Since I was very young, I was curious about China and learning Chinese. As a young adult, I first joined the Army Reserves and worked on an Associates Degree in General Studies. When I got out out of the Reserves, I seized the opportunity of a pause in my career to immerse myself in China and learn Mandarin Chinese. I have lived in mainland China for almost three years now and love the challenges and successes that come with learning one of the world's most complex languages. In the fall I will be starting my third year working on a major in Chinese language trade and business. Because I started learning Chinese at a later age, I came up with mnemonic "tricks" to help me remember how to write characters (what I most enjoy helping others learn) and recall which tones to use. I believe Chinese speakers will be more and more needed as the world becomes more and more intertwined and would love to help students build a firm foundation on tones, characters, and conversational Chinese. I am new to teaching Chinese, but have helped multiple Chinese with improving English papers as well as conversational English. Therefore, I understand the patience and repetition required in teaching another language. Additionally, because I have struggled through learning Chinese myself, I have developed many ways of more easily remembering words as well as relating to the western mindset. When working with students I like to hear what their goals are, what their level of language is, what they struggle with, and how they learn best (visually, listening, etc). By learning someone's personality, I can help tailor learning Chinese to that specific person. I am easy-going and an encourager, but I love pushing people to do their best. Currently learning Chinese is one of my biggest hobbies, but I also love traveling and hope to learn more languages in the future (Russian and Japanese are on the top!). I love hiking, and when I am in the states, I live in a tiny town surrounded by mountains and breathtaking scenery. I hope we have an opportunity to work together and help you accomplish your goals in Chinese.