience, teaching young children in international schools.

“Together with my co-founder May, we decided to start Linguabox—a platform that allows us to teach Mandarin online and connect with students worldwide,” says Chen. “Teaching my native language has been incredibly rewarding, and growing Linguabox has far surpassed my expectations”.

“We have a passion for breaking down language barriers and empowering individuals to connect with the world. We believe language learning is more than just acquiring a skill —it’s about unlocking opportunities, fostering cultural understanding, and building confidence. Our campaigns are designed to inspire and inform, showing learners that mastering Mandarin or Cantonese is achievable and incredibly rewarding.”

Linguabox’s client base is diverse, spanning different age groups, with students across the globe.

“For our younger students, we serve children from around the world who want to stay connected to their heritage and maintain their native tongue, as well as students aiming to excel in their school curriculums. Whether it’s preparing for YCT, IB Chinese, or IGCSE Chinese, we tailor our lessons to help students achieve their goals, while fostering a deeper connection to the language.”

Chen says that their adult clients include expats in Hong Kong looking to immerse themselves in this part of the world, as well as professionals from around the globe aiming to enhance their business communication skills. “We also support students worldwide in preparing for exams like the HSK, along with language enthusiasts eager to deepen their knowledge of Chinese culture,” says Chen.

One of their most rewarding success stories is Alex (not his real name) from the UK, who approached them with the goal of passing HSK Level 3 and eventually Level 4.

“Alex had a full-time job and other commitments, and he was initially concerned about finding the time to prepare for the tests. We paired him with one of our experienced HSK preparation teachers, and he worked consistently with the same dedicated Linguabox instructor until he passed his Level 3 within a year. This continuity enabled the teacher to closely track his progress, adapt lessons to his needs, and provide a supportive learning environment,” shares Chen.

Chen says that Linguabox’s flexible scheduling and personalized one-on-one classes allowed Alex’s teacher to create a tailored study plan for him that was instrumental in keeping him motivated and accountable.

“The key to learning any language lies in consistency and immersion. Start by setting clear, achievable goals, such as mastering conversational phrases or specific vocabulary. Immerse yourself in the language through Chinese TV shows, podcasts, or music to naturally develop a sense of tone and structure.”

We believe that personalized, individualized tutoring is one of the most effective ways to master Mandarin. With our experienced teachers, many of whom have been with us since our earliest days, students receive immediate, targeted feedback, which is essential in a tonal language. Our teachers address specific challenges in pronunciation, writing, or grammar, tailoring lessons to each student’s pace and learning style. This approach ensures steady progress and a deeper understanding of the language.

What’s the best work advice you have received?

“It’s tough to pinpoint one specific piece of advice, but something that always sticks with us is: keep moving forward,” says Mandy Chen, Co-founder of Linguabox.

“There will be ups and downs, but it’s important to learn from the challenges and keep pursuing your ambitions.

Over the past decade, we’ve gained countless valuable insights from the professionals we’ve worked with, and their advice has certainly been helpful along the way.

Linguabox is built on a solid foundation of teaching and business experience, and we’ve distilled that knowledge into a formula that truly works for us. While we always welcome and appreciate outside perspectives, it’s important to stay true to your vision, trust in what you’ve built, and let your unique experience guide the direction of your business. Ultimately, no one knows your goals and values better than you do.”

Linguabox
Suite A, 12/F., Ritz Plaza, 122 Austin Road, TST.