BEIJING (SCMP): China’s “demon teacher”, who gained widespread fame with over two million followers online through her unconventional teaching style that often involves scolding students, has received an enthusiastic superstar welcome during her university visits.
Liu Xiaoyan, in her early 40s, hails from a humble rural background. She earned her bachelor’s degree in English and subsequently completed her postgraduate studies in law at Guizhou University.
Liu catapulted to fame on mainland social media as an influential English teacher, specifically preparing students for China’s competitive postgraduate entrance examination.
Her online courses, priced at 199 yuan (US$28), have captivated over 100,000 eager learners.
Renowned for her forthright and incisive teaching style, Liu frequently admonishes students for making simple errors or displaying a lack of ambition.
During a lesson focused on the essay topic “Recommend your favourite book,” she recounted the story of a student who translated the iconic Chinese novel Journey to the West as “Go to West,” a phrase that carries connotations of death in Buddhist tradition.
Liu quipped: “You should just go home. Studying is not for you; perhaps you would fare better as a pile of dog poop.”
Additionally, Liu often scolds students for squandering their study time on their phones.
She challenges them: “Why do you care about which celebrity got divorced? They will never marry you.”
“You lie in bed each day, numbing yourself with others’ lives. Live like a pig!”
On one occasion, Liu warned her students: “If you secretly snack or fiddle with your phone during my online class, I’ll turn into a ghost and crawl out of your screen to consume you.”
Despite her stern demeanour, Liu emphasises that her ultimate goal is to motivate students to appreciate the value of their education.
She passionately advises: “Work hard, and you will succeed. Stop wasting your youth.”
Many students credit Liu’s rigorous methods with reviving their previously lazy and unmotivated selves.
“Teacher Liu’s passionate scolding jolts me awake whenever I start to drift off,” one student remarked.
Another described Liu as tough yet caring, akin to a mother scolding her child out of genuine concern.
Liu once characterised herself as someone who “kept striving but never succeeded.”
Having lost her mother at an early age, she was raised by a strict aunt and grappled with long-standing self-esteem issues stemming from her weight during her teenage years.
Liu’s personal narrative resonates deeply with her students; one noted: “Even the ‘demon teacher’ is an ordinary person who works hard and faces failure. It makes my exam journey feel less isolating.”
Increasingly, students reach out to Liu online, seeking her humorous scoldings for motivation, even displaying her photos in their dorm rooms as a source of inspiration.
Earlier this year, Liu visited universities across China, warmly greeted by students clamouring for autographs, handshakes, and selfies while chanting: “Teacher Xiaoyan, we love you!”
Her memorable quotes have also surged as viral memes on mainland social media, with many acknowledging her sincere intention to inspire rather than offend.
One online user commented: “Among elite educators, Liu stands out distinctly, motivating countless students through her traditional yet tough-love approach.”
“It is challenging to find the right balance when scolding students, but Liu executes it flawlessly with humour,” said another. - South China Morning Post
