To Whom It May Concern:

I am writing this letter in support of both Matthew Johanson and DD Dragon English School in Hangzhou, China. 

This letter will be divided into two parts.  In the first part, I will share with you the association I had with Matt Johanson.  Then, I will comment on the my own personal experience teaching English at the school from August of 2010 until May of 2012.

I did not know Matt until I traveled to China to teach English in the Summer of 2010.  Matt was the head teacher at the school and responsible for my recruitment to the school, my training, and my progression as an English teacher.  I was really impressed with his strong work ethic, leadership, exceptional communication skills and demonstrated level of maturity and self-control.  

Matt consistently transcended my expectations in the school with his enthusiastic attitude to better me as a teacher.  He brought out qualities in me that until then I was unaware existed.  The key to teaching at DD Dragon was managing the classroom and creating a strong learning environment for all of the students.  Matt championed an incentive based learning experience and this became a model for other teachers to emulate.  Matt is a man of integrity, a leader, a team player, and a person who is committed to excellence in everything he does.  He is able to see the big picture, make others around him more successful, and has a tremendous desire to learn.  Matt's professional qualities are only matched by his ability to be a reliable friend.  He helped my transition to life in China and made the entire experience much more enjoyable.    

The decision to travel to Hangzhou, China and work for DD Dragon was one of the most important choices of my life.  The challenges of this adventure are great, but the rewards are tremendous.  The journey can not be summed up in a letter but rather the accumulation of experiences, life-lessons, friends,and invaluable opportunities. 

Hangzhou's DD Dragon is an exceptional organization known for its quality of employees, strong management, teaching methods, and reputation for success.  Working with children was extremely rewarding.  Even though I was the teacher, I learned so much from my students.  I became a better listener, communicator, and friend.  Furthermore, I became a better person both in and outside of the classroom.  Deciding to take a job offer here opened up the world of Asia to me. I was able to leave my comfort zone and immerse myself into a foreign land and culture.  Due to Hangzhou's close proximity to a surplus of Asian cities and attractions,  I was able to travel to Hong Kong, Taiwan, northern China, and other locations.  All of which left me with memories that will last me a lifetime.   

Working at DD Dragon has provided me with first hand experience working in China.  I was able to practice my Mandarin skills daily and I now have a great grasp of the language.  I am currently in the process of moving to Shanghai to pursue a business career.  Having DD Dragon on my resume allows me to stand out amongst my piers and really gives me an advantage as I take my next step working in China.   I would strongly recommend working with Matt Johanson and at DD Dragon to anyone remotely interested.

Dax Haas