"CLI has a staff dedicated to providing the highest quality language learning experience."
   - Benjamin White | Summer 2011

Local Team
CLI's local team members are each carefully selected through several rounds of interviews and simulation lessons. Each language instructor has earned each of the following:
  1) China's advanced teachers' qualification certificate
  2) A bachelors and/or masters degree from a 4-year and fully accredited Chinese university
  3) At least two years teaching experience prior to joining CLI

In addition, CLI's teaching staff meets every week for advanced training in Chinese language teaching methodology. We firmly believe that our greatest strength lies within the passion and dedication of our Mandarin teaching staff.

Local team members were asked to share their thoughts on the following question.  Enjoy their insights!

Question:  Why do you think students come to China to learn Chinese?

莫琳, Mòlín (Maureen) | Local Director
molin@studycli.org
Response:  其一：随着中国经济的不断发展，中文已成为一门炙手可热的语言。为就业带来很大的便利。学习地道中文最好的环境当然是中国。其二：除了通过中文学习与当地人交流外，还能了解中国人的思想、习俗，感受中西文化的差异。其三：其四：神秘的东方文化，“眼见为实”。
In light of the Chinese economy’s unprecedented growth, the Mandarin language has heated up to become one of the world’s most important.  Learning this language brings huge benefits to career building.  It goes without saying that the best way to study authentic Chinese is to come to China.  In addition to learning Chinese by way of interacting with the Chinese people, one can also understand Chinese thought and tradition, and experience firsthand the cultural differences between East and West.  When it comes to the mysterious ways of the East, seeing is believing.



詹雪宁, Zhān Xuěníng (Echo) | Head of Teaching Staff
echo@studycli.org
Response:  中国和西方国家完全不同，很多东西会让人觉得很神奇，而且中国的变化非常大，越来越有吸引力。
China is completely different from the West.  Many things will mystify visitors. China has changed an incredible amount recently; its attractiveness only grows.




勇立莹, Yǒng Lìyíng (Dayong) | Mandarin Instructor
dayong@studycli.org
Response:  因为来中国学习汉语的语言环境最好，身边都是中国人，这样亲身去体验中国是学生汉语的最好方式。
Students come to China because actually being here to study Mandarin offers the very best language environment.  All the people around you are Chinese, and only in this way can one experience the fact that coming to China is the best way to learn Mandarin.



高丽萍, Gāo Lípíng (Avril) | Mandarin Instructor
avril@studycli.org
Response:  首先，语言的学习需要好的环境。诚然，在美国也可以学习中文。但是，学生来到中国学习，包括老师在内，周围都是中国人，能给学生营造更地道更浓厚的学习氛围。其次，学习语言，不但只是学习语言本身，还要学习跟语言相关的这个国家的文化和传统，才能更好地理解语言，更恰当地运用语言。
In order to successfully study a language, one must be immersed within a great language environment.  Of course it’s also possible to study Chinese in the West, but once a student comes to China they are surrounded by Chinese.  This creates a very authentic and fully saturated study environment.  It is not only the direct study of language that matters.  When pursuing language fluency, it’s essential to also study a country’s culture and tradition.  Only then can one begin to truly understand a language and comprehend its authentic uses.



莫培娟, Mò Péijuān (Nancy) | Mandarin Instructor
nancymo@studycli.org
Response:  你为什么觉得CLI的学生来中国学习中文？我觉得第一，语言环境很重要，比如说学生在中国随时都可以练习中文，还可以现学现用等等。第二，能更好的了解中国的文化和历史。第三，能在中国交到很多的朋友，大部分的中国人对外国人很热情。
I feel that first of all, language environment is extremely important.  For example, while in China a student can practice Chinese all the time and can also immediately put into use the new skills learned.  Secondly, coming to China to learn Chinese allows one to further understand Chinese culture and history.  And finally, students will make so many friends in China, most of whom will be Chinese locals who are very enthusiastic to meet Westerners.



莫周莹, Mò Zhōuyíng (Tutu) | Mandarin Instructor
tutu@studycli.org
Response:  要想很好的学习外国语言，了解这个国家的历史文化无疑有很大的帮助。在外出游玩这种寓教于乐的学习过程中体验中国的文化、民情和发展状况。很多外国友人学习中文的目的不仅仅是为了会说中文，更有不少的朋友是为了以后在工作中能更好的参与与中国的贸易，或者能在中国发展，所以，到中国本土学习中文是外国朋友学习中文的最好选择。
If one wants to effectively study foreign language and understand the country’s history, it is undoubtedly necessary to study in that country. Students learn about the local culture while traveling in China and going out for a good time. Many foreigners don’t only study Chinese just to speak it. Instead, many friends learn Chinese to increase their work opportunities and their ability to take part in the commerce of China, or even develop their careers in China. Thus, coming to China to learn Chinese is our foreign friends’ best choice.



