PhD in East Asian Studies from Peking University
I began working as an English teacher in Beijing 20 years ago. During that time, I had the opportunity to connect with people from different cultures and build friendships despite the challenges of language differences. I started loving Mandarin more, so I decided to pursue a PhD. I now focus on teaching Mandarin and sharing the beauty of Chinese culture in my career. I have worked with IB students for a long time, helping them get ready for IB exams. I have seen many of them go from being beginners to becoming fluent speakers. I have experience teaching at different types of schools and doing private tutoring. This has influenced the way I teach, as I always consider the unique needs of my students.
I use a well-rounded approach. I teach students about Chinese literature, history, and pop culture, in addition to the language. This method helps students understand how to use language and its cultural meaning more effectively. I like to involve everyone in my lessons, so I often have discussions, tell stories, and analyse films. I focus on helping IB students become confident in speaking Mandarin, writing essays, and understanding texts with cultural awareness.
I choose to study Mandarin with my 12-year-old daughter. Since we have been taking lessons with Sophie for a year, I have had the opportunity to think about how she instructs both adults and kids. Sophie is a devoted and highly inspiring teacher. She sends out additional material after the lesson if we ask for any additional information. The lessons follow a clear format. For my classes, I'm use HSK1 books. My daughter initially used flash cards and has since added text books. I'm really pleased with Sophie , and I wholeheartedly endorse her as a Mandarin tutor for both children and adults.
Sophie's teaching methods are unique and enjoyable. But sometimes I wish we could have more grammar sessions.