Learning Mandarin through the News with a Former Journalist
Teaches
Chinese (Mandarin)
Native
English
Speaks
Specialties
Business
Learning Mandarin through the News with a Former Journalist
About Me
Me as a Teacher
My lessons & teaching style
Resume & Certificates
From ChinaLiving in Beijing, China (15:58 UTC+08:00)
About Me
italki teacher since Jul 22, 2021
InterestsArtWritingReadingFilms & TV SeriesHistory
* Native Chinese speaker living in Beijing
* Certified Chinese teacher with a first-class Putonghua proficiency test score
* Experienced journalist with a passion for storytelling and clear communication
* Master's degree in Comparative Literature from King's College London
* Four years of experience living and studying in London and Edinburgh, fostering a deep understanding of Western culture and the challenges and joys of learning a second language
My creations
Me as a Teacher
As a teacher, I believe that language learning should be dynamic and immersive. My background in journalism has equipped me with the tools to make Mandarin both relevant and engaging. I focus not just on the technical aspects of the language, like grammar and vocabulary, but also on the cultural context that brings the language to life. By integrating real-world examples and current events into my lessons, I make learning Mandarin an enriching experience that goes beyond the classroom.
My lessons & teaching style
* Personalized and Tailored
* Rich Learning Materials
* Holistic Language Development
* Additional Support
* Guiding Your Mandarin Journey
Certificates
Reference Letter from Former Supervisor - Tom Fleming Creative Consultancy - 2019It’s proof that I worked for Tom Fleming Creative Consultancy, where I translated and taught Mandarin in the cultural and creative sector to facilitate communication between Chinese artists and British staff.
Certificate verified
Teacher's Certificate of teaching Mandarin - Ministry of Education, PRC - 2007This is a certifitate entitled Di Gao to teach Chinese to Senior Middle School Students and below, by the Ministry of Education, People's Republic of China.
Certificate verified
Teaching experience
2007 - 2008
Chinese TeacherBeijing 101 Middle School - China
Education
2014 - 2017
Master's - Comparative LiteratureKing's College London
2003 - 2007
Bachelor’s - Chinese Language and LiteratureCapital Normal University
Work Experience
2019 - 2022
TranslatorTom Fleming Creative Consultancy
5.0
Rating
30
Students
75
Lessons
100%
Attendance rate
100%
Response rate
5.0
Rating
30
Students
75
Lessons
100%
Attendance rate
100%
Response rate
Chinese (Mandarin) Lessons
Chinese (Mandarin)
English
Trial Lesson
17 lessons completed
USD 10.00+
Learning Mandarin through the News with a Former Journalist-读新闻知汉语
A2 - C2Business30 lessons completed
USD 26.50
Package with 2% off
Immersive Chinese Learning through the documentaries-纪录片里看中国
Trial lesson(ONLY IF you are UNABLE to select the trial Lesson from the Platform)
A1 - C2Business1 lessons completed
USD 12.10+
Introduction to Classical Chinese Literature-中国古典文学作品导读
B2 - C2Language Essentials0 lessons completed
USD 30.00
Availability
Based on your timezone (UTC+00:00)
My creations
Podcast (2)
10 Reviews
All
Chinese (Mandarin)
English
Miya
1 Chinese (Mandarin) lesson
As an avid language learner as well as a teacher, I'm always interested in different lesson styles. I tried Dawn's class that uses a news article, seeking a new approach to my Chinese learning. It's quite comprehensive, involving listening, explaining the information that you understood in your own words, oral reading, vocabulary and quizzes. Getting the tones and pronunciation right is a challenge in Mandarin, which makes listening and speaking especially harder compared to many other languages. I think this type of lesson can be really helpful because you use the same material for both input and output practices repetitively. Dawn is gentle and dedicated. I'd certainly take her lesson again and hopefully incorporate them into my Chinese learning journey on a regular basis.
Nov 5, 2025
Jing
1 Chinese (Mandarin) lesson
It was a pleasure learning with Dawn. She was very responsive to my messages even before I booked a class. As I am preparing for a specialized oral exam, she took notes on my presentation and gave me detailed feedback on strengths and areas for improvement. She suggested alternative words and sentence structures and took care explaining when each word should be used. This helps me avoid the same mistakes in the future. It was a great experience. Thank you, Dawn!
Sep 1, 2025
Quentin Nicolas
30 Chinese (Mandarin) lessons
Great lesson, alternating between conversation and listening exercises
Oct 25, 2021
Vishnu Raghavan
7 Chinese (Mandarin) lessons
The instructor was fantastic, and I have booked a follow-on lesson with her! Chinese will never be easy, but she makes it as close to enjoyable as it can be, while I go through the tones! I am very excited to keep working with her and improving my Mandarin, and I would love to visit Taipei and read primary sources on the horrors of Communism.