Kirkby Stephen Mandarin Tutors and Kirkby Stephen Mandarin Tuition

Personal Description:
I am a native Chinese speaker with a good level of English.
A good nature and level headed character with lots of patience.
I used to Work as an announcer at a local cable television station in China.
Chinese language presenter for Eava FM 102.5, a local radio station in Leicester for minorities.

Teaching Experience:
Mandarin Tutor for the University of Leicester.
Mandarin Tutor for the University of Nottingham.
Mandarin Tutor for the Leicester Chinese Community Centre.
Mandarin Tutor for the Seagrave village primary school in Loughborough.
Private Tutor for students taking the GCSE.
Private Chinese Tutor for Adult student.

Tutoring Approach:
Setting the targets for each Level.
Encourage students to participate in arranging course contents.
Allowing maximum interaction via group activities.

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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.

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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 graduated from Durham University with an MA Education and I have Qualified Teacher Status specialised in Chinese teaching. My Bachelor degree was 'Chinese Literature'. I have a recent CRB check, Mandarin teaching experience at both private and state schools in London and East Sussex. I also have experiences of private tuition (age 8 months to 23 years old, from complete beginner to university level) and real passion for this career.

I have been teaching at a private school in London for almost 10 years. Prior to that, I taught at a prestigious private school in Sussex for three years. In the past few years, I have also been working as an A-Level Mandarin examiner. During my teaching placements I've came across a range of students with different abilities, and I have managed to help them achieve outstanding results with a variety of teaching strategies.

I am punctual, easy-going, patient with strong academic background together with a range of teaching experiences. If you would like a weekday evening, weekend or summer Mandarin intensive courses (areas: calligraphy, tourism, business, culture, exam preparation or even Chinese cookery!!), please feel free to drop me an email :)

I'd love to hear from you.

Teaching Experience:
1. Helped my tutee to pass his HSK4 exam within eight weeks of learning;
2. Years of teaching the English secondary school curriculum.
3. Every year of teaching, my students achieved 100% A-A*.
4. Lots of experience in HSK and business tuition.

Tutoring Approach:
I have plenty of interests and these can also be involved in extra-curricular activities in terms of Mandarin teaching, such as singing, cooking and calligraphy.

In order to build up an interactive learning atmosphere, I will mainly utilise the Communicative Language Teaching Method (CLT), which focuses on cultural aspects. I will also use other teaching approaches in accordance with the purpose of learning, learners' age and their language backgrounds.

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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

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Personal Description:
I finished my postgraduate study at the University of Birmingham in Dec 2018. I had stayed in UK for more than a year. I really love UK. The time when I was living in UK left me a great and impressive memory.

Now I have returned to China, I would like to keep contact with British people, and continue tutoring online. There are 7 or 8 hours time difference between UK and China. Therefore, someone who are interested in learning Chinese/Mandarin, or want to know the culture of China, or want to improve your Maths, please leave me a message. I will do my best to be a good tutor and also a good international friend of you.

In particular, for those who are interested in tutoring English, we can tutor each other for free.

Teaching Experience:
I was a volunteer teacher when I was an undergraduate student in China. It was in a countryside school of Hunan province. I went there with my schoolmates in a summer holiday. I taught students mathematics and introduced interesting things in the university to them. Although time passed fast, we had wonderful time together. Importantly, children and teenagers learned something from me, which is unforgettable in their life and is meaningful to me as well.

I had an experience of tutoring two junior school students for Maths of IGCSE when I was in UK. It lasted over two months. During that time I helped them make big progresses in their studies. I also gain friendship from their families which will last forever.

I had also tutored Mandarin for two kids in the UK after finishing IGCSE tutoring. It was easier for me to tutor language compared to Maths. I enjoyed the time when I spent with those two cute kids.

Tutoring Approach:
I would prepare for the lessons very well before tutoring.
Using an everyday language, make knowledge clear and easy to understand.
Develop student's interest step by step.
Providing good examples.
Give suggestions of study.
etc.

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Personal Description:
Graduated in Trinity College LTCL in Violin (Masters). Currently active member of The University of Manchester Symphony Orchestra and Manchester String Orchestra. Joined the Aberystwyth Philomusica and Aberystwyth Wind Band for more than 3 years. Over 10 years of music experiences. Have been learning, practising and expertising in music all my life. More like an exchange in music between music lovers rather than boring lessons. Provide violin, pop vocal, piano, basic saxophone and recorder tuition.

Teaching Experience:
Orchestra & Wind Band, Violin Music Tutor

Organization: The University of Manchester Symphony Orchestra ,Manchester String Orchestra, Aberystwyth Philomusica,
Nature of Work: First Violinist

Organization: Aberystwyth University Wind Band
Nature of work: Saxophonist

Nature of work: Private Music Tutor
Employment type: Self-employed
Dates: Ongoing

Tutoring Approach:
Introducing the easiest way to grasp the basic music skills in just a few lessons, in focus of performance-level, advanced pop and classical violin, pop singing, classical piano, basic saxophone and recorder.

