Doune Mandarin Tutors and Doune Mandarin Tuition

Personal Description:
I am a PGCE-qualified teacher with two Master's degrees, and I also serve as a Cambridge International examiner. My teaching expertise covers Mandarin GCSE (9-1), IGCSE, GCE (A level), HSK, Japanese GCSE (9-1), and JLPT qualifications. I teach my students both on-site and via Zoom for private students.

Teaching Experience:
I teach both Mandarin and Japanese at local independent schools and universities, and I am also an experienced private tutor. I instruct both simplified and traditional Chinese, as well as Japanese, to both native and non-native students, including professionals. Over the past decade, my students have consistently achieved outstanding results in Edexcel Chinese (9-1) and Japanese GCSEs (9-1), earning A* and Grade 9. Additionally, they have excelled with As in A-level Chinese.

I've successfully tutored numerous students who pursued further 'Oriental studies' at Oxford University, completed an MPhil in Chinese studies at Oxford, and Japanese at Leeds University and Cardiff University.

In addition, I possess a strong working knowledge of the national curriculum and am very familiar with the demands and expectations of both state and independent schooling.

Tutoring Approach:
Encouraging, effective, student-centered approach, and developing a love for learning.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a native Chinese and I come from northeast of China - Chang Chun, where the first movie and car were made in China, and it also has the most numbers of the universities in China.

I came to the UK in 2007, and I feel grateful and joyful to experience this dynamic culture and to meet many interesting and decent people.

I love food, music, movies, and spending time in nature. I am interested in healthy living and different cultures, I like to visit and explore new places, meet people, and most importantly, to serve others with the skills and talents I have.

Teaching Experience:
I started teaching Mandarin in 2002 where I volunteered to teach 7 western teachers at Jilin University, where I studied in China, and I gained my first teaching experience.

A year later after my graduation I went on working for Dao Hang Language Institution in China as an English teacher. I taught both children and adults, and from then I realised that each student had their own unique way of learning, and teaching should be tailored according to each individual's need.

I also provided Mandarin lessons to corporate staff whist working as a PA in GE and Philips in China.

After settling in the UK, I started providing private lessons from October 2009 and I taught in schools, companies, and individuals in London and Cambridge. I helped students achieved their GCSE/AS/A2 levels, and currently I am preparing a student for his HSK exam, and another student for his GCSE exam in 2022.

I have been receiving positive feedback from my students, and as a result, some of them increased their weekly lessons with me.

In 2021 I was recruited by Cambridge Assessment as an examiner for the Mandarin subject.

Tutoring Approach:
When it comes to learning a language, if we watch the way how a young child is learning, he/she spends most of the time listening first and then imitating, and with the language environment, he/she flourishes. This is the most natural approach.

When it comes to learning a new language as an adult, I know (because I have done it and I have seen others done it too) that within each one of us we still have the potential to activate that part of the brain which allows us to acquire and absorb the new language subconsciously, or simply put, to have a feel for it!

In my lessons I usually combine listening, speaking, reading, and writing activities. My students submerge in a lot of listening and speaking at the early stage of the lessons, and then we move onto reading and sometimes storytelling, depending on the age group. I do my best to understand each of my students' learning needs, goals and interest and tailor the lessons by increasing certain activities, along with Chinese culture and customs explained.

We do have a touch on grammar too, but not in a sense trying to memorise them, it is rather as a guidance.

I believe Mandarin or any language can be easily acquired through this natural approach with time and effort, and I will be here with you taking every step on this amazing journey!

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a native Chinese speaker from mainland China, and I have been living in the UK for more than 15 years, working as a Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) and Chinese teacher at a independent school. I earned a PhD in Educational Studies from the University of Manchester in 2015. I have excellent teaching experience in Chinese at all levels, as well as in Maths (from KS1 up to GCSE). I have received positive feedback from my previous students, who have praised my patience, clear communication, and sense of responsibility. Additionally, I have worked as a Teaching Assistant (TA) in a secondary school, where I gained valuable experience supporting young people's learning.

In terms of personality, I am very easygoing, kind, and highly responsible. Since moving to the UK in 2010, I have lived in diverse environments, working with students from various creeds and ethnic backgrounds. This experience has enriched my understanding and appreciation of international cultures and individual differences.

I enjoy travelling and experiencing new things. I have visited several places, including European countries (England, Scotland, Wales, the Netherlands, Switzerland, France, Italy, Spain, Iceland, and Greenland), Africa (Cameroon), South Korea, Hong Kong, and Macau. I love sports, particularly swimming, yoga, cycling, hiking, and horse riding.

Teaching Experience:
I am an experienced and dedicated Modern Foreign Languages (MFL) and Chinese teacher, currently teaching students aged 3-18, including GCSE, GCE/A Level,HSK and YCT(Youth Chinese Test) Chinese, at an independent school in the UK. With about 15 years of experience teaching Mandarin both online and face-to-face to non-native English speakers of various ages and levels in both China and the UK, I have developed a deep understanding of effective teaching methods and the ability to meet individual student needs.

As a private Mandarin tutor, I bring the same level of commitment and personalized attention to each of my students. My extensive experience has equipped me with valuable insights into creating engaging and effective lessons tailored to each student's learning style and goals.

