GoEast Student Profile:

Name: Jessica
Nationality: American
Current Location: California
Chinese Level: Started at HSK2, now preparing for HSK5
Profession: Educator
Family: Single mother with sons
GoEast Teacher: 何瑞欣，高先
Learning Journey: Started with Duolingo, then transitioned to structured lessons at GoEast
Personal Motto: “If I’m having fun, my students will enjoy the class too”
Current Chinese Materials: Reading “Journey to the West”
Why GoEast: “For the first time, I can really feel myself improving! I know I can do it with GoEast!”

Over the past eight years at GoEast, I’ve had the privilege of meeting students from all walks of life, each contributing something special to my journey as a teacher. I’ve been inspired countless times by their stories, determination, and progress. Among them, one story that has stayed with me in a particularly powerful way is Jessica’s.

Jessica is remarkable in many ways. First and foremost, she is a true workaholic. As a fellow educator who loves my job, I felt an immediate kinship with her. But what truly amazed me was the breadth of her knowledge and the range of skills she had mastered. Every lesson with her felt like engaging with a living encyclopedia, brimming with ideas to make learning more exciting.

The Unstoppable Work Ethic

When I asked her what drove her relentless pursuit of innovation in teaching, she simply said it came from pure passion. According to her, aside from sleeping and essential activities, her life revolved entirely around working and learning. And when I asked if she ever felt exhausted, she would just smile and say, “No! Having nothing to do would drive me crazy.”

From Duolingo to Dedicated Studies

Beyond being a dedicated educator, Jessica is an insatiable learner. Teaching her was incredibly fulfilling because she never stopped pushing herself forward. She began learning Chinese entirely on her own through that famous green bird app, reaching HSK2 purely by indulging her curiosity. But she soon grew impatient with the slow pace and decided she needed a more structured approach.

At first, she scheduled just one or two lessons per week, but before she even finished her first course package, she was already eager to sign up for more. “For the first time, I can really feel myself improving!” she told me. “But it’s still not enough—I want to learn even faster! I know I can do it with GoEast!”

Watching her absorb knowledge like a sponge constantly reminded me to persevere—even in moments when I felt tempted to slack off.

Motherhood: Her Greatest Role

Jessica is also a single mother — a role she embraces with unwavering love. During one lesson on work experiences, she shared how she left her job years ago to take care of her children. I knew how difficult that choice can be, especially with the challenge of returning to work later. But she never expressed regret. “After all, my children only have one childhood,” she said — a simple sentence that spoke volumes. Her sons often appeared in our lessons as examples, and whenever she mentioned them, her voice brimmed with pride. I still remember when we learned the word “希望 (hope),” and she smiled and said, “他们就是我的希望 (They are my hope).”

Finding Joy in Every Moment

Another thing I admire about Jessica is her zest for life. During our lessons, she had just bought an expensive new bicycle—she felt a little guilty about it, but laughed and said, “But it’s so beautiful!” A lover of warm weather and cycling, she thrived after moving to California, often going on 100-kilometer rides and sharing her adventures in class.

What struck me most, though, was how she brought joy even to difficult moments. When her youngest son turned 18 during the pandemic, she baked him a “pandemic cake” decorated with toilet paper, face masks, and virus shapes. She sent me a photo, laughing, “My son loved it! He said it tasted amazing!” In that moment, I thought—she truly is an artist of life.

Reflecting on my time teaching Jessica, I know she’s faced her share of struggles. She once told me she wasn’t naturally optimistic, but she took pride in her humor and ability to have fun. “If I’m having fun,” she said, “my students will enjoy the class too.” That simple line reshaped how I think about both teaching and life.

Her Continuing Language Journey

It’s been a few years since our last lesson, but I recently heard from her current teachers—she’s now reading Journey to the West and preparing for HSK5. Truly, 士别三日，当刮目相看—people can change more quickly and profoundly than we expect. But really, with someone as passionate about learning and life as Jessica, how could it be any other way?

What My Student Taught Me

Jessica’s story is just one of many at GoEast. Like so many of our students, she came to Chinese fueled by curiosity and brought her own spark into the classroom. Through students like her, I’ve come to see teaching not just as a job or a passion—but as a way to connect with the world. Whether in a small classroom or through a computer screen, I’ve received boundless energy from people across the globe. This job has introduced me to incredible individuals, taught me invaluable lessons, and, most of all, made me a happier person.

Inspired by our students’ journeys? Discover more student stories like Jessica’s from our diverse community of Chinese language learners around the world. Each narrative reflects the genuine connections and remarkable progress that define the GoEast experience.