Choosing a GCSE Mandarin Chinese Tutor

Overview

It's very hard to find a good GCSE Chinese tutor. Having stumbled across my website, you've found a tutor with an exceptional track record (majority A and A*) who has been tutoring since 2013. I work for agencies and, of course, for students who find me through my website. Below, I have written a few things you might want to consider when choosing me - ahem, when "considering who to choose" - as your tutor.

GCSE Chinese Vocabulary Revision

Your GCSE Mandarin Chinese tutor should be able to explain to you both (student & parent) what their long-term strategy is for learning vocabulary and grammar. Ask your tutor, "How can I learn this list of 100 words?". They should tell you what app to download, what books to buy, how many minutes a day to study, how long to study for, how to keep track of your studying, and how you will be assessed.

If your tutor presents to you a booklet of thousands of words and says, "Here's everything you need to know" then ask for a more detailed breakdown. You want to feel that your tutor is in the driving seat of your child's learning, with you (the parent-passenger) able to ask about what direction you're going in.

Native or Non-Native?

Ask your prospective tutor for their recent student exam grades. If their students aren't achieving the highest grades possible, then look elsewhere. This is the only thing that should guide your decision. A growing number of fee-paying schools in the UK (see City of London School) employ non-native speakers to teach their GCSE Chinese courses. The students here do exceptionally well - especially when they also take my classes.

Scoring well in your GCSE Chinese exam requires you to, on demand, say/write a piece of Chinese that uses a good number of advanced grammatical structures (5-10) and advanced vocabulary (20-30). Exam boards Edexcel, AQA & Cambridge do not expect you to sound like a native speaker. My non-native students regularly receive Grade 9 results because I've taught them how to, in the exam, manufacture their answers to include specific pieces of advanced grammar and specific pieces of vocabulary.

Skill and AI in Chinese GCSE Tutoring

It is natural to worry about your GCSE Chinese tutor being "good enough". This is the same whether you're employing a new member of staff or entrusting a tutor with your child's life-defining exam grades.

The only way that a parent can reliably assess the skill of their tutor is to ask for their students' recent exam grades. If you have the time and the tutor agrees, you could email their ex-students and ask for feedback. You could ask to see what agencies the tutor works with to see whether or not they are reputable. You could ask for a trial lesson with a reduced fee (I offer this) to work out if the tutor fits with what you want.

If the tutor arrives using lesson materials and presentations that have been made with AI, I would suggest making a hasty exit. Though it is incredibly easy to use AI to make superb lessons, it is incredibly hard to teach a superb lesson. AI is grand for organising information that the tutor knows how to deliver, but it should never steal the show.

Personality (...and dinner?!)

You, and your child, will be in touch with your tutor for at least a whole academic year. Ensure that your tutor's work ethic, conversation, general demeanour and personality align with what you want for your child. It would be a crying shame if you didn't like your Mandarin tutor. I offer home visits to ensure that we can work well together. I have been lucky enough to have parents cook for me after our lessons together, which is always a privilege and one that I enjoy immensely.

Punctuality

This can only be tested with time. However, if your tutor turns up significantly late or regularly cancels their lessons, then engage another tutor. Sickness and illness notwithstanding, it is perfectly normal to expect your tutor to arrive on time and leave on time - unless you want them to stay for dinner, of course.

I write this because I have heard of parents who feel they are unable to 'get rid' of a tutor over their being late a few times. Demand that the lesson starts on time and don't feel bad for bringing up lateness if you feel it's an issue.

Conclusion: How to find the perfect GCSE Mandarin Chinese tutor?

Most importantly, find a tutor who is kind and who has an impressive track record. Though you want to achieve the highest grade you can for your GCSE Chinese, you want your child to enjoy the process of learning.

Usefully, for parents in search of a superb GCSE Mandarin tutor, I'm available.