ONLINE | ESL for young Mandarin Speakers

Hello!

My name is Teacher Todd | Todde Laoshi.
I live in San Diego, California. ☀️🏖️

I taught English to young learners for 6 years;
5,000+ hours in the classroom and 1,000+ hours online.
I am TEFL certified.

Thank you for reading my profile.

I look forward to meeting you and your child in class.
I tutor English ONLINE only.
I specialize in helping young Mandarin speakers learn English.

To help you decide if I am the correct tutor for your child,
please read the frequently asked questions and answers below.

If you have any further questions or special requests,
you are welcome to contact me via Tutoroo.


Who do you tutor?
I offer English tutoring for 5 - 15 year old native Mandarin speakers.

When do you tutor?

I usually tutor WEEKDAYS from 13:00 - 17:00 (Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China time zones)
I may have additional availability on the WEEKENDS. Please ask.

Where do you tutor?
Online via Zoom

Will you tutor my child in San Diego?
Probably not. However, you are welcome to ask.

How long are your lessons? (after the first 2 weeks)
I prefer 25-minute lessons.
I may offer longer lessons depending on the age, skill level, and number of students.

Why are your lessons 25 minutes? (After the 2 week trial)

1. Students that practice 25 minutes a day, 4 days a week, 

will often learn much faster than a student who has longer lessons, less frequently.

2. Shorter lessons prevent boredom for young learners.

3. It is more rewarding when the student, teacher, and parents notice consistent progress.

Must my child take lessons 4 days a week?
No. You may take as many or as few lessons as you would like.

Do you have premade lesson plans?
No. I prepare exercises specifically for your child.

If your child is learning English at school, you are welcome to share a photo of their homework. 

I would be happy to review it in class.

How many students are there in a class?
One or two students per class is perfect. Invite a friend!

Can I take lessons with friends?
Yes! I suggest 1-3 friends. Please let me know at least 24 hours before class, so I may prepare.
Lessons with more students will be slightly longer and more casual.

What aspects of English does Teacher Todd tutor?

- I focus on the alphabet, phonics, pronunciation, reading, spelling, comprehension, and conversation, with basic - intermediate grammar.
Unless you request it, I don't introduce too many vocabulary words, and I do not practice writing.

- I work to build your child's confidence to make learning English enjoyable over the long term.

- I correct all pronunciation mistakes immediately and politely.

- I have experience teaching students with diverse learning styles.

- I do my best to keep lessons interesting and challenging.


Will you practice English conversation skills only?
No. If you would like casual conversation practice only, please let me know. 

I would be happy to do that for you.


What will you NOT do?

- I will recommend quick exercises, or give feedback. I do not write reports or give homework.

- English manners are important.
This means, I will NOT tutor your child if:

1. They are in the bathroom OR on the toilet.
If your child needs to use the WC, please do so without the phone/computer. 
I will wait.
I will give you additional time as soon as possible. (It depends on my schedule)

2. They are in a noisy and distracting environment.

3. They are not wearing clothes.
If it is hot outside, boys may attend lessons without a shirt. 

Snacks and drinks are OK.

Do you teach writing?
I do not focus on writing because most Chinese students learn to write letters with British styling. 

I write letters in an American style.

So, it can be confusing for the student and frustrating for their school teacher.
However, I may teach very basic writing skills to practice letter recognition or phonics.

Will you practice oral English with High school students?

Yes. Please note: I do not offer help with test preparation.

Can teacher Todd speak Mandarine Chinese?
Yes, teacher Todd can speak a little bit of Mandarin Chinese.

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