Ye Tian

As a native speaker with standard pronunciation, I take pride in helping my students achieve clarity and confidence in their speaking.

Having learned French as my second language and reaching a professional level, I understand the challenges language learners face. This experience allows me to empathize with my students and provide tailored support. Additionally, working in English daily helps me bridge communication gaps, making lessons more accessible and relatable. Ultimately, I find immense joy in witnessing my students' progress and their growing appreciation for Mandarin.

I started teaching Mandarin in 2013 after receiving my certification, which allowed me to teach in a professional capacity. Since then, I have enjoyed sharing the language and helping students achieve their learning goals. I am committed to professional development and have obtained a Master’s in Language Teaching as my second master’s degree, following my Master of Education.

I have accompanied many learners with different learning needs. Based on my experiences, there are three main profiles : 1) Family Reasons: Many learners want to connect with their heritage, communicate with relatives, or understand cultural nuances. This personal connection often drives a deep emotional investment in the language.2) Tourism Needs: For travelers, learning Mandarin can enhance the experience by allowing them to navigate more easily, engage with locals, and gain a richer understanding of the culture. Intensive courses help them quickly acquire essential phrases and cultural etiquette. 3)

Professional Reasons: many professionals learn Mandarin to enhance their career opportunities. This includes everything from expanding business networks to understanding market dynamics. Additionally, we must not forget those who learn Mandarin for fun and curiosity. Due to ancient China's influence on Asian cultures, learning Mandarin can serve as an entry point to other languages.

Learning Mandarin can be quite challenging compared to many other languages, primarily due to two main factors:

1) Mandarin has a relatively limited number of syllables, which leads to a high number of homophones—words that sound the same but have different meanings. This can create confusion for learners, especially in spoken contexts. For example, the syllable "ma" can represent multiple meanings depending on the tone used (e.g., "mother," "hemp," "horse," and "scold"). Mandarin is a tonal language, meaning that the pitch or intonation used when pronouncing a syllable can change its meaning. This requires learners to develop acute auditory discrimination skills, which can be particularly difficult for those whose native languages do not utilize tones. Additionally, regional accents can further complicate pronunciation and understanding, as the way tones are articulated may vary across different areas of China. 2) Character System: Unlike alphabetic languages, Mandarin uses a logographic writing system comprised of Chinese characters. This presents a significant hurdle for learners who do not master character recognition and writing.

1) Determination and Commitment: Learning Mandarin requires a strong dedication to mastering both oral and written forms of the language. Students should understand that while the language has a limited number of syllables, it contains a significant number of homophones. This makes it crucial to engage with the writing system, as understanding characters and their meanings provides context that helps distinguish between similar-sounding words. 2) Holistic Approach: A successful learner embraces a holistic approach that integrates listening, speaking, reading, and writing. While focusing solely on spoken Mandarin may seem appealing at the outset, students who neglect the written aspect often find themselves blocked in their progress after the absolute beginner level. Mastery of characters enhances comprehension and allows for deeper engagement with the language, enabling learners to understand nuances and context that are essential for effective communication.

Patience and Resilience: Learning Mandarin can be a long and challenging process. Good students are patient with themselves and resilient in the face of difficulties. They understand that fluency takes time and consistent effort, and they remain motivated even when progress seems slow.