Yinlong

Ni Hao! I'm currently an MA student at SOAS (the School of Oriental and African Studies) in Chinese Studies, which is one of the largest hubs of Chinese Studies in the UK. Teaching Chinese language and culture is what I'm really passionate about. I enjoy helping students understand the complexities of the language, and I'm always up for discussing anything related to China. Whether it's delving into Chinese politics, talking about film and literature, or grooving to Mandarin Pop, I'm here for an engaging chat. So, let's embark on this exciting learning and discovery journey together!

Tutoring Experience

I've had quite the journey through Chinese studies. I've studied at Renmin University, did an exchange at the University of Edinburgh and Peking University. I've dabbled in everything from Tai Chi to Chinese fiction, from the Romance of Three Kingdoms to ancient Chinese poetry. While working as a language TA at the University of Edinburgh, I not only improved my teaching skills but also discovered how much I enjoy making learning fun. What makes my teaching style special is my ability to blend my knowledge of Chinese culture studies into language lessons. This means I can offer a wide range of texts that cater to each student's unique interests.

Tutoring Approach

I'm offering a course called "Reading Chinese Texts," and it's not your typical language course. It's designed for folks who want to enhance their reading skills in Chinese and get ready for more in-depth research, especially if you're keen on diving into Chinese culture but need some help interpreting texts.

Here's the deal: We customize the course right from the beginning to match your skill level and interests. We can explore all sorts of texts together, like news articles (from Renmin Ribao for example), short stories, fiction (from classic authors like Lu Xun to contemporary ones like Liu Cixin), poems, academic writings, or even political materials (yes, CCP documents too). But it doesn't stop there; we can also venture into unconventional territory like Mandarin Pop (singers from Jay Zhou to Easton Chen), movies (works by directors like Zhang Yimo and Chen Kaige), TV dramas, or even Chinese video games (from "Chinese Parents" to "Nobady" and beyond). It's all about what interests you!

Once we've picked out the texts that grab your attention, the real fun begins. Before each lesson, you'll translate the chosen text from Chinese to English (so come prepared!). Then, we'll dive into it together, taking it one sentence at a time to uncover all the layers of meaning and nuance in the text. And if we're dealing with movies or videos, we'll explore specific scenes or episodes through audio-visual translation. After our translation session, get ready for some lively discussions! We'll dig into the text's political stance (for political writings), its cultural significance (or lack thereof), and we can even go a bit more informal and chat about whether you found it enjoyable or why it didn't quite click for you. This mix of academic exploration and casual conversation is what makes our course exciting and enlightening. Let's jump into the world of Chinese texts together and explore!

After our translation session, get ready for some engaging discussions! We'll delve into the text's political orientation ( for political writings) , its cultural (in) significance, and even take a less formal route – sharing our thoughts on whether you found it enjoyable or perhaps why it didn't quite hit the mark for you. This blend of academic exploration and casual conversation is what makes our course truly dynamic and enriching. Let's dive into the world of Chinese texts and discover together!