With Will · Native Mandarin teacher · Decades of experience
Start from zero. Speak real Mandarin.
1-on-1 online lessons built for complete beginners. Learn pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary the right way from day one — no prior knowledge required, no classroom, no cohort.
✓ Free 30-minute intro · ✓ No payment required · ✓ Cancel any time
From US$36 / hr · No lock-in contracts
Six foundations. Everything you need to start speaking.
The Basics course is built around the six skills that matter most for a true beginner — in the right order, at the right pace, with no shortcut that comes back to bite you later.
Pronunciation & the 4 Tones
The most important skill to get right from day one. We teach you to hear and produce all four tones accurately from the start — preventing the ingrained habits that hold most self-taught learners back for years.
Pinyin — The Phonetic System
China’s romanisation system lets you read and write Mandarin sounds before you can read a single character. Master Pinyin and you have a foundation you’ll use for your entire Mandarin journey.
Grammar — Logic, Not Rules
Mandarin has no verb conjugation, no plural forms, no gendered nouns. We show you the underlying logic of how sentences work, so patterns make sense rather than needing to be memorised by rote.
Vocabulary — The Smart Way
Rather than throwing word lists at you, we build vocabulary around real conversations and the topics that matter to you — so you remember words because you’ve actually used them, not because you drilled a flashcard.
Listening & Comprehension
Learning to produce Mandarin is half the job. We train your ear to understand native-speed speech, regional accents and the natural way Chinese speakers actually talk — not just the slow, clear version from textbook recordings.
Real Conversations from Lesson One
You’ll speak Mandarin in every single lesson. No silent study sessions, no passive listening exercises. Real back-and-forth practice from your very first session — because speaking is the only way to learn to speak.
Start your way
Start with a free 30-minute intro either way — no payment to find out if it’s a fit.
Total flexibility — no lock-in and cancel any time. Perfect if you’d rather feel your way in one lesson at a time.
A proper foundation in a planned four-week block — the same 2-hour slot every week, then carry on term by term once you’re hooked.
Book a free introLike what you see? Take the next step.
Book a free 30-minute intro lesson with Will. See if it’s the right fit — no payment, no pressure, no lock-in.
Book your free introThe Basics course is right for you if…
Three kinds of students get the most out of this programme. See which one sounds like you.
The Complete Beginner
- Zero Mandarin knowledge right now
- Curious about Chinese culture and language
- Want a solid foundation, not a shortcut
- Prefer to learn with a real person, not an app
The Frustrated Self-Learner
- Tried apps but never got to real speaking
- Learned some vocabulary but can’t form sentences
- Unsure if your tones and pronunciation are correct
- Want structured progress, not random drills
The Heritage Learner
- Grew up around Mandarin but can’t speak it well
- Understand more than you can produce
- Want to connect more deeply with your heritage
- Need someone who understands your specific gaps
Six expressions you’ll master in your first lessons.
These are the kinds of patterns you’ll cover early on — simple, essential, and the building blocks for everything that follows.
Ready to start using these properly? Book a free intro call and we’ll build a plan around your goals.
A real moment from a beginner lesson
Live, one-to-one, over video — and the correction you remember.
Will · your teacher
You我是很好
wǒ shì hěn hǎo
You meant: “I am well.”
Everyone does this in week one, because English makes you say “am”. Mandarin doesn’t need it — the adjective is already doing that job.
我很好
wǒ hěn hǎo
是 shì links you to a thing — 我是老师, I am a teacher. Before a description, it disappears.
The rule, in one line: no 是 before an adjective. It goes into your course guide — a shared document where your notes and homework live, and we keep it up to date.
One of the first corrections nearly every beginner needs — and the one that unlocks describing anything at all.
Apps teach you to tap the right answer. We teach you to speak.
After a few months on Duolingo, most learners can recognise Mandarin patterns but freeze the moment a real person speaks to them. 1-on-1 lessons fix that from day one.
No bad habits from day one
We correct your tones and pronunciation immediately, before they become automatic. Bad habits in Mandarin are notoriously hard to unlearn — getting them right from the start saves months of frustration later.
Your pace, your topics
No rushing to keep up with a class, no waiting for others to catch up. Lessons move exactly as fast as you’re ready for — and always focus on the vocabulary and topics that are actually relevant to your life.
Progress you can measure
We check in on your goals every few lessons and adjust the plan as you improve. You’ll always know exactly how far you’ve come — and exactly what comes next on your path to fluency.
From your first message to your first real conversation
No contracts, no packages, no cohorts. Three simple steps to start speaking Mandarin.
Book a free intro call
A relaxed 30-minute chat with Will. Tell him about your background, your goals and why you want to learn Mandarin. He’ll put together an honest plan — no pressure, no sales pitch.
Start your tailored lessons
Your first lesson is built entirely around you — your pace, your goals, your schedule. No template, no shared class. Fully 1-on-1, fully live, fully focused on your progress from the very first session.
Progress, review & grow
Every few lessons we review your goals and adjust the plan. You’ll always know how far you’ve come, what you’ve mastered, and exactly what’s coming next on your path to conversational Mandarin.
From complete beginners to confident speakers
Real students who started from zero and built genuine conversational Mandarin with us.
“I went from zero Mandarin to holding basic conversations in three months. Will’s patience and the way he breaks down the tones makes what felt impossible feel genuinely achievable. I actually look forward to every lesson.”
“I was nervous about starting — I’d tried apps before and always felt lost. Will’s lessons are well-paced, engaging and never overwhelming. The way he explains grammar as a system rather than a set of rules finally made it click for me.”
Answers before you ask
“I went from zero Mandarin to holding basic conversations in three months. The lessons are structured, focused and actually enjoyable — something I never expected language learning to be.”
Lena 🇩🇪 · Germany
Get started with a free intro call
No obligation — just a 30-minute chat about your goals. We’ll get back to you within 24 hours.