Isle of Skye Mandarin Tutors and Isle of Skye Mandarin Tuition

Personal Description:
I had been a qualified teacher of English in China for nearly four years before i came to the UK. I can speak good English and Madarin and Contonese. I have been working as a voluntary teacher teaching kids mandarin every Sunday. I have just got a master's degree in language learning and education at the university of york in November 2012. I am currently working as a Chinese tutor.

Teaching Experience:
April 2009-present,
Voluntary worker
Work as a voluntary teacher teaching kids who want to learn Chinese every Sunday
August 2005-March 2009, TAI SHAN NO.1 High School Guang Dong China
English teacher
Worked as a full-time English teacher teaching students aged 16-18 who are going to enter the universities. Gave two or three classes every day on English words, grammar and English cultures etc.

Tutoring Approach:
face-to-face tutoring. Flexible pedagogy is adopted according to students' needs.

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Personal Description:
My name is Phoebe. I'm a native Chinese speaker who moved to England 22 years ago. I am now a British Citizen and have lived in Chesham for 20 years. I gained my MBA at the University of Leicester in 2002. I have two daughters, and both speak Mandarin fluently. I used to work for an insurance company as an auditor, and now I am a full-time Chinese Tutor.

I have gained two teaching certificates: "Teaching Chinese to Young Learners" and "Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language". I have been working as a Chinese tutor since 2009.

I have also tutored several students who went on to achieve top grades in their GCSE Chinese exams, and I currently teach at a private school in the Chalfont area. Teaching is truly my passion, and I'm committed to helping every learner reach their full potential.
If you or your child feel you could benefit from extra support, I'd be delighted to help.
Please don't hesitate to get in touch.

*****Congrats to my student Azaan M, who gained an 8 in GCSE in 2026*****
*****Congrats to my student Chokhmah J, who gained a 9 in GCSE in 2025*****
*****Congrats to my student: Loarn L, who gained an A in IGCSE in 2025*****
*****Congrats to my student Mungo L, who passed HSK Level 4 in 2024*****
*****Congrats to my student Nathaniel P, who passed HSK Level 2 in 2024*****
*****Congrats to my student Nathaniel P, who passed HSK Level 2 in 2024*****
*****Congrats to my student Mungo L, who gained an A* in IGCSE in 2023*****
*****Congrats to my student Sophie A, who gained an 8 in GCSE in 2022*****
*****Congrats to my student Eleanor P, who passed HSK Level 3 in 2021*****
*****Congrats to my student Charis P, who passed HSK Level 3 in 2020*****
*****Congrats to my student Jocelyn S, who gained a 9 in GCSE in 2019*****
*****Congrats to my student Jo-Emma B, who gained an A in GCSE in 2015*****

Teaching Experience:
I have extensive experience teaching children, teenagers, and adults, and I offer both group lessons and one‑to‑one sessions. Each format has its own strengths:
• In group classes, you benefit from interacting with other learners, which helps build confidence and conversational skills.
• In one‑to‑one lessons, the content is fully tailored to your personal goals, pace, and interests.
Whichever option you choose, you'll find that both are excellent ways to learn Chinese effectively and enjoyably.
Over the years, I've taught students from a wide range of nationalities, including learners from the UK, America, Canada, Russia, Germany, and South Africa. It has been a joy helping them progress, and we've shared many memorable moments along the way.
If you'd like to read some of their references, I'm happy to provide them upon request.

Tutoring Approach:
🌟Give Your Child the Gift of Mandarin! 🌟
This is a fantastic opportunity for your child to learn Chinese Mandarin in a small, supportive group of just six students. I'm an experienced Mandarin tutor and have been teaching since 2009. My lessons are interactive, engaging, and designed to help children learn quickly while genuinely enjoying the process.
✨ Why join?
• Small group size for personalised attention
• Fun, dynamic lessons that keep children motivated
• Suitable for complete beginners through to advanced learners
• A warm, encouraging learning environment
📚 Levels: Beginner to Advanced
⏳ Only four places left - book now to secure a spot!

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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!

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Personal Description:
I am a professional , competent qualified Chinese teacher who has 20 years of invaluable experience, And I am able to effectively communicate with students of all ages and abilities .

Teaching Experience:
I am currently a Mandarin teacher in a university , teaching university students and adult learners .I have experience teaching students in primary schools and secondary schools.

Tutoring Approach:
My lessons depend on the individual needs of the students whether it is for preparation for an exam , for tourists ,for business travellers or for those wanting to learn for their pleasure .
My tutoring covers pronunciation ,conversations,grammar, reading, culture and simplified Chinese character writing.
I can teach at my own house or that of the students.

