Xiaozhe Yu Yu

I have experience teaching Mandarin to my British friends, helping them learn practical Chinese for everyday situations. I especially enjoy teaching useful phrases and expressions that they can actually use when travelling in China, such as ordering food, asking for directions, shopping, making small talk and communicating with local people.

My goal is to help students feel confident enough to use Mandarin in real situations. Seeing my friends use the Chinese they learned to travel around China, communicate with local people and enjoy their trips independently has been one of the most rewarding parts of teaching.

My Teaching Methods

I focus on practical and conversational Mandarin rather than simply memorising vocabulary and grammar. Lessons can be built around real-life situations, such as travelling, ordering food, introducing yourself, shopping or having conversations with friends.

I like to combine pronunciation, useful vocabulary, sentence patterns and conversation practice. I also explain Chinese culture and common expressions when they are relevant, so students can understand not only WHAT to say, but also WHEN and HOW to say it naturally.

Most importantly, I encourage students to start speaking from the beginning. You don't need to speak perfect Chinese before you can communicate!