Interview | PEOPLE | EDUCATION ASIA | 97
Growing Globally, Staying Close to Home The growth of hihilulu has taken her beyond the original family challenge into an international network of schools, teachers and education partners. Its programmes now reach learners in multiple countries, and Jennifer continues to explore how the approach might be adapted for different markets and school communities.
There is a genuine emotional value in hearing a child speak confidently to a grandparent, recognising the meaning behind a family celebration or feeling comfortable using a language that forms part of their identity. Equally, for children learning Chinese as an additional language, the experience offers opportunities to understand another culture and develop new ways of communicating. A successful introduction can change a child's perception of what once seemed unfamiliar or difficult. There is no single solution for every learner. Children respond differently to teaching styles, and the quality of the relationship between teacher and student remains central. Digital programmes must also demonstrate that engagement translates into genuine learning rather than simply time spent completing activities. These are important considerations for any school evaluating new educational technology. Jennifer's approach is interesting because it brings those conversations together. Her work sits at the intersection of parental expectations, academic research, classroom practice and technology, drawing on the perspectives of people who do not always approach education from the same starting point.
As a member of the Education Asia Advisory Board, Jennifer brings a particularly valuable combination of perspectives: that of a mother, an entrepreneur and someone who has spent years working alongside specialists in language education. Her experience offers an insight into the questions parents are asking and the opportunities that can emerge when educational expertise meets a problem encountered in everyday family life. Perhaps the most compelling part of her journey is how little the original question has changed. Jennifer wanted her children to feel comfortable speaking Chinese, to understand their heritage and to enjoy the process of learning. hihilulu has since developed into a much wider venture, but those early concerns still speak to families across the world. For parents, the hope is that children will grow up able to communicate with confidence and feel at home in more than one culture. For educators, the challenge is to give them the knowledge, encouragement and opportunities to make that possible. And sometimes, the most interesting ideas in education begin not with a new technology or a grand plan, but with a parent looking at her own children and wondering whether there might be a better way.
Southeast Asia is among the regions she is considering, with local partnerships an important part of understanding how hihilulu could develop there. Jennifer is also interested in strengthening relationships with international school organisations, building on connections such as those established with the Council of British International Schools (COBIS). Her invitation to speak at a TEDx event in Korea in December 2026 offers another opportunity to share her perspective on education and the experiences that have shaped her work.
Connect With Jennifer Huang
www.hihilulu.com
www.jenniferhuang.org
@hihilulu
@jjenniferhuang
SCAN TO CONNECT
jennifer@hihilulu.com
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