Key Staff and Locations
Providing Expert Project Managers, Corporate English Consultants and Trainers
Each main office; Hong Kong, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Beijing has a dedicated manager or Director overseeing the operation in order to provide the best possible customer service and guarantee that client learning objectives are achieved.
The Language Key has a dedicated team of training consultants in Hong Kong and Mainland China who oversee individual client contracts.
All Language Key trainers are internationally qualified in Teaching English as a Foreign Language. They all have at least three of years experience with corporate clients and understand the particular needs of Chinese learners of English.
Key Staff
Training Director – Hong Kong - China
Dirk arrived in Hong Kong in 1995 having worked in the financial and banking industry in the U.K. and gained a professional CELTA Certificate. Having conducted training in the U.K. and Thailand, Dirk worked for a number of training organizations in HK before joining Language Key in 1997. As a Training Consultant, and then as Training Manager, Dirk helped build the Language Key brand in Hong Kong.
During the early years, Dirk drew on his knowledge of ESL and ESP techniques to design and conduct numerous courses for local and international corporate clients such as Hang Seng Bank, Sun Hung Kai Properties, Maersk, Citibank to name a few.
Since 2002, Dirk has been Language Key’s Regional Training Director covering training contracts in Hong Kong, Mainland China and other parts of the region. His extensive experience in corporate English training has been key for him to clearly understand client’s needs and ultimate objectives. This, along with his personalized and client-focused approach has given him the opportunity to build solid working relationships with an ever increasing number of new clients as well as providing multi-location company-wide English training solutions to more established clients.
Mr. Matt Bentley
Training Manager - Hong Kong Office
Having worked in business English training in Hong Kong for the past five years, Matt has built up considerable experience in providing corporate English Training.
Matt joined The Language Key 5 years ago as a corporate trainer, but quickly progressed into the role of Training Consultant and then Senior Training Consultant. During his time with The Language Key, Matt has been responsible for overseeing training contracts with some of Hong Kong’s leading corporations.
Matt has built up extensive experience in organizing and managing training for all industries but is particularly experienced in providing training solutions to the hotel, hospitality, retail and shipping industries.
As Training Manager, Matt is responsible for overseeing the day to day running of the Hong Kong branch, making inroads into the Macau market and reinforcing The Language Key’s professional reputation.
Regional Manager – Beijing Office
Paul has an extensive background in English training and business management. He has worked in Asia since 2002. After spending a year project managing a development project in Sri Lanka he moved to China. He has since taught in Shandong, Liaoning, Beijing, and Shanghai. Paul is currently the head of operations for The Language Key in Beijing.
Paul has proven strengths in communication and relationship building, which have helped establish a solid client base in Northern China. His background in sales combined with his understanding of Chinese language and culture have helped him develop many key relationships with clients in China. His personalized approach to client relations and customer service, combined with the excellent training services provided by The Language Key, have led to a high level of customer retention in Beijing.
Paul is a professional corporate trainer with a TEFL qualification from the UK. Paul’s creative use of teaching, communication and motivation skills have proven highly successful in his time as an English trainer. He has often been noted for his energy and drive in class that keeps trainees stimulated throughout a program.
Regional Manager – Shanghai Office
Sergei is from Canada and is very experienced in delivering corporate language training to a wide range multinational clients. He has also worked for Beijing’s two largest corporate training schools in a management capacity. He studied history and politics at the University of Toronto receiving a BA with distinction before going on to read law at Dalhousie University. After articling in law in Canada and working in marketing, he decided to move into teaching. He has taught English and Business Skills for over eight years in both Canada and China. He enjoys writing and has had many articles published in Business Beijing. His training specialties include: Negotiations, Presentations, Business Writing, Cross Cultural Communications and Assertiveness Training.
Sergei is a very dynamic and enthusiastic trainer. He has experience both in one to one training with high level executives of multinational and Chinese state owned companies and in group training. In addition, he is used to giving larger seminar style intensive courses in Business Skills. His familiarity with Chinese language and culture allow him to deal with common language questions while his business experience gives him the ability to understand work related issues.
Sergei has managed two of Beijing’s biggest corporate training companies as their Academic Director. His clients know that he is committed to providing them with first rate academic programming that is relevant and suitable to their needs. His interpersonal and communication skills allow him to serve as an effective conduit between trainers, trainees and client human resource managers and line managers. He is respected for his honesty and his willingness to be proactive in meeting client needs.
Sergei has taught many key clients for Language Key including HSBC, Maersk, and Standard Chartered Bank since arriving in Shanghai.
Customer Relations Manager – Guangzhou Office
Josephine is from New Zealand and majors in Hospitality at Waikato University. She has a very vibrant personality and strives to achieve her best for clients of Language Key.
Josephine arrived in China in 2005 and has been involved with ESL training since. With her experiences in Customer Services and ESL training she is very experienced in providing for clients in Guangzhou. Being a New Zealand born Chinese she understands the culture and languages of both worlds which also allows her to deal with common language questions while her business experience gives her the ability to understand work related issues.
As a Customer Relations Manager Josephine’s personality and communication skills allow her to serve as an effective channel between clients, line managers, trainers and trainees.
Customer Relations Manager – Shenzhen Office
Alisha completed her Bachelor in Telecommunication Engineering and felt that joining Language Key was the perfect platform to utilize her skills and support customers and people to enjoy the experience of studying English. A linguist herself, Alisha speaks excellent English, Korean, Chinese (Mandarin) and basic Japanese.
In her previous careers, she has acted as personal assistant to senior managers in the Automotive Industry (e.g. Hyundai, Deawoo) and as a Supervisor in the Consulting Business. In 2007 she moved from Beijing to Shenzhen and fortunately joined our enterprise.
Alisha has a very energetic personality and always pushes herself to provide a top quality service to Language Key clients. She places great emphasis emphasizes on good organization, suitable (tailor made) training programs that fit the customer’s requirements and expectations and on the satisfaction of every single customer.
As a Customer Relations Manager Alisha is the key person between clients, trainers and trainees. Her aggressive working attitude on the one hand combined with her nice and lovely characteristics on the other hand makes her everybody’s darling.