In addition to my current teaching role, I have been a freelance Mandarin teacher since 2012, collaborating with several language organizations. I am also an experienced interpreter and translator, with over ten years of expertise in both written and spoken translation. My background includes working in various sectors, such as business (e.g., 2010 EXPO Shanghai) and education (e.g., translating articles and interpreting at international conferences).

Testimonials:
"I decided to begin learning Mandarin with Yifen over the summer for business and travel purposes.
Given that I was a complete beginner, I was heartened by the friendliness and professional nature of the lessons and was delighted by the flexibility of the lessons.
The way Yifen catered the lessons to my specific areas of interest was very encouraging. It meant I was able to cover a lot more relevant content in the short time I had with her.
Had I not had to move back to University, I would've liked to continue my lessons." Matthew, a former Student

''I had the pleasure of taking my first steps in Mandarin with Yifen. I found her very knowledgeable, understanding, adaptable and extremely flexible to my needs. Only when I travelled to China, I could really appreciate how valuable her teachings were. Before Yifen, I could not understand anything at all. After only a few lessons with Yifen, my ability to understand had greatly improved and I could even venture into dialogues with Chinese people and, lo and behold, be understood!

Yifen's approach is systematic and practical at the same time. She frequently tested my comprehension ability, and engaged me in dialogues, but also illustrated the building blocks of the language, touching on grammar rules and special usage, as needed.
She was always keen on answering any additional questions that might have crossed my mind. She was motivating and an inspiration and greatly boosted my desire to learn more about the Chinese language and culture.
Yifen is a joy to work with and I would heartily recommend her to anyone who wants to approach the study of the Chinese language with a solid, competent and inspirational teacher.

老师，谢谢'' -Fernando, A former adult learner

"Yifen has been my teacher for the past four years throughout my GCSEs and A-levels! She helped me achieve an A* at GCSE and helped me achieve my required grade to get into university! With a lesson every week I was undoubtedly able to rely on Yifen for the support I needed for my work and to achieve the result that I not only wanted, but needed. She would always write lesson reviews and summaries for me to look upon to further improve my learning of Mandarin, and even set me work to challenge me and to push my ability further. I'm so grateful for all the time Yifen gave up for me and definitely wouldn't have been able to adapt and progress my Chinese without her help! Yifen is so helpful, reliable and able to focus on anything you ask her to help you with and I would highly recommend her to anyone who would want to learn or better their Mandarin!"-Bethan, a former GCSE and A-level learner.

Tutoring Approach:
I make every effort to prepare lessons that meet each student's individual needs. I strive to create a comfortable learning environment because I believe a good atmosphere is crucial for learning a language and encouraging learners to speak. Lessons are carefully prepared, incorporating engaging stories and other materials, so you can learn Mandarin and have fun at the same time!

I believe that a good teacher is responsible for meeting students' needs. My work experience has reinforced my belief that it is essential to teach the students in front of you rather than just following a textbook. I endeavour to be an attentive listener, observe, and identify any problems that arise during lessons. This approach helps me find solutions and maximise my potential.

I am passionate about helping my students succeed and am committed to providing high-quality, individualised instruction. If you are looking for a skilled and reliable private Mandarin tutor who can help you achieve your language goals, I would be delighted to work with you.

There are some textbooks I have been using for the learners, such as:
Confidence Chinese Vol. Getting Started
Confidence Chinese Vol2. Living in China
Chinese Made Easy Book1, 2 and 3.
Standard Course HSK
Edexcel Chinese for AS
Edexcel Chinese for A2
Chinese Made Easy for Kids.
Youth Chinese Test(YCT)

Subjects

Personal Description:
Happy, friendly, patient and enthusiastic Chinese native teacher / speaker.

Professional and experienced, provides quality tailor made lessons for any purpose. e.g. work, education, business, travelling, interests or science papers, etc.

UK-China Business Consultant.

Registered interpreter for public sectors, courts, solicitors, hospitals, GPs and dentists.

Teaching Experience:
16 years private teaching experience for children and adults (1-1 and groups).

A Chinese Mandarin teacher working at independent schools, state schools, private language schools, and Chinese community schools in Brighton and Sussex, as well as the London Mandarin School in London.

Tutoring Approach:
Creative 'one to one' all level tuition in Chinese Mandarin and Cantonese, for both adults and children, using a tested fastest possible progress technique.

Lessons are fun, challenging, enjoyable and achievable, all your needs catered for in conversation, grammar, pronunciation, speaking, listening, reading and writing.

Preparing for Common Entrance exams, GCSE / HSK / YCT and Chinese for business or culture.

Various approaches to meet different learning styles.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am proud to have consistently helped over 90% of my students achieve their desired grades and gain entry to their chosen universities, including Cambridge, Oxford, Manchester, Warwick and Imperial College.
I have a PhD in Physics and BSc Maths/Physics Jt Honours 1st Class. I am a co-author of over 60 peer reviewed papers in science journals and was a research scientist for 27 years in the world renowned Daresbury Laboratory of the Science and Technology Facilities Council which helps keep the UK at the forefront of international science and technology. I ran the operations of a world class X-ray photoelectron spectrometer for a wide range of applications in physics, chemistry, biology and material science.
I am a qualified martial arts instructor and teach the Chinese Wing Chun system. I believe sports can contribute towards an all round education and under proper supervision, martial arts can offer health benefits and is beneficial for mental and physical discipline. I am also interested in the promotion of the Chinese language because I am of Chinese origin and can speak Cantonese and Mandarin fluently. I also enjoy salsa dancing, music, fell walking, yoga and travel.

