Chinese Singaporean with experience teaching (Mandarin) Chinese to adults and children, from beginner to advanced. I make learning Chinese and your lessons enjoyable!

Find out more about Dennis

• Do you speak this language fluently because of your origins or because a teacher inspired you to learn?

  I am fluent in Chinese (Mandarin) both because of my origins and because of a teacher who inspired me. In Singapore, Chinese is one of the official languages and students in the Singapore education system are required to study, in my case, English and Chinese, from kindergarten all the way to pre-university - a total of 14 years. I was fortunate to also have excellent Chinese teachers who brought not only a real knowledge of the language but also valuable cultural insights and wisdom to lessons.

• Can you name a living, historical or fictional character that you think is the emblematic representative of the language's culture?

  Do check out the acclaimed Chinese writer, Lu Xun (born Zhou Zhangshou), one of the most influential Asian writers in the 20th century.

• Is there a typical word, phrase, tradition or behavior in the language that you particularly like?

  The Chinese language is full of insightful and interesting idioms and proverbs. One of my favourite is 饮水思源 ('drink-water-think source') - a delightful idiom that reminds us to be grateful for our blessings.

• Why does speaking this language matter to you?

  Chinese is an important connection to my heritage and culture. It is also a fundamental bridge in connecting Chinese communities throughout the world as well as the millions of learners of the language - an increasingly important and valuable bridge in nurturing our common humanity.

• What is the main difficulty in learning this language and what can help the process of learning?

  For students who have not yet learned a tonal language, Chinese pronunciation with its tones and melodic quality can seem difficult at first. However, with practice and a good understanding of the key principles of tones in Chinese, you will be speaking fluently before you know it! I recommend focusing on good pronunciation early in your language learning and listening to different Chinese speakers to get used to the rhythm and flow of the language.

• Provide a valuable anecdote related to your language learning or your days at school.

  Whether you are a beginner, intermediate or advanced student, remember that there will always be peaks and troughs in your language learning. The most important thing is to always reflect on how far you have come, your commitment and your motivation to see you through to the next stage.

• How has travel or a specific trip helped you to increase your skill and knowledge of the language?

  In my previous career in the corporate sector, I have had many opportunities to use Chinese to get things done at work - be it communicating with colleagues in Chinese or being able to put a client at ease by speaking his or her language with all the shared cultural nuances and norms that help make one's professional and personal lives flow smoothly.

• What makes you a Superprof in language?

  Being a speaker of four languages, I understand the challenges of learning another language and am able to put myself in the shoes of each and every student. This means I am able to explain the language and its nuances to my students while also making sure lessons are tailored to their specific needs and their individual pace in learning the language. Importantly, I bring energy and a sense of humour to lessons, ensuring that lessons are interactive and engaging.