According to history, the Chinese language has been around for over six thousand years. There are many forms of Chinese language, such as Mandarin, Cantonese, and Hokkien. However, Mandarin Chinese or Putonghua is the official language in China, Taiwan, and even Singapore. All Singaporeans are required to take one mother tongue subject from the start of their schooling days, and this includes Mandarin.
Mandarin might have started as the official language in China, but over the years, this language has become such an important part of life, especially in terms of trade, due to the booming Chinese economy. In today’s world, there are many benefits to learning Chinese Mandarin. Knowing this language opens up many doors, from career progression and official positions to living and working in many places around the world.
While there are many resources to learn Mandarin online, some may find it difficult to pick up the language on their own. Therefore, having proper guidance from a Chinese language teacher will be useful. In this article, we will look at selecting a tutor for your Chinese language lesson and goals. This article should give you an idea of where you should start and what you should know.
Characteristics of a Good Mandarin Teacher
Mandarin is a challenging and complex language. Although you are able to learn this language by yourself using the materials and resources available online, more often than not, we will encourage students to hire a personal tutor or have a Chinese tutor to guide them in their lessons. A good tutor will not only help you understand and learn Chinese faster, but with their help, you will find yourself learning faster and more effectively.
Every teacher has their own personality and teaching style, and not all of them suit each student individually. There are many factors that contribute to a good teacher and tutor. In this section, let us look at some of the characteristics and qualities that you should be looking for in your Chinese teacher.
Patience
In our opinion, this is arguably one of the most important qualities that a good teacher should have. When you are learning something new, it is expected that you will take some time to understand and remember what you are learning. This, coupled with the fact that languages are challenging to master, especially the Chinese language, proves that students will face challenges not only at the beginning of their learning journey but throughout it.
If your teacher is not patient with you, it can not only cause you to be filled with dread and fear for your lessons but will cause you to eventually just give up altogether. Always remember that an effective teacher is someone who takes the time to explain and clarify your doubts with the understanding that you are learning something new.
Empathy
Another essential quality to look for in a teacher is empathy. Empathy allows teachers to connect with their students. When teachers can empathise with their students, they can teach and guide them. Generally, students who recognise empathy in their teachers tend to have a better relationship with them.
Communication
Another important quality that an excellent Chinese teacher should have is communication skills. When you learn a new language like Chinese, understanding is pivotal in order for you to successfully learn and master it. Without proper communication, your teacher will not be able to guide you properly and explain terms and words effectively. If you are an English speaker who is looking for a Chinese teacher, always look for someone who knows both languages. It makes learning easier and more effective.
Chinese Lessons in Singapore
Mandarin is one of Singapore’s official languages and plays a vital role in the Chinese community, which makes up a big part of the nation’s population. Before you start to find Chinese lessons in Singapore, you must first identify why you are looking for Chinese lessons. Are you looking to improve your grades in school? Or are you an adult looking to boost your Chinese language skills? These questions play an important part in not only what kind of teacher or tutor you should be hiring but also where you should be going to learn Chinese.
If you are looking to improve your school grades or are a parent looking to supplement your child’s Chinese lessons, the best option is to either hire a tutor or go to a tuition centre. Usually, when we discuss where to find locations, we tend to give recommendations, but in this case, we would like to emphasise the kind of places you should consider.
Always pay attention to the material that is used in the tuition centre. More often than not, students and adults alike tend to overlook the quality of materials that is used to teach. We argue that in order to get the appropriate help in your Chinese lessons, the tutors and teachers must have a good quality set of materials they will use for their lessons. This reflects the work and effort they have put into their teaching jobs. Sloppily prepared materials are surely a sign of lack of quality and should be avoided at all costs.
A few places you should consider is the HAO Chinese Language Centre, which is a Chinese Ministry of Education registered tuition centre in Singapore. Another option would be to get to know one of our owned Chinese tutors on Superprof.
Get Help From a student to Excel in the Chinese language
More often than not, when people think about hiring a teacher or tutor for their language teachers, they tend to think of years of experience. It is undeniable that a person with years of teaching experience has a unique and desired set of skills, but have you considered hiring a student to help you in your journey to learn the Chinese language?
Let us look at some of the reasons why you should be considering a student as a tutor.
Cost
As you might already know, the cost of hiring a Mandarin teacher or a tutor can be quite an expensive affair. With the current rising cost of living, there are a lot of things that might seem unattainable because of cost. You should not give up on your dreams of learning the Chinese language, and one way you can do so is by hiring a student to tutor you. Although a student tutor might not have the years of experience some other tutors might have, there are a lot of benefits that come with hiring them besides just cost. We have further elaborated on these benefits below as well.
They are Motivated
Students tend to be motivated tutors. They generally have a can-do attitude. They are positive and fun. One of the best things, arguably, about student tutors is the fact that they are very enthusiastic about teaching and passing on knowledge that it transfers to the way they teach and make their students feel. One thing is for sure: when your tutor is bubbling with excitement to teach you something, you will definitely feel encouraged and motivated.
They are Good at What They Teach
Students who become tutors are good at what they teach. More often than not, students who teach Chinese tend to be good students in their Chinese subjects and classes. They are people who are current in their knowledge as they have just studied or are studying the subject they are teaching. Learning from them adds perspective and will increase your current knowledge of the Chinese language.
They Easily Relate to Students
Another great factor when it comes to hiring student tutors is the fact that they can easily relate to you. Whether it be your excitement about your accomplishments or your struggles in grasping new terms, a student tutor will be able to understand it. The most significant part of this comes from the fact that they are students themselves. They understand the hardships of learning, and by actually experiencing it themselves, they will be able to plan their lessons or come up with solutions that will help them understand better and faster.
Finding a Chinese Tutor Who Fits Your Needs
There are many Chinese tutors and teachers out there, but not all will suit you. So, how do you find one that suits you the best? You must first decide why you are learning Chinese. If you are learning Chinese because you want to communicate formally, then you should look at someone who concentrates on listening and speaking skills. On the other hand, if you are looking for someone who can guide you in your Mother Tongue language, then search for someone who is an experienced or student Chinese language tutor. The reason we say knowing why you want to learn Chinese is important is because this will basically set you on the path to finding the right tutor for you. Not doing so will only cost you money and time, which is precious.
Superprof is an online platform that connects students and tutors for a variety of interests, subjects, and hobbies. Superprof has many tutors in a wide range of subject matter, including the Mandarin Chinese language. If you are unsure where to start in your journey to learning Chinese, we invite you to join us at Superprof. We are sure you will be able to find a tutor who suits you the best on our platform. We offer quality and flexibility, which will benefit both tutors and students.
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