Teaching Experience:
Although semi-retired, I am still passionate about science and after gaining my PGCE teaching qualification in 2012, I am now embarking on helping GCSE and A level students with private tuition. My vast experience in training postgraduate students and working with scientists in solving real problems both academically and in industry brings in an invaluable real life dimension to the learning experience of the students.

Tutoring Approach:
My teaching is conducted in a relaxed but studious atmosphere and is tailored to individual needs with realistic targets. I use effective questioning and past examination papers for assessment which allow students to monitor their own progress.
I was a 16 year old migrant from Hong Kong when I first came to England in 1973, so I can certainly relate to problems such as racism, misunderstanding of and by others, loneliness, lack of empathy and learning barriers.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am an energetic, enthusiastic and well qualified Mandarin teacher, who has already had over 10 years of teaching experience, including UK, Germany, Belgium, Taiwan and China, two international schools, two UK independent schools and four different language centres.

Teaching Experience:
Lecturer of Mandarin Chinese, University of West England Jan.2016- present
I am presently teaching one lecture per week in the Business and Law department to classes of up to 30 adult students. With the use of a variety of materials and drawing on my past experiences of creating a Chinese programme, I have created a suitable syllabus for beginners who will likely be using their new language skills in their future business positions.

Teacher of Chinese, Badminton School, Bristol, UK Sept.2015 - Sept.2018
This permanent Monday -Friday position gave me my first experience in preparing students for GCSE, iGCSE and A-level examinations. Due to how international my school is, I teach native Chinese speakers and non-native speakers. This breadth of student-base has expanded my skills considerably. From teaching students their first lesson to analysing millennia-old Chinese literature with native-speakers, I have enjoyed this challenge. I have developed the Chinese syllabus while here, which now has curriculum classes in years 7, 8 & 9. Last year saw my first two non-native speaking students take their GCSEs; both my British and my Korean student got As, after I had taught them from beginner level, two years previously. I am also the GCSE examiner for the oral summer examinations.

Teacher of Mandarin Chinese, Bristol Grammar School, Bristol, UK Jan. 2014 -July 2015
I taught Mandarin Chinese to a range of ages, all of whom were absolute beginners. My youngest group consisted of six-year-olds and my oldest group consisted of seventeen-year-olds. I brought Chinese into the school, which continues to teach compulsory Chinese classes to year 7, even after I moved on to Badminton School in 2015

Teacher of Mandarin Chinese, Bristol Language School, Bristol, UK Sept. 2014 - Aug. 2015
This part-time position saw me teaching Chinese to different levels of adult learners in the evening. My students ranged from absolute beginners to B1 level.

Teacher of Mandarin Chinese, International House Bristol, Bristol, UK Sept. 2013 - Jan. 2016
This part-time position saw me teaching Chinese to different levels of adult learners in the evening. My students ranged from absolute beginners to B1 level.

Teacher of Mandarin Chinese, Ms. Sun's Mandarin Corner, Beijing, China Sept. 2012 - June 2013
After graduating from BLCU, Beijing, where I completed my Masters in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language, I set up and taught in this school, which added to my ever-growing classroom experience by teaching students of all ages. I taught up to twenty hours per week, and had students from eight different countries. Although I tried to use Mandarin whenever I could, I could confidently use English or German to explain certain points if necessary.

Teacher of Mandarin and EAL, Rego British International School, Beijing, China Sep. 2012 - Dec. 2012
A very rewarding and challenging position, which expanded my teaching experience tremendously and offered me experience teaching the English curriculum (including GCSE Mandarin), as well as time teaching children with a vast range of ages and levels of Chinese. I taught both Mandarin Chinese and many aspects of Chinese culture and history.

Lecturer of Mandarin Chinese, Chinese Centre, Wen Hua Uni, Taipei, Taiwan July 2011 - Jan. 2012
In this exciting position, I taught Europeans, Asians, North Americans and Australasian all as part of my one-to-one and group class programmes.

Lecturer of Mandarin Chinese, Chinese Centre, Fu-Jen University, Taipei, Taiwan April - June 2011
Keen to get back into the classroom and get some first-hand experience to assist me while writing my Masters' dissertation, I got a position at my previous university, where I met some very interesting students from countries such as Honduras, Vanuatu, Germany, Paraguay, Italy, Britain, The USA, Japan and Korea.

Teacher of Mandarin Chinese, Taipei Language Institute, Taipei, Taiwan Jan. - April 2011
This was a useful experience, as I taught both group classes as well as handful of one-to-one classes.

Practical Lecturer of Mandarin Chinese, Sinology Department, The University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany Sept. - Dec. 2010
Using the textbook "Taiwan Today", I taught my class both Mandarin Chinese and about Taiwanese culture. I really appreciate my time here as I was given the freedom to create my own programme and to create each lecture. During my time at The University of Heidelberg, I covered a few of my colleagues' first semester Mandarin classes.

Lecturer of Mandarin Chinese, Beijing Language and Culture University, Beijing, China 2009-2010
During the first year of my Masters course, I assisted and taught a number of Chinese courses.

