Dragon Knight League Reading & Writing Studio (DKL Studio) is an online English language reading and writing school that helps Asian children in grades K-6 achieve academic success. Founded in April 2015 in Shanghai, China, DKL Studio and its elite faculty team have delivered more than 50,000 teaching hours to Asian students in China, Malaysia, Singapore, Canada, and the United States.
Our mission is to help elementary school children achieve sustainable academic success. We do this by offering a range of pedagogical methods to address the unique advantages and challenges that Asian families face in their academic journeys, particularly within the context of the North American educational system.
We empower elementary school students with essential English language skills for academic excellence and private school admission success. Our specialized online services include:
- English Tutors for Reading & Writing: Developing strong foundational literacy skills
- Academic Achievement: Improving GPA and academic success
- Public Speaking & Presenting: Building confidence and communication skills
- SSAT and ISEE Test Prep: Achieving competitive scores for selective schools
- Private School Interview Preparation: Mastering private school admission, assistance with essays, and interview preparation
The majority of DKL students score above the 70th percentile among North American samples (including the United States and Canada) in standardized tests, such as the SSAT or ISEE, as well as in reading and writing proficiency assessments, like the MAP or InCAS tests. A portion of DKL students consistently rank above the 90th percentile within these North American samples.
DKL students are primarily from Asian families. While some speak English as their first language, others are ESL students who are native speakers of Chinese, Japanese, or Korean. DKL teachers possess extensive expertise in bridging the linguistic and cultural gaps between an Asian perspective and the demands of a rigorous American curriculum. Subjects range from English reading and writing to social studies, science, theater arts, and more.
Founding Members
Cathy Wu
Founder of DKL Studio, Cathy Wu, is a Chinese American who has resided and studied in California for more than 10 years. In 2011, Cathy graduated from Annenberg School of Journalism, University of Southern California, and since then she has been teaching English reading and writing program to talented learners between the age of 6 to 12. Cathy had delivered her first 10,000 teaching hours in 2019; and she is a ceaseless driving force in teaching method innovation. Cathy believes that teaching is an artistry, and that learning is a life-long passion for every intellectual being.
Danielle Joy
Danielle is a passionate educator. She has been working with students in all age groups for the past 15 years, ranging from 1-on-1 instruction to lecturing in 100+ student lecture halls.
Danielle is a key content contributor to DKL reading and writing program. Speaking nine different languages herself, she generously shares the expertise in teaching English as a second language. As a result, most of her students display a mastery in English language art whether they are situated in Shanghai, Seoul or Los Angeles . Danielle strives to teach her students self-independence by equipping them with the reading and research tools needed to succeed in a higher-level education.
Danielle is equipped with 120-hour TEFL/TESOL certificate issued by the Cambridge Translation Authority, as well as over 600 hours of ESL classroom training program funded by the State Department. Danielle holds a Master’s degree, and is currently a PhD Candidate. With her mindset on high-educational targets, she helps DKL students build a knowledgebase in English research and writing, which is not only foundational for many years to come, but also shows great results in a DKL student’s school reports
DKL Team
Cathy Wu
Founder / Center Director
English Reading & Writing Teacher
15,000+ teaching hours
University of Southern California
MA in Communication Studies
Harvard Graduate School of Education
Certificate in Early Education Leadership (In Progress)
Advanced Tesol Certificate
160-hour certificate (In Progress)
Proficient in Languages:
English, Chinese, French, Japanese
Danielle Joy
Co-director
English Reading & Writing Teacher
20,000+ teaching hours
Jiao Tong University, Shanghai
MA in Public Administration
Istanbul Gelisim University, Istanbul
PhD in Economics and Finance (In Progress)
Cambridge Translation Authority
120-hour TEFL/TESOL certificate
Proficient in Languages:
English, Chinese, Korean
(proficient in total of 9 languages)
Kim Li
English Reading & Writing Teacher
6,000+ teaching hours
University of Manchester, UK
MSc Computer Science
University of Manchester, UK
BSc Chemistry
120 hour TEFL Certificate
Proficient in Languages:
English, Chinese, Cantonese
Arianne Wang
English Reading & Writing Teacher
Drama & Public Speaking Teacher
8,000+ teaching hours
Paris-Sorbonne University
PhD Candidate in Western European Theatre Studies (Fall2024)
MA in Theatre Studies
Oxford University, UK (Undergraduate School)
MA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics (In progress)
Shanghai Theatre Academy, China (Undergraduate School)
BA in Theatre Directing
London Academy of Musical and Dramatic Arts (High School)
LAMDA Public Speaking and Acting Solo Qualifications
120-hour TEFL/TESOL certificate (In progress)
Proficient in Languages:
English, French, Chinese, Korean, Japanese.
Lawrence Sao
English Reading & Writing Teacher
4500+ teaching hours
Western Governor’s University
M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction
Western Governor’s University
M.S. in Instructional Design (In Progress)
Pacific Oaks College
M.A. in Teaching (In Progress)
Bowie State University
B.S in Economics
CELTA Certificate 120 Hours
Nico Novek
English Reading & Writing Teacher
Drama & Public Speaking Teacher
4,800+ teaching hours
Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Italy
MFA in Film Making
Shanghai Theatre Academy, China
MFA in Performing Art (Program Closed)
120-hour TEFL certificate
Proficient in Languages: English, Chinese, Italian
Strong Relationships
