I am certified in the highest level of the Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK level 6) and have lived in China for over three years. I have studied Chinese language and culture for the last seven years and have extensive personal experiences and interests in the culture. My approach to teaching Mandarin Chinese is to start with what most Chinese teachers skip over: fundamentals. I emphasize the need to teach the fundamentals of grammar to allow an easier, clearer, and more natural progression in learning language and building new skills. I also believe that culture and language are inseparable and am especially interested in Chinese folk opera, history, and the development of language and culture over time. Since my study has been done in Northern China, my Mandarin accent is very standard and I'm also very knowledgeable about local expressions in addition to standard Mandarin. I am an American who has put a lot of time and effort into studying Chinese so I am extremely patient and understanding with students and know how to explain Mandarin Chinese in a way that could help anyone.