Qian arrived in the UK from eastern China (close to Shanghai) as an international student herself, arriving to a ‘very cold’ Newcastle at the age of 20 to study for a Master’s degree in Sports Management.

Now an experienced Educational Guardian with Oxford Guardians, Qian has plenty of first-hand practical experience in helping international students.

“As a mother now myself, I absolutely see that parents need to be able to understand what is going on, and I am always happy to help with translating.”

“I see some students arrive feeling very shy, where language is a bit of a barrier. With our friendly advice and support, and a little translation, they soon become more confident. It’s fantastic seeing my students become proficient in English and really flourishing in their studies!” says Qian.