Chinese, English and German tutor 2006 - 2010
I have taught private adult classes in both Taiwan and China. This was my first professional experience of teaching people from such a varied cultural background.

Tutoring Approach:
I am a calm, patient and energetic teacher. I love sharing my culture and native language with students, as I love travelling and learning new languages and cultures myself.

Everybody's development must be attended to individually. As a teacher, I am able to ascertain and cater for the educational needs of every one of my students. I know that every learner will have varying speeds of learning and will be able to access the content of the lesson in different ways. In my ten years of teaching experience, I have taught from primary school children up to international business people.

Whether you want a tutor for GCSE or A-level preparation, inspiring a love of the language in younger learners, want to learn Mandarin for fun, travelling, for business or for HSK exam, I have had experience teaching all types of language learners.

Subjects

Personal Description:
YingShi teaches languages to children and adults, also coaches and conducts controlled assessments for Edexcel GCSE exams; iGCSE speaking exams; AS and A2 speaking exams for some local independent schools. She also provides cultural training for expats to be. She is patient, caring, fun and very good with young and older learners. She is very passionate and committed about teaching.

She have been teaching Mandarin since she was a student in Japan, haven't stopped even when worked full-time. The full-time languages teaching started about 15 years ago. She created great quantity of ‬good quality of Mandarin teaching resources including worksheets of vocabularies, grammars, common expressions; full collections of past exam papers, audios, and videos which is free on her website for all my learners. She is co-author of a book - 'Talking with the New Business Dragons'.

She is a native Mandarin (Putonghua - standard Mandarin Chinese) and Korean speaker, and a near native level of Japanese speaker. She's educated in China (Mechanical engineering management), studied (Chemistry) in Japan, gained MSc (Computer science) in England. She worked and lived in Japan for about 7 years, and worked as a Software Engineers (mainly in education sector) in England for over 16 years.

She offers one-to-one and small group tutoring for total beginners to advanced level of Mandarin, and has archived excellent results. Date/time of your lesson can be flexible to suit yours and her timetable.

She hold at lest 9 DBS Certifications, you are welcome to ask references, or talk to our learners directly.

Teaching Experience:
She have been teaching Mandarin for over 30 years on and off and teaching full-time for last 15 years. Currently teaching 1-2-1s, a small group, children from age 7. Covers curriculum includes ISEB, GCSE, iGCSE, AS/A2, HSK exams. She also provides intense exam tuitions for native Chinese students 1-2-1, and in schools. Rendcomb College (tutoring GCSE/iGCSE, AS/A2 exams, and conduct oral exams); St. Edward's School, Wycliffe College, The Kings School Gloucester, Berkhampstead School (Chinese Cultural day), Richard Pate School, Beaudesert Park School (Mandarin clubs), Dean Close School (Mandarin Club), University of Gloucestershire (university modules), and Abbey College (AS/A2 exam).

Tutoring Approach:
We will discuss your leaning objectives and a time frame to achieving it. We will work out your current Mandarin level, if you are not a total beginner. I will give an overview of Chinese language history, and what it involves at the initial session. I will make you at ease and feel comfortable, and you will have a taste of my teaching style.

Your lesson plan is personalised to suit your ability and needs. I always add Chinese culture and business contents as part of the course whenever it is appropriate. You will learn core contents including Pinyin, grammar, writing Chinese characters with correct writing strokes and how to use computer/mobile phone to type.

All learning materials are free - vocabularies, gramme summary, sentence pattens and practice sheets, online videos my website for beginners; also past exam papers.

Lessons are conducted in a bilingual context. Lessons can be face-to-face or online or both combined.

We are teaching many local people (children and adults), and they are all making excellent progress and enjoying it.

I am patient, caring, fun and very good with different age learners. I am very passionate about teaching.

Subjects

Personal Description:
PRIVATE CHINESE (MANDARIN/CANTONESE) LESSONS WITH QUALIFIED NATIVE TUTOR (GCSE/AS/AL/ADULT LEARNER)

Hello and Nihao! My name is James. I have realised that Chinese has become a more and more popular language worldwide recently due to the increased economic activities China does with the rest of the world. It is the most widely spoken language in the world (approx. 1.3 billion Chinese speakers in the world). It is also one of the six official languages in the UN. It is now a trend that in order to be a successful business person or even a professional in other aspects, it is important to acquire the ability to speak Chinese and to understand the Chinese culture.

As a Chinese Language Support Officer at University of Exeter and an ex Chinese Teacher at a private boarding school (Trinity School in Teignmouth, Devon), I would like to promote the Chinese language and culture as much as I can. I am now offering private Chinese lessons at a learner-friendly price in the Torbay and South Devon area. The price is as below:

GCSE: £27 PER HOUR PER PERSON
AS/A-LEVEL: £27 PER HOUR PER PERSON
ADULT LEARNER/UNIVERSITY LEVEL: £27 PER HOUR PER PERSON



PRVIATE JAPANESE LESSONS

Konichiwa! With a very good command of Japanese and seeing a growing interest in the language, I am now offering flexible Japanese lessons to the those who are interested. I am willing to travel to teach with added travel expense. Prices as as below:

CHILD LEARNER : £30 PER HOUR PER PERSON
ADULT LEARNER: £30 PER HOUR PER PERSON



PRIVATE ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS LESSONS (GCSE/AS/AL/UNIVERSITY)