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Personal Description:
I'm a Chinese girl who is really hard working and self-disciplined. I am a postgraduate in Translation and Interpreting at University of Essex. I did my bachelor's degree in English in China and I was the top student in my class.

Apart from the high levels of enthusiasm and commitment, as I have been trained intensively to be a Simultaneous Interpreter/ Conference Interpreter, I enjoy the advantage of good presentation and speaking manner. It's proven that I have strong teamwork spirit and multitask skills. I can work under high pressure and am able to schedule priorities and perform/delegate accordingly to effectively accomplish tasks at hand. Living in China for 20 years, I can always look at things in new perspective. Culturally I am strongly adaptive since I can smoothly operate in two entirely different environments.

Teaching Experience:
I have tutored some primary school kids on their English course when I was in China. Their class performance was much better after my tutoring. I managed to get a Teacher's Certificate by taking the national exam when I was in China.

I have a real passion for languages and have been very privileged to have had the opportunities to go and live in the countries where these languages are spoken and experience the diverse culture each country has to offer. Teaching is something that I am very passionate about and want to help others have the same opportunities I have been fortunate to have.

Tutoring Approach:
I work closely with my students to customize the most effective one-on-one tutoring solution. I listen. Before designing a module, I make careful observation and evaluate the student's ability. I teach with the most patience.

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Personal Description:
Hello, I am Suzy. I was born in Shanghai and educated at Shanghai Teachers University. I have lived in the UK since 2001.

I specialise in Mandarin Chinese at GCSE and A level. Since 2012, I have taught both Edexcel and AQA exam boards pat private schools and Oxford Sixth Form College. All of my students have achieved Grade 9 at GCSE and Grade A at A level.

I have over 25 years of experience teaching Mandarin to both adults and children.

A few points you should know about me:

• Excellent communication and organisational skills
• Flexible with time allocation for learners
• Able to put learners at ease and help them enjoy the learning process

I hold three enhanced DBS certificates and have completed child protection training, safeguarding adults awareness training, and a diversity in the workplace course.

Teaching Experience:
Over 25 years of experience teaching Mandarin Chinese to both children and adults.
• Teaching British diplomats
• Teaching Edexcel, AQA GCSE and A Level Chinese at private schools
• Teaching private students business Chinese from global companies on a one-to-one basis

Tutoring Approach:
• Excellent communication and organisational skills
• Flexible with time allocation for learners
• Able to put learners at ease and help them enjoy the learning process
• Skilled at challenging students to take responsibility, reach their potential, stay motivated, and develop knowledge, skills, and understanding
• Provides caring, dedicated, enthusiastic, and expert teaching
• Able to identify each individual's strengths, achievements, and current learning situation

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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.

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Personal Description:
I have over 10 years of tutoring experience and have tutored students of all ages. I have worked in education for many years and have an in-depth knowledge of requirements for all exam boards.
Personally, I have a passion for English Literature and foreign languages and work hard for my students to achieve the best possible results.
I enjoy learning and communicating in foreign languages as well as understanding other cultures. I have been learning Chinese for 6 years.
I have lived and taught in a variety of countries making me adaptable, resilient, creative and resourceful. This enables me to pass on important life skills to my students in addition to coaching through the demands of a GCSE or A Levels in their chosen subject.

Teaching Experience:
I am a fully qualified teacher who has spent the last 20 years in education including time as a full-time teacher, head of department, tutor and moderator. Additionally, I taught English as a foreign language for 3 years in Quebec, Spain and the Czech Republic. I have tutored students in English Language, English Literature, French, Spanish and German. I obtained my Secondary PGCE in 2009 and have taught in three outstanding schools (Ofsted rated).

Tutoring Approach:
I offer tuition to GCSE in English Language, English Literature. I tutor online through Skype, Zoom or Google Meets. My aim is to get my students to enjoy the subject as this is key to achieving academic success. My students describe me as a creative, motivational and enthusiastic tutor who focuses on progress before perfection.

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Personal Description:
I'm a master student from China majoring in human nutrition in Glasgow university. Before this, in my undergraduate university in China I have worked as a proofreader of dictated draft from speech records for student union. I'm good at wording and grammar. Recently I learned a little German and Arabic to experience how people speaking varies around the world and also inspired by these teachers as to how to approach to a language from 0.

Teaching Experience:
During this year I have taught a classmate mandarin from 0. He is a Scottish. However, he is keen to learn a wide variety of languages. When he found Korean and Malay easier he gave up mandarin. Such a worldwide culture vulture! Anyway, no matter you learn mandarin for culture, travel, work, yellow-face friends, curiosity, or just Chinese restaurants, you are all warmly welcome! I can teach you from the basic pronunciation which is like singing to beautiful Chinese characters which is like dancing.....