高羽, Gāoyǔ (Allen) | Mandarin Instructor
allen@studycli.org
Response:  工作上需要接触一些汉语。随着外国与中国的合作交流进一步加强，很多外国朋友会有在中国工作的机会，那么会说汉语一定会对你的工作有帮助，并且让你的工作更为轻松。而且，能更好的学习中国文化。想要了解中国古老的文化历史，汉语是必不可少的工具。只有通过原汁原味的汉语才能领略到原汁原味的中国文化。
Mandarin skills are very useful in the workplace. Due to the strengthened ties between China and the rest of the world, many foreigners now have great work opportunities in China. Speaking Chinese will certainly be of great assistance to these foreigners, and furthermore it will make their work more relaxed. Additionally, students can study Chinese culture even better once they’re in China. If one wants to understand ancient Chinese history, Chinese language fluency is an indispensible tool.



楼琼, Lóu Qióng (Joan) | Mandarin Instructor
joan@studycli.org
Response:  因为中文的国际地位提高了，学好中文会对他们未来的工作和生活带来方便，另外，中国的文化非常有趣，对学生们有巨大的吸引力。
Students visit China to learn Chinese because the Mandarin language has become quite prominent on the international stage.  After one learns Chinese, their professional and personal future will be far more accessible.  Furthermore, Chinese culture is extraordinarily fascinating and can be very attractive to Western students.



张强, Zhāng Qiáng (Eddy) | Mandarin Instructor
eddy@studycli.org
Response:  学生来中国学习中文，一方面是寻找中文学习的语言环境，另一方面是接触中国悠久的历史和丰富的人文资源。
Students journey to China in search of a great language environment, and also to come into contact with China’s long-established history and plentiful tradition in the humanities.



International Team
Robbie Fried (罗中立, Luó Zhōnglì) | C0-Founder and Managing Director
robert@studycli.org
Robert first arrived in China in the summer of 2004 and has since devoted himself to making the country more accessible to the Western world. In addition to traveling extensively throughout the Asian continent, he has visited over 25 major Chinese cities and provinces and studied advanced Chinese at Tsinghua University and Guangxi Normal University. Robert oversees CLI's day-to-day operations and focuses on the organization's overall development. He graduated summa cum laude from Virginia Tech with degrees in Political Science and Communication Theory and is fluent in Mandarin Chinese.



Bradford Fried (费博拉, Fèi Bólā) | Co-Founder and Program Director
bradford@studycli.org
As GXNU's most tenured foreign professor and CLI's co-founder and Program Director, Bradford has remained an intregral part of the Guilin community since arriving in the summer of 2001. Over the course of nearly a decade, he has continued to advance his Chinese language skills and establish excellent friendships throughout Guilin and greater China.  Bradford received a B.A. in Philosophy from Oregon's Lewis and Clark College and is fluent in Mandarin Chinese.



Nancy Fried (南希, Nánxī) | Director of Admissions
nancy@studycli.org
With two sons in China and a third as the designer of CLI's brand image, Nancy is Director of Admissions for a true family business. She has visited Guilin four times and continues to tremendously enjoy her daily interactions with CLI's former, current and future students. Uniquely knowledgable about all aspects of studying in China, Nancy is enthusiastic to help every applicant along their path to discovery.



Lauren Nelson (罗晓芸, Luó Xiǎoyún) | Educational Director
lauren@studycli.org
Few international travelers have experienced the world like Lauren. Tri-lingual in Mandarin, Spanish and English, Lauren's enthusiasm for learning and travel has enabled her to accumulate an incredible amount of experience abroad.  Originally a member of CLI's pilot group of students, Lauren continued living in Guilin to first teach at Guangxi Normal University and eventually become CLI's Educational Director.  Lauren graduated summa cum laude with a double major from Boston University and will begin studies for a masters degree in International Educational Policy at Harvard University in August 2012.



Thorstan Fries (小虎, Xiǎohǔ) | Online Marketing Manager
thorstan@studycli.org
Having worked in the bustling international cities of Luxembourg and New York City, Thorstan followed global trends to China in January of 2010. He brings several years of international marketing and business development experience to CLI. Thorstan holds a B.A. in History and Geography from Syracuse University where he graduated summa cum laude. He is fluent in French and English and is working hard to bring his Chinese up to an advanced level. Thorstan will begin studies for a masters degree in East Asian Studies at Yale University in August 2012.



Jakob Garrow (高白龙, Gāo Báilóng) | Director of US Development
jakob@studycli.org
Jakob’s considerable time spent teaching and studying in China and throughout Europe taught him first-hand the shortfalls incumbent in the traditional classroom language-learning environment. In addition to his time abroad, Jakob spent over a year working for the largest educational tour operator in the world. These experiences give him a unique perspective on the study abroad world. Currently, Jakob is based in Boston, MA, where he is responsible for the development of CLI’s relationships with universities and schools across the country.  He graduated cum laude from St. Lawrence University with Honors in Government and History.



Laura Wallendal (文丽达, Wén Lìdá) | Director of Business Operations
laura@studycli.org
Hailing from a small farming community in central Wisconsin, Laura’s background gives her a unique perspective on the importance of travel to enrich education. Passionate about expanding her own horizons, her greatest goal is to share cultural experiences with others. Laura taught ESL in Boston and spent two years working at the world’s largest international educational tour operator. Based in Cambridge, MA, she is responsible for the development of CLI’s relationships with universities and schools throughout the United States. Laura finds enjoyment in expanding her language education which now includes Mandarin, Spanish, and ASL.  She graduated from the University of Minnesota with a degree in Spanish and Art History.