Ning

Please feel free to get in touch for block booking discounts

Hi, I'm Ning. As a former school teacher and now a teacher educator (associate professor) at a Scottish university, I have the recognised expertise in designing and delivering highly effective and attractive language learning programmes in both face-to-face and online settings. I have excellent interpersonal skills and a track record of working with people from different backgrounds. I have over fifteen years of experience teaching foreign languages in China and in Scotland. I have tutored over 50 students just on FirstTutors!

In my spare time, I enjoy doing sports and outdoor activities, travelling, watching movies and learning new languages! Apart from English and Mandarin, I speak French, German and some Spanish.

Tutoring Experience

I am a very experienced language teacher and academic advisor. Whether your goal is to travel to or live in the target-language country for leisure or for business, to pass an exam or just to learn a new language for fun, I am able to adapt the pace, content and depth to suit your needs.

I have successful and significant experience of teaching Mandarin at secondary level in the UK. During my time as Head of Mandarin (Subject Leader/ Curricular Team Leader) at George Heriot's School in Edinburgh, I was responsible for the Mandarin courses across all levels (Beginners to Advanced Higher). I planned and delivered the Mandarin curriculum (from S1 to S6). Among my achievements were:
-Mentor of the recipient of the SQA Outstanding Advanced Higher Mandarin Candidate for Non-native Speakers award;
-Coach and mentor of the winners of the prestigious HSBC/British Council Mandarin Speaking Competition in 2011, 2013 and 2015;
-My pupils achieved excellent SQA exam results consistently (100% A-C), and many of them had gone to further their studies at Oxford, Cambridge, SOAS and other top UK universities.

My knowledge and skills in English language education can be demonstrated by doctoral studies in the area of teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL). I am currently the Course Director for MSc TESOL and Intercultural Communication at a Scottish University. I also train teachers working in international schools across the globe.

I hold a PhD in Education (TESOL & Applied Linguistics) from the University of Edinburgh funded by the Principal’s Career Development Studentship and Edinburgh Global Overseas Research Scholarship. I have a Master’s degree (with Distinction) in Education: Language from the University of Edinburgh. My first degree is on Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language and English Language and Literature from the prestigious Beijing Foreign Studies University, China.

I am fully registered with the General Teaching Council Scotland (QTS). I am a Fellow of Higher Education Academy.

Tutoring Approach

My teaching approach draws from a wide range of contemporary teaching methods from Communicative Language Teaching, Task-based Language Learning, to post-method approaches. I always aim to enthuse and engage my students. Not only am I an excellent classroom practitioner, I have also had extensive experience of one-on-one tutoring through both face to face and online settings.

I can offer a tailor-made programme based on your existing language skills, expectations as well as personal, professional and social needs. My goal is to create a relaxed and comfortable environment in the class where my students develop their interest and motivation to learn the language.

Please feel free to contact me for one-on-one or group sessions on
-Primary language learning,
-Secondary exam preparation (SQA, GCSE/A level, and others),
-University language studies,
-Adult language qualifications (HSK, TOEFL, IELTS, CAE, and others),
-Academic English,
-Business English/Chinese;
-Adult casual learners;
-Company wide staff training.

Please feel free to read some of my reviews on the website as they are testament of my experience here on FirstTutors. If you are still unsure about booking lessons straight away with me, I do offer a 25% OFF trial lesson in which I carry out a 30 minute formative assessment of your current level and a 15 minute chat about your needs and plans for future lessons.