Student Feedback

“Having been taught by Teacher Mike for eight years, from primary school right through to the HKDSE, I see him as much more than an English tutor. He is a mentor who played a huge part in my journey to becoming a final-year medical student. Early on, I struggled with confidence in my spoken English. Teacher Mike helped me fine-tune my speaking style naturally and gave me the poise to speak fluently in any setting. Whether we were preparing for secondary school interviews or practicing for HKDSE Paper 4, we explored fascinating topics ranging from technology to human psychology. On top of expanding my vocabulary, this broadened my worldview and sparked my curiosity. Thanks to Teacher Mike, I gained true language fluency and earned the HKDSE results that opened the doors to medical school. For anyone who wants to improve their English in a natural, meaningful way, I highly recommend Teacher Mike!”

“I had lessons with teacher Mike from a very young age, and across the 10 or so years, he helped me establish a solid foundation in English. He has seen me through major milestones and accomplishments such as authoring a novel, achieving an overall 5** in HKDSE English, and an 8.5 Grade in IELTS. I am very grateful for his teaching and guidance, and wholeheartedly recommend his English lessons for students of all ages.”

“I had the pleasure of being Mike's student during my primary and junior secondary school years. As a teacher, Mike is professional, engaging, and well-versed in the subject material. You can appreciate his passion for teaching and genuine care for his students, which are qualities that constitute a first-class educator. In addition, I have witnessed how he has grown Padooki's from a startup environment to a sizeable operation. The centre's faculty, services and facilities have gone from strength to strength over the years. These are results driven by how well Mike inspires and leads his team and the confidence parents and students have in Padooki's. As such, Mike has my full endorsement and is, in my view, a great presence in HK's TEFL community.”

“I had the privilege of being taught by Mike throughout my secondary education. His inspirational teaching methods motivated students to actively engage in learning and communicate effectively. Beyond the classroom, Mike encouraged us to explore our full potential and pursue our educational and career aspirations. Mike consistently demonstrated professionalism and exceptional teaching skills. His collaborative, sharp, and people-oriented approach left a lasting impact on both myself and his other students.”

“I first met Mike when I was around 10 years old, when he was my tutor in Hong Kong. Even though many years have passed since then, I still have very fond memories of the time I spent learning with him. What I remember most about Mike was that he genuinely cared about his students. He was patient, encouraging, and always made an effort to understand how I learned rather than simply teaching everything in one fixed way. As a kid, that made a huge difference. He created an environment where I felt comfortable asking questions, making mistakes, and learning at my own pace. Looking back now as an adult, I appreciate even more how much patience and care that takes. A good teacher can help you understand a subject, but a great teacher can also give you confidence and make learning something you actually enjoy. Mike was one of those teachers for me. It has been wonderful reconnecting with him after all these years and seeing him continue to dedicate himself to education. I'm very happy to recommend Mike to students and parents looking for a teacher who is experienced, thoughtful, adaptable, and genuinely invested in the people he teaches. More than 20 years later, the fact that I still remember him so fondly probably says more about the kind of teacher he was than anything I could write in a review.”

“I am delighted to recommend Mr. Mike, my private English tutor throughout my childhood. He found funny, creative ways to make English enjoyable, and taught the American accent exceptionally well. Instead of relying only on textbooks, he included everyday conversational English as a core subject, and always encouraged me to talk about my own interests. Thanks to his teaching, my fluency, grammar, and accent all improved remarkably. I performed well in my secondary school interviews and joined the school’s English debate team. I later achieved 5* in DSE English Writing, and today, as a physiotherapist, I communicate fluently with my English-speaking clients. More than anything, Mike's lessons remain one of my fondest childhood memories. I recommend him wholeheartedly.”

“Mike was my English tutor from Year 1 to Year 6, and frankly, he's an amazing educator! His student-centered approach inspired me to work hard and excel in English. My language skills have greatly improved as a result of the countless hours of effort and time Mike has put in!”

“Mike was my English tutor from upper primary right through the first few years of secondary school. A classmate from primary school recommended him to me, and looking back, I'm really glad he did. Over time, what started as lessons during my school days grew into a meaningful mentorship that I still value today. As my teacher, Mike listened to me carefully and guided me toward my goals. That was for sure. But what also stood out to me was how adaptable and flexible Mike could be in his teaching. If something wasn't working, he would adjust his approach to fit the student, which made a big difference I believe. It's probably why our classes never felt boring. They were interesting and always kept me engaged, which wasn't always the case with other lessons back then. I learned a lot during my time with him and became much more confident speaking and writing in English. I highly recommended Mike.”

“Mike was my English tutor when I was in upper primary school. I attended his classes for about three years and he helped me improve my English grades and made language learning really fun for me. During our lessons, I recall Mike being a very friendly and personable teacher with a positive attitude. He was really patient with everyone too. Also, I had the pleasure of witnessing the growth of his business when he opened Padooki's. One thing I distinctly remember is the cool library space he created for his students. I thought it was really nice. Any student would be lucky to have Mike as a teacher!”

“I'm happy to be writing a recommendation for Mike. He was my English teacher from the time I was in kindergarten. I attended his classes for more than ten years and in addition to helping me with my English, he helped shape who I am today in regards to my work ethic and attitude. His classes could often be demanding but were always enjoyable. He knew how to motivate me and build my interest in reading from a very young age. He helped prepare me for several milestones that I achieved in school and ultimately for my move to the U.K. I highly recommend Mike and can definitely vouch for him.”