About Mandarin Zest
We’re Antoine and Dorota, from Belgium and Poland, respectively — long-time friends turned business partners.
We met in Taiwan while studying, where we became fluent in Mandarin. Dorota also lived in Xiamen and travelled across China, gaining understanding of its regional cultures and everyday language.
We started Mandarin Zest to share our Chinese learning journey with others. What began as a simple newsletter grew into a community of learners — and continues today through the creation of structured digital resources.
Alongside this, we run Polylocal, a consultancy connecting Taiwanese and European companies. We work in Chinese every single day. Mandarin isn’t just something we studied — it’s our professional reality.
We understand the challenges of learning Chinese because we’ve experienced them ourselves: decoding characters, navigating cultural differences, and figuring out what truly matters at each stage.
That’s why Mandarin Zest focuses on:
- Structured learning paths with clear progression
- Guided materials to keep you on track
- A community of learners so you don’t learn alone
At Mandarin Zest, we believe progress comes from clarity and consistency. If you stay consistent, you will improve — and we’re here to guide you along the way.
Our Team
Antoine Collard, Co-founder
Originally from Belgium, Antoine lived more than 5 years in Taipei, Taiwan. He graduated from a Chinese-taught master’s program in Political Science at National Taiwan University.
LinkedIn antoine.collard@mandarinzest.com
Dorota Maczuga, Co-founder
Originally from Poland, Dorota developed a passion for Chinese in high school and spent several years in mainland China and Taiwan. She earned a Chinese-taught Master’s in Political Science from National Taiwan University.
LinkedIn dorota.maczuga@mandarinzest.com
Gabrielle Merk, Membership Manager
Gabrielle is from Ohio, United States. She earned a BA in Chinese with a minor in Korean. She also spent one summer in Taipei, Taiwan, through the Fulbright Foundation.
LinkedIn gabrielle.merk@mandarinzest.com
Yu Lin, Coordinator
Yu is originally from Shenzhen and is currently pursuing a 3-year degree to become a certified Chinese teacher. She helps Mandarin Zest with proofreading teaching materials.
Xinyan Gong, Content writer
Xinyan, originally from Xiamen, China, specializes in SEO and content creation. She has experience optimizing online content and developing engaging digital materials.
Emma Huang, Mandarin Content & Education Intern
Emma is originally from Sichuan, China, and is currently studying Sociology at UCLA. As a native Mandarin speaker with experience living in an English-speaking academic environment, she understands the challenges and rewards of language learning. She is interested in cultural communication and creating engaging digital materials.