Graduated with a Business and Economics background and seeing pupils at my school struggling with their Business and Economics school work, I also offer private Economics and Business lessons for those who need help with their school work outside school. Price is as below:

GCSE: £32 PER HOUR PER PERSON
AS/A-LEVEL: £32 PER HOUR PER PERSON
ADULT LEARNER: £32 PER HOUR PER PERSON
UNIVERSITY LEVEL: £35 PER HOUR PER PERSON




PRIVATE MARTIAL ARTS AND SELF DEFENCE LESSONS (ANY AGE AND EXPERIENCE)

As a life-time passion, I have had an extensive training in Martial Arts since I was 15. So far, I have been training in boxing, wing chun, Muay-Thai, Brazilian Jiujitsu, Filipino Kali free style wrestling and MMA. I was the University Students' Champion in a Muay Thai Tournament in 2007 back in Hong Kong. Seeing MMA and self-defence has become more and more popular nowadays, I am offering private Martial Arts/Self Defence lessons. If you are interested in learning any martial arts, whether as a beginner or as an experienced fighter hoping to sharpen your skills or simply just want to learn self-defence to protect yourself, please do not hesitate to get in touch. You can arrange 1:1 sessions or group sessions according to your needs. Price is as below:

£22-25 PER HOUR, DEPENDING ON THE SIZE OF GROUP


I look forward to hearing from you.

Teaching Experience:
9 years as a Chinese Language Support Officer at University of Exeter

6 years of teaching in Trinity School Teignmouth (a private school)

10 years of home tutoring with various age groups

6 years of teaching private kickboxing and self defence lessons

Tutoring Approach:
Flexible approach according to different students' needs

Subjects

Personal Description:
Pearson LTL Examiner
14 years experience of Chinese teaching in
Academic:
(my this year's(2025) students are in GCSE, IGCSE;, A-level and Pre-u all got their expected results as A*, A and D3 and successfully got the offers from the first choice universities.

Experienced teaching in GCSE, IGCSE( in three different levels),
A level(Edexcel, AQA, Cambridge International esp. Literature in paper4), Pre-u,
IB (A&B), and
HSK1-6.

For university students:
2 years teaching experience in university in the UK
10 years teaching experience in university in Shanghai, China
Experienced Teaching in
HSK1-6;
Chinese Literature;
Translation Studies

For Adults learners:

Business Chinese,
&
Casual Chinese and culture.

25 years of TCFL and TEFL teaching experience in university;
Holding the national certificate of Standard Mandarin Speaking (A*)(issued by China Education Bureau), Native speaker of Mandarin. Over 8 years' supervising experience in MA & PhD Translation Studies, Education Studies.

Teaching Experience:
When you are looking for a language teacher, you may see the following key points:
1. Native speaker of Mandarin ( I am holding Chinese National Certificate of Standard Mandarin speaking (A*);
2. Majored in Linguistics (Translation Studies);
3. Highest Degree in Linguistics and Social Media Studies;
4. Practical experience as a teacher, an examiner and a marker;
5. Professional teacher (I am holding the Higher Education Teaching Certificate (only 14% university teachers who have the certificate and the PhD degree at the same time in China) .
With solid foundation of literature knowledge, applied writing skills, and cultural awareness, I can not only teach you "what" knowledge but also explain you "why"and "how" knowledge.
current teaching:
Chinese/Mandarin GCSE, IGCSE(0509;0547), ALEVEL, IB, PRE-U, and HSK1-5, Chinese Literature;
Teacher Training Course

CV:
I have experience of being GCSE (Chinese , Mandarin) and IB (Chinese, Mandarin) oral exam Examiner.
I have over 23 years' teaching experience in universities (both in China and the UK). The main jobs I am doing are teaching TEFL courses, TCFL courses (students are adults students and mainly start from 0 level), Translation Studies, and supervising students in MA Education, Translation Studies, and Journalism as their MA supervisor. Since 2017, I also supervise PhD students in Translation Studies as well. I left my beloved working university because I need to move to London with my family. From 2013-2015, during my PhD research study period, I taught in the University of Salford, the main courses I taught were Chinese Language and Culture as well as the MA course of Business Conference Interpretation. Since the university closed the school of Languages, I could not go on teaching there. Luckily, I can teach via Spires now, can go on helping the young people to make their learning target and pursuit their dreams.


About Me
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I have a PhD Degree in Translation Studies and MA Degree in TEFL.
I have 22Years' teaching experience as a University language tutor in English and Chinese.
I have 14 years' experience of teaching Mandarin in the UK in all levels.


My Areas of Expertise
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Teaching Chinese/Mandarin GCSE, IGCSE,ALEVEL, IB, PRE-U, and HSK1-5
Teaching Chinese Literature (Classical articles in Ming Dynasty, Modern Literature works, famous poems in Ancient times)
Teaching Chinese students in preparing of IELTS, IB, AP Literature and Composition　
Supervising MA dissertation in Education ,Translation Studies.
Teacher Training Course (Theoretical and Practical Teaching skills and strategies) (Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language); (making teaching plan, prepare the teaching materials, get to know the external examinations in the UK (GCSE, A-Level, Pre-U) as well as in other countries (IB, IGCSE), designing after school clubs, etc. )

Tutoring Approach:
textbooks teaching, useful online materials and self designed teaching materials.
According to individual client's learning target, exam target and other study plan, I would like to offer individual teaching materials varied from online resources to self designed ones.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I currently work in a school in Shropshire. I have full DBS checks and work with children regularly

Teaching Experience:
I have recently started to teach Mandarin to children. I have also taught EAL for many years.

