Learn Mandarin with Grace Trefalt

Who Am I?

I am a qualified and experienced language teacher with over 15 years of experience in education, specialising in Mandarin Chinese. I hold a PGCE in Secondary Modern Foreign Languages and an MA in Education, and I currently teach in a secondary school and Sixth Form. Outside school, I am a Content Author writing teaching and learning materials for the Cambridge IGCSE curriculum and also a Edexcel GCSE and A level examiner.

I offer general Chinese Mandarin language lessons to students from primary school to adult students, GCSE and A-Level in Chinese, HSK, Business Chinese, and fully tailored programmes to suit your individual learning needs. I am keen to support students with exam preparation, mock speaking exams, and targeted interventions to improve confidence and performance.

My Teaching Style

My teaching style is supportive, structured, and motivating. I focus on building strong foundations, developing speaking confidence, and tailoring lessons to each student’s needs and learning style. I am experienced in working with mixed-ability learners and students who need extra support, and I place strong emphasis on clear explanations, regular feedback, and positive encouragement.

Alongside teaching, my background in educational publishing and digital learning allows me to create engaging, well-structured resources that help students learn effectively and enjoy the process. I work closely with parents and students to track progress and ensure steady improvement. I am currently also working on improving students’ learning process by applying aromatherapy. There is scientific evidence to support the benefits of aromatherapy in reducing anxiety, improve students’ focus and memory retention.

Education and Credentials

  • PGCE/ QTS (Qualified Teacher Status) in Modern Foreign Languages in Secondary and Post 16 education/ Bath Spa University, UK

  • MA in Education (Learning and Teaching) / University of Bath, UK

  • BA in English Language and Literature / Chinese Culture University, Taiwan

  • Content Author, HarperCollins UK “Cambridge IGCSE™ Mandarin Chinese as a Foreign Language” (Books can be purchased on Waterstones, TGJones and Amazon UK)

  • UCL IOE 2024 Annual Chinese Teaching Conference Workshop Speaker

  • Edexcel GCSE and A-Level Chinese Examiner

  • Annual Safeguarding and Child Protection Training

  • Up to Date UK DBS Enhanced Certificate

  • Ongoing professional development and in-year teacher training

What Students Say

  • “Her dedication to her students’ success not only drove me to excel academically, but also infused me with an appreciation for Chinese culture. Thanks to her, I learned far more than just the language, and a year after my exams, I can still comfortably converse in Mandarin with my Chinese friends! I highly recommend Grace!!!”

    —Claudia, GCSE student

  • “Grace was a wonderful tutor for me for 4+ years. She helped me to make it through a Chinese language university degree, achieving a 2:1. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without her, and recommend her very highly.”

    —Edward, university student

  • “Grace is an exceptional Mandarin tutor, who I was incredibly lucky to find. Starting a language like Mandarin from scratch was a daunting challenge for me, but Grace has a natural gift for teaching. In three years I learned more than I ever could have possibly imagined.”

    —Christopher, sixth-form student

  • “Grace was a very dedicated tutor who tailored her teaching to my level of ability very accurately. She achieved a good balance between reading, writing, speaking and listening. My Mandarin studies advanced very well with Grace’s encouragement. She was also highly professional in her approach.”

    —Neil, Business Executive

Pricing

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