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Personal Description:
Doctor of chemistry. Teachers certificate in higher education in China. Certificate of ILTHE in the UK. I can speak English and Chinese. More than 15 years of one to one, and small group teaching of chemistry (GCSE, AS, A-Level), physics (GCSE, AS, A-Level), and mathematics (GCSE, AS, A-Level).

Teaching Experience:
More than 15 years One-to-one teaching experience in the UK.
More than 15 years of one to one, and small group teaching of chemistry (GCSE, AS, A-Level), physics (GCSE, AS, A-Level), mathematics (GCSE, AS, A-Level).

Tutoring Approach:
I have been working as a teacher at university in the U.K. and in China altogether for more than 30 years. Hold teachers certificate in higher education in China.

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Personal Description:
Hello my name is Cissy. I am from Shanghai, China. Mandarin is my native language and I provide private Mandarin tuition as my full time work now. I have been a personal Chinese tutor since 2006 to children and adults in China as part

Teaching Experience:
I have successfully taught students of all levels from complete beginner to immediate level and advanced speaking and business level Mandarin. My teaching is mainly 1 on a 1 basis, and the class content is tailored to each students needs. I can also teach groups of students if required.

Tutoring Approach:
As a Chinese language teacher I believe I am not just teaching a language, but also introducing Chinese culture to students. My teaching is never only based on textbooks. I like to integrate topics from world news and TV, and mixed with Chinese films and music.

I have lived in London since 2011 and I constantly travel between the UK and China. I have no trouble in communicating Chinese meanings of words and explaining complicated language structures to my students. In my teaching experience over seven years, I have found that most UK students feel Chinese pronunciation the most difficult and the grammar can be confusing. Therefore in my teaching I make special efforts on explaining the varied language senses/logics between English and Chinese. I often draw examples from both languages and compare them.

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Personal Description:
I graduated from university in China with a major in Journalism. I worked for more than five years at provincial and municipal television stations in China as a presenter, and I obtained certification in the National Putonghua Proficiency Test. In order to further enhance my skills, I pursued a Master's degree in International Business at a university in the UK, which I successfully completed. From the above, it can be seen that my proficiency in Chinese comes from my background in Journalism, while my international perspective is derived from studying International Business at the Master's level.

I am a loving, patient teacher with a strong sense of responsibility and I truly love Chinese language teaching.

Teaching Experience:
I have been teaching Chinese for nearly 10 years, and during this time I also founded my own Chinese school, offering courses from beginner to intermediate and advanced levels. The main exams I prepare students for include YCT1-4, HSK1-6, GCSE Chinese, A-LEVEL Chinese, Business Chinese (from beginner to advanced), and more. My students have achieved outstanding results: a 100% pass rate for YCT1-4 with average scores above 90, GCSE Chinese students scoring 8 A+ or above, National 5 Mandarin students receiving A grades, A-LEVEL Chinese students achieving 8 A+ or above, and a recent student scored 260 out of 300 on the HSK4 Exam.

I can help students of any Chinese proficiency level reach their desired goals. I am a very kind and patient teacher with a high sense of responsibility. With the rapid development of internet technology and to save time and convenience, many students prefer to learn online. Would you like to learn Chinese online? Would you like me to teach you Chinese?

Tutoring Approach:
My Chinese teaching method primarily involves using both English and Chinese simultaneously. For beginner students, English is used more frequently than Chinese. However, as teaching progresses and students' proficiency in Chinese improves, Chinese gradually becomes the dominant language. Of course, the use of both languages varies randomly and is never fixed.

In classroom, I practice different teaching methods e.g. entertaining and interactive lectures and follow through induction, these effectively stimulate students' interest and enthusiasm in learning Chinese.

Furthermore, individualized instruction is the primary teaching method I employ in Chinese language teaching. Different students have different comprehension abilities, which requires teachers to continuously adapt to their students. I am a caring and patient teacher, but I also maintain a certain level of strictness. In my teaching, I promptly provide assistance and corrections tailored to students' specific challenges, allowing them to progress more effectively.

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Personal Description:
Native Mandarin speaker born and raised in China, systematically educated to a high standard (graduated from primary, middle and high schools). Highly educated, successfully graduated with a couple of academic degrees from top British universities including Imperial College London. Currently working in banking in the city of London.

Teaching Experience:
Many years of one to one experiences with private school students from Tonbridge and Sevenoaks as well as younger kids and mature students.

Tutoring Approach:
I have had experience teaching children from a young age as well as mature students, therefore I am more than happy to customize teaching pace and technique according to the requirement of my students.

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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 am from Malaysia, currently studying in Kings College London taking MSc Microbiome in Health and Disease.
I have experience in teaching, and I am passionate about sharing knowledge to students, and encouraging students to learn.
I believe that education takes us to places, even to territories that are yet to be ventured. Even though I have left the formal education field to pursue my interests, I believe that I can serve in the field by tutoring students in need.

