Who am I?

I am Yiwen (Cici) Zou, the founder of Yiwen’s Chinese School. I always have a passion for Chinese culture and language. During the first year of Bachelor degree in Beijing, I have encountered a lot of westerners who were curious about China and Chinese culture. I came to realize from their experiences that the best way to know about China is via the study of its language, which is the window to Chinese culture. Then I thought, why couldn’t I be someone who helped others to understand Mandarin language and Chinese culture. As a result, I started to give private Chinese lessons in the summer of 2012, and I immediately fell in love with this job. Not only does this job allow me to help westerners understand Chinese language and culture better, but it also increases my knowledge of and strengthen my love for my own culture. To further enhance my understanding of Mandarin Chinese and to understand the process of second language learning scientifically, I came to Amsterdam for a Research Master degree in Linguistics. During the two-year study, I have maintained my role as a Mandarin Chinese instructor and tried my best to combine theoretical knowledge of Mandarin linguistics with the practice of teaching. And now after graduating in September 2017, I decided to set up my own Chinese School. That is why you are reading this. 

Why should you choose Yiwen’s Chinese School?

You may have these questions in mind: Why should I choose Yiwen’s Chinese School? What is so unique about your teaching method? What are your advantages compared to other Chinese institutes? Here are the answers to these questions:

• I guarantee that you will speak Chinese in the very first class

   

Many of my current pupils have been trying to learn Mandarin in other language schools or institutes for quite some time but are still unable to speak the language, even in simple daily situations. Traditional Mandarin Chinese second language education has serious drawbacks. It is examination-orientated. It focuses too much on recognizing characters but too little on speaking. The lesson is usually organized in a group, which makes it impossible for learners to get enough attention from the teacher, let alone the chance to practice speaking. My tailor-made private Chinese lessons come to change the status quo. I promise you will have adequate time to talk in every session, even in the very first one.

• Updated tailor-made learning materials

Most of the existing institutes strictly follow published materials. These materials can be outdated, failing to follow up with how Chinese people talk nowadays. For example, some Chinese books tell you to greet people with “Nǐ hǎo ma?” (How are you?) or “nǐ chīle ma?” (Did you eat?). In fact, Chinese people use the phrase “Nǐ zěnme yang?” (How are you?) instead. Most of the published materials were written and developed in the last one or two decades. As a linguist, I know how fast languages evolve with time. New words, fashionable expressions and modern language etiquette arose, and few books can keep up with language innovations, but a living person can! All the learning materials is freshly made by me after each lesson, so you will also be in trend.
Another problem with only following a published book is that the content might not be relevant to your life or your individual needs. Most of the books developed for adult beginners focus on university life, talking about the library, the student center and who writes characters better. Just imagine, if you are a fashion designer who has business in China, and you are very eager to know about fabrics, colors, and styling in Mandarin Chinese? You won’t be able to learn about things need and things you are interested in after one or two years in a traditional Chinese school. However, in my tailor-made classroom, this is not a problem. I will communicate with you and design a learning plan that is suitable for your interests or needs.

•    Grammar? As easy as building Legos.

Many Mandarin Chinese learners have the same struggle: I know a lot of words, but I don’t know how to form sentences. Mandarin Chinese grammar is not that difficult if appropriately explained. With a solid linguistic background and more than four years teaching experience, I can explain grammar in a comprehensible way both to children and to adults. Words are just like classic Lego blocks, and I offer you building instructions. You will continuously be trained to build Mandarin sentences on your own.

•    Say goodbye to boring classroom atmosphere!

Interest is the engine for learning a second language. I understand the pain if you do not enjoy your language lessons. That is why I try to make every lesson as fun and enjoyable as it can be. For example, children can lose their focus or interest very quickly, and to avoid that my Chinese classroom is a combination of learning Chinese, playing games related to the language and singing Mandarin Chinese songs. The rich content and various activities keep children concentrated for the whole lesson.