Xiao/Susie Liu

I am a Beijing-born Chinese, graduated from Peking University, and have lived and worked in the UK for over 25 years. I work in a college and a private school as a Mandarin teacher. On weekends, I teach Mandarin at a Chinese school for adults and children, and I provide private lessons in my spare time. I am familiar with the Mandarin curriculum taught in UK schools and colleges, and have in-depth knowledge of the exam specifications, structure and techniques.

My students range in age from 10 years old to GCSE, A-levels, and HSK at all levels, including individuals working in the business sector. I am a GCSE specialist, targeting grades 8–9 upon requirement, with tailored writing and speaking practice. I'm very proud and happy to have helped my students pass their GCSE and HSK exams and achieve their goals in life.

In my lesson, I interact with my students, encouraging them to talk and practice all the time, helping them to improve their pronunciation and use of phrases. I customise the lessons according to individual interests and needs.

I’m a very patient and adaptable person, always have a smile on my face. Understanding cultural differences and the challenges of learning a second language, I strive to make the process accessible and memorable, helping students build confidence and retain what they learn. In my lessons, I teach using a variety of multimedia such as YouTube, animations, or videos, and discuss a range of interesting topics. I focus on teaching the most useful words and expressions in real-life situations and sharing opinions with you in a relaxed conversation.

Here’s the feedback from one of my privately tutored students: Rating: 5/5 Comments: Xiao (Susie) has been an excellent tutor for my teenage daughter who is taking lessons in Mandarin for beginners. Xiao is friendly, reliable and a talented teacher. Her lessons are engaging; she's patient and encouraging. Between lessons she regularly follows up with links for additional learning. Xiao has been highly professional from the start and I'm delighted that we found her.
5/5 Comments: We are preparing for GCSE exam. She is really kind, warm, engaged and encouraging. At the same time, she's very well prepared, the lessons are very efficient, and she's familiar with the exams. I feel like we are in good hands.