Elaine

Elaine has been my teacher for close to two years and after taking lessons with her, all of which are completely enjoyable, I am happy to say that I've passed my HSK6 with a good score (above 200 points). This is a huge contrast to when she first met me when I had great difficulty articulating the simplest of phrases in Chinese. I've also have been an italki regular and I can say with certainty that her teaching skills surpasses anyone I have met on italki. 1) One of her greatest strengths is that Elaine is able to understand and communicate the subtleties of the Mandarin language which is very useful when you are studying advanced Chinese. For instance, the term 懊恼 and 烦恼 both translate to "annoyed" but she is able to tell you why their usage is drastically different. Such differences are often not spelt out in dictionaries and she brings forth a sorely needed teaching experience where she situates the term in real life contexts to aid learning better. am exceeding word limit

Elaine is an open minded and cosmopolitan young woman, who is a real pleasure to chat with. Tonight we talked about some differences in Australian and Chinese culture and our respective compatriots priorities in life. I really enjoy the insights she gives me into the minds of Chinese people, and I enjoy sharing aspects of my own country's culture and politics with her. She skillfully adjusts here vocab and grammar to a level suitable for me, while still challenging me and helping me expand my abilities.

Great lesson! Thank you Elaine!

Hi Elaine! Wow, 50 lessons! I have had so much fun!!! I am surprised and delighted by how much I have learned. It is amazing to me that I can speak Mandarin. I am looking forward to the next 50 lessons! Thank you for everything! You are an amazing teacher. 😊

Elaine is an outstanding teacher - patient, professional, and very encouraging. From the very first lesson, she tailored the content to my needs and level, always making sure I was both challenged and supported. She explains grammar and vocabulary in a clear and simple way, and she also emphasizes practical speaking skills, which has been invaluable for me. What I really appreciate is her ability to create a comfortable atmosphere where I feel confident to speak, make mistakes, and improve. Her lessons are always well-prepared, structured, and engaging, but at the same time flexible enough to adapt if I want to focus on something specific. Since starting with Elaine, I’ve noticed real progress in my speaking, listening, and overall confidence in Mandarin. I highly recommend Elaine to anyone serious about learning Chinese ,whether you’re a complete beginner or aiming to refine your fluency. She will definitely help you move forward!

First of all, I am one of those who can memorise words but don't know how to use them. Like a Lego blocks owner who can't build. Using building floors as a metaphor, my reading is on the 2nd floor, my listening and comprehension is on the 1st floor, and my speaking is just wandering around the ground floor all lost and confused. After the first lesson, speaking saw the way towards the stairs. Today was my second lesson with Elaine and speaking is now in front of the stairs. Will speaking climb up and catch up with listening? We will see... Thanks, Elaine, for the lessons this far! It's been fun learning and trying to speak with you!