Teaching Experience:
BIOLOGY TEACHER (01/2016 - 08/2021)
Sabah Tshung Tsin Secondary School, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia.
Worked with Science department Head as special adviser on curriculum development for Biology programme.
Maintained positive, supportive relationships and communication channels with parents and caregivers.
Delivered lab lessons, utilising lab equipment and experiments to further student learning.
Effectively managed classroom behaviour through deescalation and redirection techniques.
Provided interactive and digital learning sessions during COVID in compliance with quality learning standards.
Supervised safe lab work, closely monitoring students adherence to all health and safety policies.
Assessed student performance, behaviour and social development and devised improvement strategies for struggling children.
Established and enforced clear class objectives and requirements to promote consistent education for all students.

TRANSLATOR/INTERPRETER (11/2014 - 12/2015)
Yu Gong Decoration Sdn. Bhd., Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
Translated various documents within tight deadlines, including legal and technical content.
Proofread completed translations to catch and fix punctuation, grammatical and translation errors.
Conducted in-depth research or consulted with specialists to obtain information on technical information translation or scientific phrases.
Translated original text, ensuring perfect spelling, grammar and punctuation.
Offered quick verbal translations of documents for use by legal and business professionals.

Tutoring Approach:
Firstly I will try to understand the student's level of understanding in a particular topic.
I will also compare with the education syllabus to grasp the requirements for the student to pass with certain grade.

Once those are ascertained, I will make use of available teaching materials (such as videos, educational books) to teach the student, and even make use of drawings to illustrate my points.

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Personal Description:
I'm passionate about teaching languages and admittedly spend far too much time preparing lessons or so I'm told at home! My greatest motivation comes from the sense of achievement when my students are able to express themselves more in their target language.

I'm a qualified teacher from Hong Kong with 15 years of experience in teaching Mandarin and English, and I have met the professional requirements for language teachers in both subjects.

I studied Linguistics in university, and achieved a score of 90.7 in the Putonghua Proficiency Test. I understanding challenges my students may face when learning a second language, and I am confident in teaching Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese) using English as medium of instruction.

Tell me your expectations and let me tailor lesson plans and teaching materials just for you.

Teaching Experience:
- 3.5 year experience in online teaching (Mandarin, Cantonese and English)
- Invigilating GCSE & A-Level Chinese (Speaking - Mandarin & Cantonese)
- 15 year full time teaching (Mandarin and English) in secondary schools in Hong Kong

Tutoring Approach:
I feel genuinely happy for my student, a new dad in a bilingual English-Cantonese family!!

Congratulations to my student who can now give a short presentation in Cantonese and write a paragraph of over 70 characters! Believe it or not, her handwriting is better than that of many primary school students in Hong Kong -- I'm so proud of her:)

My 11 year old student has also learnt to tell her favourite story, Finding Nemo, in Mandarin while preparing for the musical at school. We both enjoyed talking about the characters and writing the story together -- it was so much fun!

Tell me your learning goals, and I'll tailor lesson plans and teaching materials just for you.

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Personal Description:
I specialise in helping students achieve Grades 8-9 in GCSE Chinese through structured, exam-focused training.

TCSOL-qualified Mandarin teacher with over 20 years of experience, specialising in GCSE, IGCSE and A-Level exam preparation. I am also a certified HSK examiner and GCSE Speaking Examiner, with a clear understanding of exam requirements and marking criteria.

Teaching Experience:
Many of my students have achieved strong GCSE results, including those who initially struggled or lacked confidence.

I have developed a structured GCSE Chinese programme, supported by my own teaching materials, to help students improve efficiently and master key exam skills.

I focus on delivering targeted, high-impact teaching, while maintaining a supportive and engaging learning environment where students are challenged but not overwhelmed.

Alongside 1:1 tuition, I run multiple local GCSE Chinese group classes, allowing me to identify patterns in student performance and deliver highly targeted, exam-focused teaching.

Tutoring Approach:
Lessons are fully personalised and focused on achieving measurable results.

For exam preparation (GCSE / IGCSE / A-Level, including AQA, Edexcel and Cambridge IGCSE), lessons focus on:
- Speaking fluency and exam performance
- Writing structure and accuracy based on mark schemes
- Listening skills and exam techniques
- Targeted improvement on weak areas

Lessons are designed to be effective and focused, using proven teaching methods to maximise progress.

After each lesson, students receive targeted homework and lesson notes to reinforce learning and support independent revision.

️️ Limited availability - most students stay long-term.

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Personal Description:
Hi, my name is SSU. I am from Taiwan. I am happy to say hi to all the people who might be interested in learning Mandarin.
I am willing to discuss your learning preference and design the teaching plan. I am currently living in Manchester (M11). I am happy to provide an in-person teaching nearby or provide a lesson online.

Teaching Experience:
I was a primary school teacher when I lived in Taiwan. I used to tutor primary school-age students in Mandarin and English.
Moreover, my interests and degree are related to art, therefore, I taught art to a wide range of ages students in Taiwan and the UK.

About my Mandarin teaching, I mainly gained some experience from my language exchange partners, and I am passionate about it. Therefore, I hope that I can teach more people to approach their goals.

Tutoring Approach:
I have an online resource for teaching using. Therefore, I will follow the Mandarin teaching textbook to guide learners. In addition, I would like to create slides to show my teaching content. Moreover, I will provide homework for students to practice.

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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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