About Our School
Founded by Chinese families in 1968, the Mid-Hudson Chinese Language Center (MHCLC) is a non-profit organization run exclusively by volunteers. MHCLC is a family-oriented, engaging, and interactive environment where students of all ages and backgrounds come together to learn the Chinese language, its culture, and the arts.
We believe that language is the key to the world and culture is the bridge that connects us. The mission of the school is to engage students interested in the Chinese language and culture, provide them an enjoyable learning experience, and enable them to apply these skills in the global community. In our diverse and welcoming environment, students learn and grow together while building confidence and broadening their horizons.
MHCLC is also an active contributor of the Chinese Arts to the Mid-Hudson Valley community, performing Chinese dance, Chinese Yo-Yo, Kung-Fu, and Lion Dance at events organized by the Dutchess Arts Council and other community associations. The school also aims to promote cultural diversity through charitable activities in the local community and beyond.
We invite you to explore all that the school offers and encourage you to contact us.
Teacher Bios
Ms. Su-Wan Chien
Ms. Su-Wan has been teaching Mandarin for over 20 years at MHCLC, Marist College, and SUNY New Paltz. As a certified TCML Advanced-Leven Mandarin instructor, Ms. Chien leads the adult class and teaches through the sharing of life stories, improvisational conversations, and practicing situational dialogues. By fostering a supportive environment, Ms. Chien empowers students to build confidence and learn to thrive in their language skills. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening–much like teaching, she enjoys planting a seed and watching it grow.
Ms. Shimmer Foster
Ms. Shimmer has been teaching bilingual groups at MHCLC for two years and is passionate about making learning Mandarin fun, engaging her students through stories, arts and crafts, games, and songs. Seeing her students feel excited to learn a new language brings her joy. Outside of the classroom Ms. Shimmer enjoys jigsaw puzzles, and teaching piano.
Ms. Carol Hsu
Ms. Carol has 12 years of experience teaching Mandarin. She loves sharing her Taiwanese heritage through hands-on games and crafts to keep her students eager and curious about the language and culture. She spends her free time exploring and baking, and she is also a music teacher. As a certified TCML Advanced-Level Mandarin instructor, she’s taught many different levels of students.
Ms. Fenlan Lin
Ms. Fenlan brings 17 years of teaching experience to MHCLC. Her primary goal is to help students find joy in learning using interactive games to build strong communication skills. Outside of the classroom, Ms. Fenlan spends her time discovering new recipes in her kitchen and teaching piano in her studio.
Ms. Shirley Nicoll
Ms. Shirley leads the Immersion class for children and fosters a supportive environment where students learn Mandarin through interactive play. Driven by the belief that students thrive when they are truly enjoying themselves, Ms. Shirley makes her classroom a fun and engaging space that encourages seamless learning. Outside of MHCLC, she is a software developer and enjoys gardening.
Ms. Sylvia Wey
Ms. Sylvia has been teaching at MHCLC for 13 years, teaching students of all levels. Ms. Sylvia began teaching when her daughter (an MHCLC alum!) was in the first grade. She engages her students through crafts for playgroups and deep literary discussions with advanced learners. Ms. Sylvia is an engineer outside of MHCLC and enjoys gardening.
Ms. Fran Yen
Ms. Fran discovered her love for teaching while sharing her Taiwanese heritage with her children after moving to the United States in 2002. With 7 years of teaching experience, she turns every Chinese lesson into an adventure by engaging her students through songs and interactive play. Each positive response from her students inspires her to develop new ideas and approaches to teaching. Outside of MHCLC, Ms. Fran is an engineer and enjoys shopping in her spare time.
Cultural Teachers
Ms. Shimmer Foster
Ms. Shimmer is one of our calligraphy and Chinese painting teachers.
Ms. Fenlan Lin
In addition to language classes, Ms. Fenlan teaches folk dance and choreographs the yo-yo performances at MHCLC. She is dedicated to sharing the beauty of traditional dance and helping the younger generation connect with their cultural heritage.
Sean Lai
Sean is a high school student who also studies at MHCLC. He loves teaching Chinese yo-yo tricks to younger students, sharing the skills he has mastered so they can experience the same excitement he felt when he first started. He believes that with practice and patience, students can master any difficult trick. In his free time, he enjoys playing basketball.
Ms. Daphne Png
Ms. Daphne has supported MHCLC for nearly 20 years as a parent, a board member, and for the past decade, as a Lion Dance instructor. She focuses on building student confidence and teamwork through this cultural art form, emphasizing the fulfillment of effort over perfection. In her personal time she enjoys singing in a church choir, rowing, and breeding show chickens. Professionally, Daphne maintains a career in financial services.
Ms. Sylvia Wey
Ms. Sylvia is one of our calligraphy and Chinese painting teachers.
Ms. Wang
Mrs. Wang is our Cooking instructor
Guest Speakers and Opportunities
Beyond our core faculty, our community is enriched by guest speakers who share specialized knowledge in areas like Chinese knotting, Taiwanese history, and traditional medicine. We are always looking for passionate individuals to bring new perspectives and skills to our vibrant learning environment. If you are interested in sharing your expertise or becoming part of our faculty, please reach out through our contact form.
Board members
Our board is made up of current and past parents who believe in the importance of building community and sharing culture. They bring a practical, first-hand understanding of our programs and a shared commitment to seeing our mission succeed. This personal experience guides their leadership, ensuring that the work we do remains focused on the families we serve. If you are a current MHCLC parent and you are interested in joining us, please contact us.
Carol Hsu - Principal
Fran Yen - Vice Principal
Shirley Nicoll - Secretary
Tara Sanon - Fundraising
Michelle Chung - Promotions
Kwan Man Cheng - Social media/Newsletter
Serena Murnin - Treasurer
Lorena Britos - Registrar
Fenlan Lin - Academics