1^st lesson free

Yami

Rate $70
Response 1h

$70/h

1^st lesson free

Mandarin
Chinese speaking
Chinese listening
Chinese reading
Chinese writing

Native Mandarin speaker and PhD student at Columbia University with Mandarin teaching experience since 2017

Mandarin
Chinese speaking
Chinese listening
Chinese reading
Chinese writing

Lesson location

- At Yami's house: New York
- online
- at your home or a public place : will travel up to 20 mi. from New York

About Yami

Hi! I'm Yami, a native Mandarin Chinese speaker and a PhD student in English Education at Teachers College, Columbia University in New York City.

I have years of experience teaching Mandarin, since 2017, to students of different ages, backgrounds, and proficiency levels. As both a language teacher and a language learner myself, I understand that every student learns differently. That's why I create personalized lessons that help students build confidence while developing practical communication skills.

My academic background in language, literacy, and education allows me to go beyond simply teaching vocabulary and grammar. I focus on helping students understand how the language is used in real-life situations while also introducing Chinese culture, customs, and contemporary society.

Students often describe me as patient, encouraging, and easy to talk to. I strive to create a supportive learning environment where making mistakes is part of the learning process and where students feel comfortable practicing their speaking skills from the very beginning.

Whether you're a complete beginner, a heritage learner, a university student, or a professional looking to improve your Mandarin, I will tailor lessons to your goals, interests, and learning style.

I look forward to helping you achieve your Chinese language goals and making the learning process both effective and enjoyable!

About the lesson

# My Teaching Method & Techniques

I believe language is meant to be used, not memorized. My lessons combine structured language learning with real-life communication, helping students build confidence speaking Mandarin from day one.

My teaching approach includes:

* Personalized lessons tailored to each student's goals and interests
* Communicative language teaching with a strong focus on speaking and listening
* Interactive activities, storytelling, role-play, and conversation practice
* Vocabulary and grammar taught in meaningful contexts rather than isolated drills
* Cultural insights that help students understand not only the language, but also Chinese society and traditions
* Authentic materials such as videos, articles, social media content, music, and current events

Whether you're learning Mandarin for travel, work, family, academics, or personal interest, I design lessons that make the language relevant to your life.

# A Typical Lesson Plan

A typical 60-minute lesson may include:

1. Warm-up conversation (5–10 min)

* Review previous material
* Discuss daily life, recent events, or personal interests

2. New Language Focus (15–20 min)

* Vocabulary, grammar, or a practical communication topic
* Clear explanations with examples

3. Guided Practice (15–20 min)

* Interactive exercises
* Speaking activities and role-play
* Listening and comprehension tasks

4. Real-World Application (10–15 min)

* Conversation practice
* Reading authentic materials
* Situational communication

5. Review & Next Steps (5 min)

* Key takeaways
* Personalized homework or practice suggestions

# What Sets Me Apart as a Tutor

* Native Mandarin speaker with years of teaching experience
* PhD student in English Education at Columbia University
* Experienced language educator who understands second-language learning from both practical and academic perspectives
* Skilled at teaching students from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds
* Strong focus on confidence-building and real-world communication
* Able to connect language learning with students' interests, including travel, business, culture, education, technology, and the arts

I also bring an interdisciplinary perspective to my teaching, drawing from my research in literacy, culture, and education to create engaging and meaningful learning experiences.

# Who My Lessons Are For

I work with:

* Complete beginners with no prior Mandarin experience
* Heritage learners seeking to improve speaking, reading, or writing
* Intermediate and advanced students looking to increase fluency
* College and graduate students taking Chinese courses
* Professionals using Mandarin for work or business
* Travelers preparing for trips to China, Taiwan, or other Chinese-speaking regions
* Children, teenagers, and adults

I can provide support for:

* Conversational Mandarin
* Pronunciation and tones
* HSK preparation
* Academic Chinese
* Reading and writing Chinese characters
* Chinese culture and intercultural communication

All levels are welcome, and lessons are customized to your goals, learning style, and pace.

Rates

Rate

Pack rates

5h: $350
10h: $700

online

$70/h

free lessons

This first lesson offered with Yami will allow you to get to know each other and clearly specify your needs for your next lessons.

Native Mandarin speaker and PhD student at Columbia University with Mandarin teaching experience since 2017

Lesson location

About Yami

About the lesson

Rates

Rate

Pack rates

online

free lessons

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Native Mandarin speaker and PhD student at Columbia University with Mandarin teaching experience since 2017

Lesson location

About Yami

About the lesson

Rates

Rate

Pack rates

online

free lessons

Other tutors in Mandarin

Zhanar

Jiading

Angelina

Li

Shufan

Wen

Emma

Yi

Xiaoying Echo

Elliot

Stephanie

Jessie

Adam

Lining

Elihu

Amy

Letian

Amelia

天泽

Yulia

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