Tutoring Approach:
I'm only available from September to December 2016. I'm friendly and very patient. If you have time for homestudying I can teach more during tutorial; if not, we will practice more together to consolidate memory. Language is for communication, absolutely not for getting a high score!
Honored to be your teacher!

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Personal Description:
I am a Malaysian who can speak English, Chinese, Cantonese and Malay Language. I have completed my undergraduate degree in Food Science and Nutrition before working as a home tutor for 1 year. Currently, I study Msc in Nutritional Science at University of Nottingham.

Teaching Experience:
1 year teaching experience starting from Sept 2015 to Sept 2016 where I used to teach Biology, Chemistry, Maths and Mandarin.

Tutoring Approach:
I am a friendly tutor and patient in teaching. I guide my student patiently and slowly if they find it hard to understand the topic.

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Personal Description:
I am a native Chinese speaking fluent standard Chinese Mandarin and English, and have taught Chinese Mandarin for over 18 years in Birmingham, and currently work part time for a local mainstream school in UK.

I am also an experienced English and Maths tutor and a certified 11+ teacher and have a very good success rate with all of my pupils for passing 11+ tests, successfully grabbed places in local grammar schools and private schools, and achieving higher GCSE grades.

Teaching Experience:
I have taught Chinese Mandarin for over 20 years to students from different countries with diverse linguistic backgrounds in UK. I have experience in teaching Chinese at various levels including GCSE, A level and HSK. I currently work part time for a local mainstream school in UK.

I am also an experienced English and Maths tutor and a certified 11+ teacher and have a very good success rate with all of my pupils for passing 11+ tests, successfully grabbed places in local grammar schools and private schools, and achieving higher GCSE grades.

Tutoring Approach:
I am a patient, passionate and dedicated female teacher and have a track record of helping students achieve top grades and dramatically improve their attainment. My lessons are tailored to meet each student's need, interesting and motivating.

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Personal Description:
Long Distance Running.
• Table Tennis & Basketball Player.
• Piano Player and Ukulele player - currently achieved medium level.
• Continuing with my own education to improve my knowledge and understanding of the educational system materials

Teaching Experience:
Experiences from Primary school to AS level Chinese, up to adult learners; I have been working at Bohunt Secondary school, Liphook, Whitgift independent school, St Gregory's school, Bath and St Alban's primary school, Macclesfield as a Chinese teacher.
Experiences from tutoring maths GCSE (AQA and EDEXCEL Exam Board), a former AQA Maths GCSE examiner.
Also experienced in teaching Chinese on a one-to-one basis, from 4-year-olds to adult age groups; also a GCSE/A-level examiner.
I am also an EPQ (Extended Project Qualification) tutor at one local school in Oxford; a freelance writer at Amazon, Jinbu 1 and 2 diary for beginners to intermediate level via Amazon。

Tutoring Approach:
Teams online or face to face.

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Personal Description:
I have studied Mandarin Chinese for past four years at university, including one year spent living in Hangzhou, China, and have continued studying in my freetime over the past year since graduating. I have recently decided to continue my education, and have been accepted at SOAS University in London.

Teaching Experience:
During my undergraduate degree I would help classmates to grasp a better understanding of Chinese grammar after class, particularly with features such as BA and BEI structures.

During my year abroad in Hangzhou, China, I briefly tutored children at a school called English Alive, which focused on children from 2-11 years old.

As well as tutoring children, I would often tutor other students who were learning English and Chinese at the same time, and help them with proof reading and spell checking.

At the beginning of 2019 I began tutoring outside of university. One student was a Chinese lady learning English, and the other was an English lady undertaking a Chinese course on the Open University. I can proudly say that both have improved, and on the official course my student earned a 1st.

Tutoring Approach:
My classes will be entirely focused on the needs, goals and capabilities of the student. Before lessons start, I like to correspond with my students to know exactly what they want without using the paid-for lesson time. The main factors I would want to determine would be the number of classes per week, the skillset priorities (speaking and listening, reading and writing, or all equally), and to what level my students would hope to study.

I would provide the textbooks and have plenty of resources to recommend to my students for further study.

My classes are usually an hour long. We tend to start with reviewing the previous lesson's key points and homework, before moving onto vocabulary development, often with flashcards. We then move onto grammar, where two-three grammar points are introduced depending on the level of difficulty. We then review a passage written in Chinese characters, pinyin, and English; any unfamiliar words are highlighted and noted, and the learned grammar points are explained thoroughly in the context of the story/passage. We then practice reading and pronounciation by reading out the passage.
At the end of the lesson we have listening practice in the form of funny, relevant videos spoken in slow, clearly spoken Chinese.

The unfamiliar characters are listed, and given to the student for homework, which is usually something along the lines of "create a sentence using each word. One unfamiliar word per sentence."