Tutoring Approach:
The key to Mandarin is mastering the tones at an early stage and this has always been my approach to learning.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a fully qualified and experienced Mandarin and Spanish teacher, and held the positions of Head of Chinese at both Oakham School and Oundle School. I am bilingual in Spanish, and studied Chinese at University for 4 years, including a year in China.

Languages have always been a passion of mine, and I am eager to help language learners of all abilities. I am friendly and approachable, and realise how difficult Mandarin in particular can be for learners with no Chinese background. I genuinely enjoy finding new ways to help pupils overcome these difficulties, especially with writing and speaking. Spanish has its own challenges, and I am equally passionate about both languages.

Teaching Experience:
I have taught and am familiar with a range of exam boards and syllabuses. At GCSE Level I have taught AQA and EdExcel, and Cambridge IGCSE. I have also taught IB Diploma Level: Spanish Standard and Higher Levels; Mandarin ab initio. I have taught A Level and Cambridge Pre-U in both languages for a number of years. All my pupils have achieved top results.

Tutoring Approach:
I believe that everyone learns differently and I will first spend time getting to know exactly what is needed, and how the individual learns best before coming up with a personalised plan. I believe my strongest ability is an adaptability to meet the varying needs of the pupil as, generally, this is why tuition is being sought beyond the school curriculum.

In terms of academic structure, I would aim to follow a curriculum but have the flexibility to pause where needed. I am a firm believer that confidence is an essential part of learning a language, and I hope to give my pupils the confidence that they need.

Lastly, but equally as important, language learning should be engaging and fun. I strive to keep a healthy balance in this. So often I meet pupils who have initially fallen out of love with a subject and bringing them back on board is essential. Whilst the emphasis is always on academic progress, lessons will always be enjoyable.

Subjects

Personal Description:
I am a qualified (CELTA) English Language teacher who has been teaching in Taiwan, Poland and the UK since July 2017.

I have studied Chinese, German and Spanish so I fully understand what it is like to learn a foreign language. I like to keep my classes informative, useful and enjoyable, and I will tailor them to suit you and your needs.

I read and write extensively during my free time, and I aim to encourage others to see the positives in both reading and writing effectively. I also enjoy football, travelling and gardening.

I am dedicated to improving my knowledge and skills, and I pride myself on being a strict and dedicated teacher who encourages every student to reach their full potential.

Teaching Experience:
Since completing my CELTA in 2017, I have taught ages 3-65 from levels A1-C1 in General English classes, but also IELTS, FCE, CAE and PET exam preparation classes. My favourite classes are IELTS and Intermediate levels, but I am comfortable teaching anyone who is willing to learn.

I have always received strong ratings from my students (school / teacher feedback) and often receive emails from previous students, asking me for help or support with their English.

Tutoring Approach:
I aim to teach all skills equally, but can tailor my lessons based on your strengths and weaknesses. I want to help my students develop a wide range of vocabulary and enable them to understand and use every day language, such as ordering in a restaurant or buying a train ticket, discussing the news or giving their opinion on a political situation.

I always include vocabulary and pronunciation work and believe that correction is a vital part of every lesson. I encourage my students to self-correct, especially in writing, and often find that after a few lessons they are able to make progress in this area.

My classes include games (kahoot, board games, cards, hangman...), social media when relevant, BBC / radio programmes and other interesting activities that will help students increase their English skills in a useful way.

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Personal Description:
Hi, I am a Confucious Institute certified professional Chinese Teacher(CTCSOL Certificate). I graduated with a master's degree (Merit) in Education from the University of Glasgow in 2019. I used to be a teacher teach HSK in Mandarin School in Glasgow Kevin Collage to a wide range of students. Since moving to Belfast, I've already accumulated more than 1000 hours online mandarin tutoring experience, along with 5 star reviews from all of my students. I have excellent communication and interpersonal skills which helped me to earn praise from students and students' parents.My goal is to make sure my students love learning Mandarin!:)

Teaching Experience:
I am a Confucious Institute certified professional Chinese Teacher(CTCSOL Certificate). I have recently graduated with a master's degree (Merit) in Education in the University of Glasgow, which is outside my home country. For this reason, I have significant cross-cultural experience. In my home country, I had an internship in a Creative Teaching Program. My position was the teaching assistant for foreign teachers who were teaching children. Children loved me and were fond of playing with me, which helped me to earn praise from my teacher and students' parents.One year ago, I was a teacher, teaching primary/secondary students and adults (HSK) in Kelvin College Mandarin School in Glasgow, I developed excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Now, I've moved to Belfast and become a full-time online Mandarin Tutor. I already have 1000 hours online tutoring experience and gained 5 star reviews from all my students. Across all of these activities, I have managed my time efficiently and been consistently punctual. I am able to turn the classroom into a fun and engaging environment.

