Hi, I’m Yujie, an online Chinese language teacher.
Over the years, I’ve taught students with a wide range of backgrounds and learning experiences. Some have studied Chinese for years and can read quite well, but struggle to express themselves clearly in real conversations. Others rely heavily on expressions they learned from textbooks, so their Chinese can sound a little formal or unnatural. And some have been learning for a long time but are no longer sure what to focus on or how to keep improving.
These experiences have made me think carefully about one question: What actually helps students make real progress?
Studying Chinese Isn’t the Same as Being Able to Use It
Learning Chinese involves building vocabulary, understanding grammar, working on pronunciation, and learning Chinese characters. These are all important foundations.
But I often notice that students first form a sentence in their native language and then translate it into Chinese word by word. This makes it difficult to speak quickly and naturally.
It doesn’t mean they haven’t learned the vocabulary or grammar they need. They simply haven’t had enough practice turning what they know into language they can use in real time.
That’s why, in my lessons, I care about more than whether a student has seen a particular word before. I also want them to understand: Is this word mainly used in writing or in conversation? When would a native speaker use it? What other words does it usually go with?
Understanding these things is often more useful than simply memorizing long lists of vocabulary.
For me, moving from “I’ve learned this” to “I can actually use this” is one of the most important steps in learning a language.
Textbooks Matter, but Real Life Doesn’t Follow a Textbook
I believe textbooks have an important role to play. A good textbook can provide structure and a clear sense of direction, especially for beginners or students preparing for an exam.
But real life doesn’t follow a textbook.
An expression that looks perfectly natural on the page may sound too formal in an everyday conversation. A word that appears often in written Chinese might be replaced by something simpler in speech. Even tone of voice and pauses can change what a sentence means—details that are difficult to capture fully in a textbook.
I use textbooks in my lessons, but I don’t treat them as the only resources. If part of a textbook is outdated, I let my students know that it’s fine to leave it aside. There’s no need to memorize something simply for the sake of “finishing” a book. I also introduce practical, everyday expressions that students are likely to hear in real life, even if their textbook doesn’t cover them.
I won’t tell a student that an expression is wrong simply because it sounds formal. Instead, I explain where that expression would fit and then show them a more common conversational alternative.
This doesn’t mean throwing out what they have already learned. It means learning how to choose the expression that best fits the situation.
Every Student Learns Differently
My students have ranged in age from 4 to 75. Some are learning Chinese because they plan to travel to China. Others need it to communicate with Chinese colleagues, clients, or family members. Some are preparing for the HSK exam. And some started learning simply because they fell in love with someone from China.
With such different backgrounds, ages, language levels, and goals, a one-size-fits-all approach simply doesn’t work.
When I meet a new student, I take time to understand their current level, their goals, and the areas where they would most like support. Then we decide together what to focus on and create a learning plan that suits their needs.
Personalized learning doesn’t mean that lessons lack structure or preparation. I still prepare every lesson with a clear direction, but that plan can evolve as the student progresses. The goal is to find an approach that feels comfortable and helps each student learn as effectively as possible.
Don’t Be Afraid to Make Mistakes. Just Start Speaking.
Many adult learners know more Chinese than they feel confident using. They worry so much about making mistakes that, over time, speaking Chinese begins to feel stressful.
I want my lessons to feel like a safe place to try, make mistakes, and keep going.
You don’t need to wait until a sentence is perfect before saying it. We can focus first on getting your main idea across, and then work together to fine-tune the pronunciation, vocabulary, and sentence structure.
I often joke with my students:
“Don’t worry about making mistakes. Mistakes are actually useful because they show me what we need to work on next, and then we can tackle it together. If you never made a single mistake, I’d probably be out of a job pretty soon!”
When I correct a mistake, I don’t simply say, “That’s wrong.” I explain why something sounds unnatural, how to make it sound better, and what else the student might say in a similar situation.
That way, students don’t just learn how to fix one sentence. They also learn expressions and patterns they can use again in the future.
A Final Thought
Progress often hides in small moments.
It might be the first time a student answers a question without translating in their head. It might be a sentence that once took a long time to form but now comes out naturally. Or it might be a moment when a student doesn’t understand everything but knows how to ask the other person to repeat themselves or explain what they mean.
These moments may seem small, but they gradually make Chinese feel less like something a student is studying and more like a language they can truly use.
I’ve been fortunate to learn from teachers who genuinely cared about helping me. They gave me more than knowledge. They also shaped and encouraged me in ways they may not have realized.
Now I have the opportunity to be that person for someone else.
I’ll be here to support you, guide you, and encourage you, and I’ll do my best to help you make steady progress in Chinese. As long as you don’t give up, you can keep moving closer to your goal.
If you’re learning Chinese but aren’t sure what to work on next, or if you’re looking for lessons that suit you better, feel free to send me a message. I’d be happy to hear about your goals.