I am a native Chinese speaker who has just received Master of Education in Human Development and Psychology from Harvard Graduate School of Education this May. And previously I was trained in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language for undergraduate studies. I believe my knowledge of Mandarin and Chinese culture as well as my previous teaching experiences can contribute to the goals of an effective Mandarin tutor.
My undergraduate studies have provided me with the academic foundation for Mandarin teaching. Courses on Ancient and Modern Chinese have given me a comprehensive knowledge of the language and also allowed me to add historical richness into teaching. For example, if you are interested in reading and writing Chinese characters, in order to help you memorize a specific Chinese character, I may take advantage of its pictographic nature and introduce its structural evolution in history, which should be more appealing than rote memory. Also, courses on Chinese culture have enabled me to share topics on Chinese traditions and philosophy that can help enhance your understanding of the Chinese language as well.
Courses and seminars on Mandarin pedagogy as well as my various teaching experiences with students of different backgrounds have made me flexible in terms of lesson planning. Materials and methods are deliberately tailored in accordance with students’ general characteristics and learning habits. I will get to know your expectations and how you normally approach a foreign language before I start teaching. I value your thoughts as to how I may adjust myself to better accommodate your needs. Also, It is worth mentioning that the teaching fieldwork on Chinese characters during my graduate studies has offered me a unique insight into Mandarin teaching: Under proper guidance, learners can be continuously intrigued by the language and are capable of exploring it themselves with the help of the understanding of their mother tongue. I will take this insight into tutoring as well.
I would really appreciate the opportunity to serve you in terms of speaking Mandarin. Contact me if you are interested.
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