“Learning a new language has never been easy, but it should always be fun! Having taught Chinese for >7 years, I have heard all sorts of struggling from students. There are many solutions, but motivation is the key. As a teaching professional who specifies in Chinese linguistics, I will walk with you to overcome these barriers and discover the beauty of Chinese language and culture, scaling new heights of your learning journey. My lessons are not just content in textbooks – they follow you out of the classroom and apply back to your daily lives. At last, there is only one mission to accomplish in my Chinese lessons – enjoy!”

“Hi, I’m Jiaqi and I’m a CELTA qualified teacher. I specialise in task-based language teaching and material design. In my lessons, you’ll be engaged in all kinds of discovery learning activities and meaningful tasks that help you learn naturally and authentically.”

“Hello! I am Louise. With over five years of experience teaching Mandarin and English to students of various ages and backgrounds, I am keen to adjust my teaching strategies to inspire students. As a French and Korean learner, I believe the purpose of acquiring a language is to communicate and comprehend the cultures behind the language. In my lessons, we can learn Mandarin through a cultural lens, incorporating regional customs, food, poems, dialects…You will discover the authentic daily expressions and get motivated to speak up more!”

“I believe that the primary function of language is for communication and the ultimate goal is to satisfy your never-ending thirst for knowledge! Whether you want to pass HSK exams (any level) or would just like to learn Chinese as a hobby, I can help you. In my class, you will not only learn the origin and structure of Chinese characters, pronunciation and grammar, but you will also learn about Chinese history and customs. Whether you are a complete beginner or already know many Chinese words, I am here to help you become more fluent so that you can become confident in all situations where Chinese is being spoken. If you have any questions, do get in touch. Looking forward to meeting you soon!”

“Hello, I’m Mingyang! I enjoy different cultural experiences and have travelled to many parts of the world. I am proficient in Mandarin, English, and French – and have been learning Spanish and Danish in my spare time. As a learner myself, I recognise the complexities in learning any language. Having taught Mandarin in a European context, both formally in schools and informally to friends, I understand the particular difficulties students encounter in learning a language like Chinese – especially those from Germanic and Romance language backgrounds. Whilst living in many countries, I have gained insights into a cultural perspective of language learning. Moreover, I enjoy motivating and encouraging students in achieving their personal and educational goals. I will ensure a safe and enjoyable learning space for every student to develop and achieve their full potential!”

“Hello! For most of my life I’ve been a student of another language, and therefore understand the challenges and excitement that come with starting a new language-learning endeavour. I believe that the most efficient way to learn is in a relaxed atmosphere, where the joy of discovery and understanding can flourish without the burden of stress we all experienced during our formative years. With over 2 years of experience teaching both Chinese and English, I have had the pleasure of guiding students through their language learning journey from beginner to intermediate/advanced levels.  I look forward to creating a positive and engaging learning environment together where we can explore the beauty of language with curiosity. If I’m lucky enough to find myself as your teacher then I look forward to embarking on this journey of learning and growth with you!”

“My love for teaching stem from the fact that I am a creative person, and I love utilising creative methods in my classes. I use both Chinese music and cuisine to stimulate my students’ appetite for Chinese culture. There is never a dull moment in my class, it will reach all your senses!”

“I believe that learning a language is the best way to get to know the culture. I did not realise the magic of languages until I started studying English at school, where I met many superb teachers. Since then, I dreamed of becoming one of them. Holding a master’s degree in Applied Linguistics and a bachelor’s degree in Communication Studies, I aim to create interesting and evolving language classes, where my students can truly understand Mandarin’s charm and enjoy themselves during learning. I will use diverse media and approaches to engage my students and help them discover the fun of learning such a ‘complicated’ language.”

“Hi, I am Zoe. Having achieved my MA in applied linguistics with high distinction, I am now a PhD student researching intercultural communication and multilingual competency. Not only academically competent and theoretically equipped, I also have diverse experience of teaching learners at different ages and levels. Moreover, I worked as a head teacher at a Chinese public school for two years. I am always keen to modify my pedagogies to suit a variety of students. I truly believe that the primary function of language is for communication and the ultimate aim for language teaching is to help students develop a lifelong enthusiasm for learning. In my class, you will learn Mandarin in an easy, efficient and engaging way. I am always there for you in the wonderful journey of discovering the magic of Mandarin!”

“I am an enthusiast and would love to bring Chinese this beautiful language to the world! With a ‘Can Do’ attitude, I am very optimistic and have resilience to help my students overcome obstacles from learning a new language. I understand self-motivation matters for a language learner, I would love to help and inspire my students to be more confident to speak Mandarin in their real life. As a creative and fun person, I believe you could gain more interesting and efficient learning ways from me!”

“The most considerable motivation for me to become a teacher is that I am a person who loves sharing. Mandarin and Chinese culture are invaluable assets in my life so that I much desire to share them with you. I had life experiences in three different cities in China before I was 18 years old. This made me familiar with the cultural diversity of northern and southern China. I have three years of teaching experience in film and two years of executive production of nature documentaries，which made me very passionate about art, nature, urban humanities and audiovisual aesthetics. I will integrate art and culture into teaching Mandarin，which will be one of my lifelong pursuits. I hope that you will not only be my student but also my friends.”

“With my postgraduate study in MSc Education at the University of Groningen and with my years of experience working in the higher education sectors both in China and in the UK, I was able to develop a good understanding of the educational science and applying the science into effective classroom teaching and learning. I design my Mandarin lessons carefully with creative teaching methods and enriched teaching content. Learning Mandarin with Lily老师 will not only benefit you from improving your language skills but your cross-cultural awareness as well. It can be more rewarding than you think. Come to meet me at Practical Mandarin and have the most enjoyable language learning experience in our friendly and fun classes!”

“Born and raised on a passionate multicultural island, Taiwan, I speak Mandarin, English, andJapanese fluently, and I believe that understanding someone’s mother language is one of the best ways to understand their soul. Holding the master degree of Chinese/Mandarin – English translating and interpreting, I teach not only the language itself but also communication skills, the reasons of word choices, cultural concepts, and so on. My aim is to keep you motivated in applying yourself to Mandarin and enjoying the whole decoding Mandarin journey in a fun and relaxed environment. You will surely be able to use Mandarin comfortably and watch rainbow sparks of culture collision fly with me!”