Learn Mandarin Chinese for Beginners

Professor Xia Ding serves as a prominent faculty member at the School of Humanities, Tsinghua University, where he has established himself as an expert in classical Chinese literature and Chinese language education. After receiving his M.A. from Peking University, he has held several key administrative positions at Tsinghua University, including deputy director of the Department of Chinese Language and Literature, director of the International Chinese Language and Culture Center, and director of the Inter-University Program for Chinese Language Studies. His academic contributions span both research and teaching, with more than 10 published works including significant texts such as "Poems of Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties," "Classic Chinese Poetry in All Ages," "Progress of Mandarin," and "Tsinghua Mandarin." His teaching portfolio encompasses various aspects of Chinese language and literature, including Studies of Ancient Chinese Fictions, Ancient Chinese, Advanced Chinese Reading, and Reading and Writing. His teaching excellence has been recognized with the first Tsinghua University Teaching Award. Throughout his career, Professor Ding has expanded his academic influence through visiting professorships and scholarly positions at various institutions in Hong Kong, the United States, and Japan, contributing to the international understanding of Chinese language and literature.

Wang Xiaoning is an Associate Professor in the School of Humanities at Tsinghua University, where she has established herself as an expert in teaching Chinese as a second language. Her academic foundation includes an M.A. in Modern Chinese from Beijing Normal University (1991) and an M.Phil. in Politics from Hong Kong Baptist University (1998). With over three decades of teaching experience since 1991, she has developed comprehensive expertise in various aspects of Chinese language instruction, including listening, conversation, reading, writing, grammar, and Chinese characters. Her international teaching experience spans multiple countries, including exchange programs in Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom. As a prolific author, she has contributed significantly to Chinese language education through more than 30 published textbooks, including influential works such as "Experiencing Chinese," "Chinese Sentence Patterns," "My First Chinese Book," and specialized materials for HSK preparation. Her teaching methodology encompasses both fundamental language skills and advanced preparation for Chinese proficiency tests, making her a valuable resource for international students studying Chinese at all levels.

Li Lu is an Associate Professor in the School of Humanities at Tsinghua University, where she has been teaching Chinese as a second language since 1993. Her academic journey began with a B.A. from Shaanxi Normal University in 1986, followed by teaching experience at Xi'an International Studies University. In 2011, she enhanced her qualifications with a Master's degree from Tsinghua University. Her international teaching experience includes stints at Samsung Electronics Co. in South Korea (1998), the College of William and Mary in the USA (2003), and Ferris University in Japan (2013). Li's expertise spans teaching primary to advanced Chinese language courses, covering speaking, listening, and comprehensive skills for both beginners and graduate students. As a prolific author, she has published four textbooks on Chinese as a second language and two books on Chinese language teaching methodology in collaboration with colleagues. Her contributions to the field were recognized when three of her six books were classified as "outstanding" by Tsinghua University in 2012, underscoring her significant impact on Chinese language education

Yuan Li serves as a dedicated lecturer at the School of Humanities, Tsinghua University, where she has established herself as an engaging and innovative Chinese language instructor over her 12-year teaching career. Her teaching philosophy emphasizes interactive learning through creative methods, including educational games and diverse pedagogical approaches that have made her classes particularly popular among international students. Her expertise and engaging teaching style have earned her invitations to teach at the Confucius Institute for Business London on multiple occasions, demonstrating her international recognition in Chinese language education. Throughout her career, she has successfully taught Mandarin Chinese to over a thousand international students from diverse cultural backgrounds, maintaining lasting connections with her students and fostering cultural understanding through language education. Her commitment to creating an engaging learning environment and building lasting relationships with her students reflects her dedication to not just teaching the Chinese language, but also serving as a cultural ambassador who bridges international understanding through education.