My mission is to disrupt the status quo by blending humour, storytelling, and creative thinking into the way we teach and learn languages. Preparing learners for a 21st-century landscape must involve experiences that are bold, playful, and deeply human.
2025 | After 12 months working in a FinTech & EdTech startup as well as purchasing my first home, I relaunched Private Joke ® with a focus on corporate team building, invented versions in Britwit, Franglais & Spanglish, and also officially relaunched my private tutoring & mentoring offerings.
2024 | Completed Cambridge Accelerate, Cohort 33! Accepted onto Oxford University’s PGCE in MFL; I decided instead to embark upon a career in tech & pause Private Joke ®. Passed French DALF C1 and was nominated a Franco-British Young Leader 2024.
2023 | While living in Paris 🇫🇷 , I pivoted Olea to solve the UK’s MFL crisis. Invented, trademarked, and crowdfunded for Private Joke ® (PJ) the UK-made card game facilitating language learning through laughter. Launched the Paris chapter of CAMentrepreneurs.
2021-22 | Founded Olea Education as a boutique education consultancy supporting Chinese students with English language and cultural immersion via Olea Residentials, Masterclasses & bespoke Mentorshiop.
2020-21 | Worked in Dubai 🇦🇪 as an academic tutor, mentor, and education consultant supporting students aged 3-50 with a range of humanities subjects, specialising in iGCSE English Language & Literature.
2019-20 | Graduated from the University of Cambridge, St Catharine’s College, with an MPhil in Research in Second Language Education. Thesis published in C-ERJ.
2018-19 | 🇨🇳 Worked in Shanghai as a freelance journalist & academic tutor supporting Chinese students with British independent school entry exams (11+, 13+, Oxbridge admissions). I had over 80+ articles published in various journalistic outlets.
2018 | Graduated from the University of Birmingham with a 1st Class Hons in BA Modern Languages (French & Mandarin Chinese) with Business Management. Interned with the Chopsticks Club in London.
2017 | 🇨🇳 Graduated from Tsinghua University, Beijing as a CIS Language Scholar. Founded 66hands, a project documenting the lives of 33 Chinese natives through authentic storytelling.
2014-18 | Started tutoring French, Mandarin Chinese and English as a Foreign Language to students aged 13 – 18, including GCSE and A Level exams.
Olive Halsall 