Marin Toscano
Introduction: I believe that even though learning Mandarin is difficult, with the right approach it can be learned by anyone with a desire to learn it and it can even be fun!
My tutoring style is all about learning what is most relevant first. I want my students to be prepared to have everyday conversations sooner rather then later. Unlike most formal curriculum I like to start with lots of conversation practice and forms of grammar that are more colloquial in nature.
Just like we learn our first language, I believe you should learn everyday speech first and then later you can start to learn complex grammar and vocabulary more commonly found in literature.
My approach is ideal for students wanting to prepare for a trip to China or simply be able to converse with a Chinese community in their home country. I can also prepare you to read basic texts like newspapers, and listen to TV shows or other media.
I am flexible and am willing to adjust my teaching style to your needs. I accommodate students that simply want conversation practice as well of those looking to learn more about the written language. I can also prepare assignments for students to do on their own if desired.
Communication is key. Feel free to ask me any questions that will help you decide if this is a good fit.
I often hear people say Mandarin is the hardest language to learn, and this is exactly why I decided to start studying it in 2008. I wanted the challenge. I fell in love with the language and the culture during my first visit in 2010. Since then I returned twice and lived there for a total of 2 years to research changes in the food system.
A lot of the time new students of Mandarin feel intimidated. As a Colorado native that became fluent in just 5 years I like to show my students that it can be done and that the road to fluency can be fun.
Momentum is key. I enjoy seeing my students start to get the hang of certain skills, and then marvel as progress becomes quicker. I believe motivated students can become proficient in just one year.
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Chelsey R.
Apr 3, 2016
I was a beginner when I started learning Mandarin with Marin. She understood my hardships as a native English speaker because she had to overcome the same obstacles before she became fluent. On the first day she already had me speaking key phrases. Instead of just repeating a tough word Marin would tell me how to move my mouth and had clear gestures to indicate tone. This really took out the stress in learning the more tongue-twistery words. Marin made it possible for me to progress quickly by introducing step by step approaches which gave me a strong foundation. She is able to explain intimidating concepts like tones in a way that makes sense to non-native learners.
Adri N.
Apr 7, 2016
When I was in college, I had taken a few Mandarin classes, but let's just say that college was a long time ago. A year or so ago, I took a trip to China. Leading up to it, I was intimidated by my failing language skills, so I enlisted Marin's help. Her passion for Mandarin very quickly got me through the basics and to a level where I felt confident enough to be in China on my own. At first I wanted to learn everything, then realized that I needed more business terminology (I was looking for a machine manufacturer) so Marin tailored her classes to my needs.
I would recommend Marin to anyone wanting to brush up on their Mandarin. Her level of fluency is truly impressive and she understands the difficulties English speakers have with the language, making her uniquely qualified to get you over those hurdles.