Tutoring Approach:
For online lessons, we can use Zoom or Skype. I use HSK textbooks (level 1-6) to custom make each lesson based on my students' needs. HSK is the official standard Mandarin proficiency test used in China for non-native speakers. If students wish to find work or study in China, taking offical HSK tests will allow them to do so. I will also prepare homework for every lesson (if preferred) and give my students feedback on their homework. My Mandarin lessons will help my students develop their Mandarin speaking, listening, reading, writing and thinking skills. By thinking skills, I mean to improve how students structure sentences and how they reply to questions in Mandarin. I will also send the Powerpoints and video recordings to students after each lesson so that they can practice it after every lesson.

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Personal Description:
I'm a lively and friendly person. I was born and raised in Malaysia. I speak fluent English. My first language is Chinese. I have a passion for teaching as the students are always keen on learning. I feel a sense of achievement every time my students learn something new which led me to wanting to teach Mandarin to all age learners.

Teaching Experience:
I once taught a group of 5 students English for five months. I am also currently teaching Mandarin on different teaching websites.

Tutoring Approach:
I am very patient and willing to make friends with my students to create a positive environment where my students are welcome to raise any questions and share their ideas. And knowing that there are different types of learners, I desire to create a positive environment to meet the students' unique needs. I always try to use different resources to help achieve the students' potentials.

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Personal Description:
Greetings! I am proud to be a part of Keele Business School, where I currently contribute to the vibrant academic community. I achieved a significant milestone by successfully completing my Ph.D. at Nottingham Trent University.

As a seasoned educator, I bring over 14 years of experience in teaching Chinese on an international scale. My expertise lies not only in the depth of my academic pursuits but also in my proficiency as a native speaker of both Mandarin and Cantonese, boasting a standard accent that ensures a clear and authentic learning experience.

During my academic journey, I have had the privilege of imparting the richness of the Chinese language to diverse audiences, fostering cultural understanding and linguistic proficiency. My commitment to excellence in education is reflected in my approach, which combines academic rigor with a passion for creating an engaging and supportive learning environment.

Whether you are a beginner eager to embark on your Chinese language journey or an advanced learner seeking to refine your skills, I am dedicated to guiding you through a comprehensive and enjoyable learning experience. Join me on this exciting linguistic adventure, and let's explore the beauty and intricacies of Mandarin and Cantonese together!

Feel free to connect with me to discuss how we can make your Chinese language learning journey both enriching and rewarding.

Teaching Experience:
With extensive teaching experience spanning across various levels, I have successfully guided students at the Primary, KS3, GCSE, A-LEVEL, and HSK proficiency exams. My commitment to education extends to diverse settings, including teaching groups of over 50 University and Students' Union Members at the University of Northampton.

As a Mandarin instructor, I specialize in teaching beginners, incorporating listening, reading, singing, speaking, and writing seamlessly into lessons. My approach is designed to motivate and inspire learners, ensuring a comprehensive and engaging language learning experience.

In addition to academic proficiency, I have assisted students in practical applications such as traveling, business Mandarin, and spoken Mandarin. My goal is to equip learners with the skills they need for real-world communication.

Furthermore, I take pride in helping students achieve success in the Level 2 Chinese Proficiency Test at the Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban). This accomplishment reflects my dedication to supporting students in reaching their language proficiency goals.

Join me on this exciting journey of language acquisition, where learning is not just a process but an enjoyable and rewarding experience.

Looking forward to helping you achieve your Mandarin language goals!

Tutoring Approach:
Embark on an enjoyable language learning journey with my personalized Chinese teaching approach. My goal is to ignite and nurture the initial passion students have for learning a language, making each lesson a tailored and engaging experience.

I prioritize your interests, ensuring that lessons evolve based on your unique preferences and goals. This approach not only enhances your language skills but also deepens your understanding of Chinese culture, contributing to a holistic language-learning experience.

For your convenience, I conduct lessons in the comfort of your home. My teaching caters to a diverse audience, ranging from children to adults, and spans across all proficiency levels. Whether you are looking to strengthen your language skills or preparing for the Chinese Proficiency Test, my lessons are designed to meet your specific needs.

Join me on this exciting language-learning adventure where every session is crafted to align with your interests and aspirations. Discover the beauty of the Chinese language and culture in a personalized and enjoyable setting.

Feel free to reach out to discuss how we can tailor your learning experience and achieve your language goals together.

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Personal Description:
Hello, You may call me Gavin. I am from Hong Kong and is now living in the UK. I have expertise in multiple languages and has recently graduated in the London School of Economics and Political Science. I can help with Secondary School level or even University Level history or history learning in general. Feel free to talk to me even if you are not interested in history, I also offer classes in teaching Cantonese, Mandarin, English and Japanese.

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching private tutoring since my university years. I have experience teaching children ranging from age 8 to 16. I am expert in teaching Secondary School History and languages (Cantonese, Mandarin, English and Japanese)

Tutoring Approach:
Let's make learning fun and exciting together! I'm Gavin, a multilingual tutor with a passion for history. Whether you need help with history or want to learn Cantonese, Mandarin, English, or Japanese, I'm here for you. Let's embark on this educational journey with enthusiasm and joy!

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Personal Description:
I am a UK qualified professional Mandarin teacher with more than 15 years experience. As a native Mandarin speaker plus over 25 years living and working in the UK, I am confident in providing a high level of Integrated bilingual teaching.