Games are included, as are movies, tv shows, cartoons, etc.

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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:
I am very passionate about languages and cultures. I am fluent in both Mandarin and English and have been teaching Mandarin for the last 10 years. My other big passions are travelling and learning all sorts of things new. I am looking forward to sharing my love of the Chinese language with you.

Teaching Experience:
I cover all four elements of language teaching syllabus, including listening, speaking, reading and writing.

I am keen to figure out why students learn Mandarin and how they learn as a person. Based on their individual goals and their learning styles, I will come up with customized study plans for them to follow in order to achieve their goals.

Tutoring Approach:
I am very passionate about helping students discover their own ways of learning and developing their own techniques. I believe in consistency in learning. A little bit everyday is proven effective in the long term for both academic and language learnings.

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Personal Description:
I graduated from UCL-IOE with a master's degree in TESOL education. Before coming to the UK, I worked as an English teacher in a middle school in China. After graduating with a master's degree, I decided to stay in the UK for development. I have worked in different Chinese education institutions, including charity schools for overseas Chinese children, one-on-one tutoring, and teaching Chinese in different British primary schools, middle schools and high schools. GCSE Chinese is taught for the majority of my curriculum and my students have achieved very good grades.

Reference from the previous student's parents:
'When we returned from Hong Kong where our daughter had been learning Mandarin for a few years, her London school did not have a Mandarin programme so Jing tutored her to GCSE level outside of school. Thanks to Jings careful but stimulating tuition, Martha made astonishing progress, especially given she had just one hour a week, much of which was through Covid. She sat the GCSE one year ahead of her other GCSEs and achieved a grade 8. Jing's lessons kept Martha motivated and she went into the GCSE well prepared and calm She loved working with Jing and was delighted with her result! Jing was a pleasure to deal with throughout. We couldn't recommend her highly enough!' ------- Sarah Lewell

Teaching Experience:
As a Mandarin teacher for curriculum and private tuition since 2015, my major duties are:
Designing different lessons based on the learners' level. Giving English reports to the school or parents. Marking coursework and giving feedback to students. Managing students' behaviour in the classroom. Invigilating examinations.

Tutoring Approach:
My teaching method focuses on motivating students to focus more on Chinese learning through interest or the way students are interested. For example, use some catchy nursery rhymes, songs, and small games to guide primary school students who are new to Chinese. For older students, I will use the apps in computers, ipads and other electronic products to help students quickly master the words they have learned. and so on.

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Personal Description:
I offer professional, flexible Chinese tuition tailored to every learner, from complete beginners to advanced students.

As a native Mandarin and English speaker, I am able to explain concepts clearly and bridge language gaps effectively, making learning smoother and more intuitive. With a patient and supportive teaching style, I focus on building confidence, clear understanding, and steady progress at a pace that suits you.

Lessons are fully personalised to match your goals-whether you want to improve conversational skills, strengthen reading and writing, or prepare for exams.

I also provide structured support for formal qualifications, including GCSE & A-Level Chinese, YCT and HSK exams, helping students develop the language skills, exam technique, and confidence needed to succeed.

Classes are available both online and in person, offering maximum flexibility to fit around your schedule and learning preferences.

Teaching Experience:
I hold a degree in English from Huabei Teachers College (China) where I also gained my Secondary Education Teaching Qualification.

I spent 8 years teaching in my native China before rellocating to the UK. I currently teach in a local Primary School in the South of England alongside working as a private Mandarin tutor. In total, I have over 18 years of teaching experience.

In 2023, I was named the outstanding Chinese Teacher of the Year by the UK Association for the Promotion of Chinese Education.

Tutoring Approach:
My teaching style is patient, supportive, and highly personalised. I believe that every learner has their own pace, strengths, and goals, so I tailor each lesson to match your individual needs-whether you're a complete beginner, a heritage speaker, or preparing for formal exams.

As a native Mandarin and English speaker, I focus on making Chinese accessible and intuitive. I explain concepts clearly, bridge language gaps effectively, and use practical examples to help you understand not just what to say, but why it works. Building confidence is at the heart of my approach: I create a friendly, encouraging environment where you feel comfortable practising, asking questions, and making progress step by step.

For exam-focused students, I provide structured guidance on vocabulary, grammar, reading, writing, listening, and speaking, along with targeted exam techniques and practice papers. My goal is to help you feel fully prepared and capable on exam day.

With over 18 years of teaching experience-and recognition as the Outstanding Chinese Teacher of the Year 2023 by the UK Association for the Promotion of Chinese Education-I bring both expertise and passion to every lesson. Whether online or in person, I aim to make learning Chinese enjoyable, effective, and tailored to you.

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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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