Small steps forward, review and learn anew

I graduated in computer science from Hunan University. I then worked for over twenty years at Shenzhen Customs, which built a solid foundation in Chinese. Since moving to Sweden in 2018 I have lived in a bilingual, cross-cultural environment, and raising my own children has given me a deeper feel for how children abroad acquire language — and for the particular challenges and needs they face learning Chinese in a multilingual daily life.

Since joining Xingzhi in 2019 I have taught younger, middle and more advanced year groups, gathering wide practical experience. In my teaching I keep the student at the centre and work by guiding rather than telling. My lessons are built on immediate interaction: I encourage students to think actively and speak up on their own initiative, and I use stories, games and situational dialogue to keep Chinese close to everyday life and genuinely enjoyable.

Teaching Chinese abroad is not only passing on a language — it is helping children discover its beauty and build cultural belonging and confidence. My own experience says that "small steps forward, review and learn anew, keep at it daily, and encourage in the moment" is what works best for younger children. That is the direction I follow, with patience, support and presence, walking the road of Chinese together with them.