Trusted teacher

Hello, nǐhǎo, Nice to meet you here. I am a Beijing-born Chinese, graduated from Peking University, and have lived and worked in the UK for over 25 years. I work in a college and a private school as a Mandarin teacher. On weekends, I teach Mandarin at a Chinese school for adults and children, and I provide private lessons in my spare time. I am familiar with the Mandarin curriculum taught in UK schools and colleges, and have in-depth knowledge of the exam specifications, structure and techniques. My students range in age from 10 years old to GCSE, A-levels, and HSK at all levels, including individuals working in the business sector. I am a GCSE specialist, targeting grades 8–9 upon requirement, with tailored writing and speaking practice. I'm very proud and happy to have helped my students pass their GCSE and HSK exams and achieve their goals in life. In my lesson, I interact with my students, encouraging them to talk and practice all the time, helping them to improve their pronunciation and use of phrases. I customise the lessons according to individual interests and needs. I’m a very patient and adaptable person, always have a smile on my face. Understanding cultural differences and the challenges of learning a second language, I strive to make the process accessible and memorable, helping students build confidence and retain what they learn. In my lessons, I teach using a variety of multimedia such as YouTube, animations, or videos, and discuss a range of interesting topics. I focus on teaching the most useful words and expressions in real-life situations and sharing opinions with you in a relaxed conversation. Here’s the feedback from one of my privately tutored students: Rating: 5/5 Comments: Xiao (Susie) has been an excellent tutor for my teenage daughter who is taking lessons in Mandarin for beginners. Xiao is friendly, reliable and a talented teacher. Her lessons are engaging; she's patient and encouraging. Between lessons she regularly follows up with links for additional learning. Xiao has been highly professional from the start and I'm delighted that we found her. As the Chinese saying goes: A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Let’s get started.

Trusted teacher

These lessons are aimed at anyone who would like to improve their abilities regardless of their starting point. Current students range from complete beginners through to bachelor students. All new students are assessed and lessons tailored to your needs. Please specify if you are enquiring about horn lessons, piano lessons and/or music theory lessons.

Trusted teacher

Bass guitar lessons: I’ve been playing bass for 50 years, I studied at Bass Tech under the watchful eyes of the amazing Rob Burns/Paul Scott and Terry Gregory. I studied at the ICMP and I’ve written numerous top 10 songs and reached number 1 in 2017 in the official UK Soul chart and worked with some amazing musicians. I’ve been a successful bass guitar teacher for over 25 years; I’ve taught hundreds of students both privately and in classrooms. Bass is not only a passion of mine, but it’s also my life and I would love to help you on your musical journey and depending on what you want to achieve together we can structure the right course for you. I do believe in any business hard work, dedication and time are what’s required to achieve your personal goals. It’s fun and very rewarding when you succeed and have honed your skills to a point where you get to meet like-minded individuals and groups.

Trusted teacher

Re-entering the world of work? Changing career? Or simply want to polish up your interview skills - this is a safe friendly space to rediscover your very best self and to be able to present that in an interview/corporate environment. Sessions tailored to each student, I come from a theatre and corporate training background and would love to help you get back to feeling sparky and ready for action in the interview room!