Teaching Experience:
I have more than 15 years experience in teaching Mandarin in UK to all levels, including GCSE, Alevel, HSK, YCT qualifications, and to other causal learners.
I started from running an after-school or lunch club which was an effective initial step to test student interest and build a teaching portfolio. In 2014 I opened a language school where taught Mandarin on Saturdays but closed in 2019 due to pandemic. Now I am focus only on face-to-face teaching individually.

Tutoring Approach:
For casual learners, I tend to start from showing root meanings combine to form new compound words, teaching high-frequency patterns that cover most daily conversations, and explaining the underlying logic of Chinese characters and grammar rather than relying strictly on rote memorization helps students progress faster.

For academic purposes students such as GCSE and ALevel students, I will strictly using frameworks following national curriculum to help structure lessons effectively.

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Personal Description:
I am a full-time Mandarin Chinese tutor in the UK. I hold a PhD in Applied Linguistics from Newcastle University, as well as a Certificate in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language. I am a positive, reliable and supportive tutor, and I like to create a friendly and encouraging learning environment. I firmly believe that a relaxed atmosphere can lead to more effective learning. I
have a high student retention rate, with many students continuing to learn with me for a long time. I offer a free 20 minutes online initial consultation. Enhanced DBS check, academic qualifications, and references are available upon request.

I can help with
*General Mandarin and more, such as Business Chinese, Chinese for travel, character reading and writing, graded reading etc.
*Exam Support ( GCSE, IGCSE, A Level, HSK).
*Personalised lesson planning
*All ages and levels
*1 to 1 & small group
* Online & in person

Outside of teaching, I am a mum to two teenage boys. Even though they don't need me as much as they used to, they still keep me busy! In my spare time, I love reading, walking and watching movies.

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching Chinese in the UK for over 15 years and have taught learners of all ages and levels, both in private and group settings. My teaching experience also includes working with local schools and institutions. I also work as a visiting speaking examiner for GCSE and A Level Mandarin, and regularly visit local schools to conduct speaking exams. Before moving to the UK in 2005, I worked as a secondary school English teacher in Taiwan.

Some recent reviews shared by students and parents I have supported.

"I have been working with Fenlan or laoshi for the past 5 months now and am pleased to say I'm very happy with her teaching approach and overall attitude to work. I first met Fenlan through first tutors whom I'm very pleased with also for finding such a fantastic teacher for me but also having a really reasonable finders fee which I was very appreciative of. I was interested in Chinese for a while and I decided I wanted to learn as an interest and hobby I looked one for more information when I came across first tutors. I had a good look at their website and decided to ask if anyone would like to teach me, Fenlan agreed and I have been learning for the past 5 months now making steady progress with which I'm happy with and enjoying. Fenlan has a good nature is easy to get along with and very patient with a great sense of humour that makes you feel relaxed and comfortable. I would recommend her to anyone I can't imagine there is better. Thanks so much to first tutors and thank you Fenlan.
~Dean Allan, Newcastle~

"My son has had an excellent experience so far with Fenlan, his Mandarin tutor. Lessons are engaging, well-structured, and tailored to his level, which has really boosted his confidence. Highly recommended." ~Jill, Newcastle~

"My daughter has had a few weeks of lessons with Fenlan and we have been amazed at the progress she has made in this short time from her teaching. Fenlan is patient, highly organized and talented, and we are extremely glad we found her. We are happy to recommend her without hesitation." ~Ian, London~

Tutoring Approach:
My lessons are highly interactive, with plenty of conversation mixed with grammar and exercises. Although my lessons are fun and enjoyable, I also make sure they are challenging enough to suit different abilities and levels. I also bring Chinese cultural knowledge and culture-related activities into my lessons, so you are not just learning the Chinese language, but also getting to know and appreciate the rich culture behind it.

I tailor my lessons to each student's individual needs. We will discuss your needs and goals together, and I will create a personalised plan for you. We can also make changes to the plan whenever needed as your learning progresses.

Lessons are usually based on a textbook suitable for your level. I will recommend a textbook for you to purchase. I find textbooks useful because they provide a clear structure for learning, with important language points introduced in a logical, step-by-step way. I will also supply extra digital materials whenever they are useful. (If you are doing a short course just for exam prep, a textbook might not even be necessary.)

I encourage students to learn character reading and writing from the beginning. You may find this challenging and it can make the initial stages of learning a little slower, but it will benefit you greatly in the long run. However, I understand that students have different goals and preferences, so we can adjust the balance between speaking, listening, reading and writing according to your needs. If you prefer to focus mainly on speaking and listening, we can do that too.

Once students have learned around 150 words commonly used characters, I will gradually introduce graded reading into their learning. I have found it helps improve reading skills, reinforce vocabulary and character recognition, and give students greater sense of progress and achievement. It can also be a fun and enjoyable way to meet familiar language in a meaningful way.

Homework is given regularly to help consolidate your learning. Throughout my teaching career, I have seen how helpful homework can be, and I always encourage my students to do it when possible. However, I also understand that every student is different, especially adult learners who have to use their time outside work to learn Chinese. So, if you don't have time to complete your homework, I promise you won't be punished! 😀

You may find that Chinese is not as difficult as you think once you give it a go. I firmly believe that, with the help of the right tutor, you can overcome the challenges that may come with learning Chinese.

Good luck with your learning, and I look forward to hearing from you!

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