Kai
About Me
Lessons
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Visited an hour ago
Kai
Professional Teacher![]()
Teaches
Chinese (Mandarin)
Native
Speaks
Chinese (Other)
Native
English
Russian
Spanish
French
Specialties
Test PreparationCertified Chinese Teacher with 8 Years of Experience - Tailored Lessons to Meet Your Needs and Goals
Teaches
Chinese (Mandarin)
Native
Speaks
Chinese (Other)
Native
English
Russian
Spanish
French
Specialties
Test PreparationCertified Chinese Teacher with 8 Years of Experience - Tailored Lessons to Meet Your Needs and Goals
About Me
Me as a Teacher
My lessons & teaching style
Resume & Certificates
From ChinaLiving in St. Paul, United States (12:45 UTC-05:00)
About Me
italki teacher since Aug 4, 2023InterestsTravelFoodMusic
Hi, I'm Kai, a Chinese teacher from China living in Minnesota since 2018. I love traveling, and I've visited 25 states. I've also lived in Russia for two years, teaching Chinese and exploring different cities. I speak Mandarin, English, Russian, some Spanish, and a little French. I believe learning languages is an excellent way to connect with people from different backgrounds and cultures. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, biking, singing, and meeting new people. I'm open-minded and believe anyone can learn a new language with the right approach. If you want a professional and patient Chinese teacher who is passionate about language learning and cultural exchange, let's work together!Me as a Teacher
I am an experienced certified Chinese teacher with a Master’s degree in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language. I have been teaching Chinese in various settings since 2015, including in-person and online classes in China, the US, and Russia. In the US, I have taught at high schools and universities, focusing on all four skills. I also developed and taught an online Chinese course. In Russia, I taught Chinese to nearly 130 undergraduates and graduate students from various countries. I have also taught Chinese at Jilin University and as part of the "Online Chinese Teachers" program. I love creating and planning lessons and helping students achieve their language-learning goals.My lessons & teaching style
I'm an experienced Chinese language teacher with a student-centered approach. I use a communicative approach, prioritizing conversation skills and practical application. My teaching materials are varied, and I make use of technology to enhance the learning experience. Every student is unique, so I personalize my teaching methods to meet their needs. I'm passionate about teaching Chinese and believe language learning is also about understanding cultures. I aim to help my students achieve their language goals while fostering understanding of and appreciation for Chinese culture.My teaching material
- PDF file
- Text Documents
- Presentation slides/PPT
- Audio files
- Image files
- Video files
- Flashcards
- Articles and news
- Quizzes
- Test templates and examples
- Graphs and charts
- Homework Assignments
Certificates
CTCSOL (国际汉语教师证书) - Center for Language Education and Cooperation - 2020The Certificate for Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages validates the holder's competence and proficiency in teaching Chinese to non-native speakers. To obtain it, one must: Possess a bachelor's degree or above from an accredited institution; Have at least 2 years of Chinese language teaching experience or equivalent; Successfully complete the CTCSOL training program; Pass the CTCSOL exam, which assesses the candidate's knowledge of Chinese language teaching theory and pedagogy.
Certificate verified
CTCSOL - Center for Language Education and Cooperation - 2020
Certificate verified
Education
2014 - 2017
Master's - Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language/Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other LanguagesMy studies were focused on both the linguistic and pedagogical aspects of teaching Chinese to speakers of other languages. Throughout my studies, I was introduced to a specialized curriculum that focused on the best ways to teach Chinese vocabulary, grammar, phonetics, and Chinese characters as well as how to incorporate cultural aspects into my teaching. I also underwent an intensive training process which included bi-weekly demonstration classes in front of my professors and the whole class.
2014 - 2017
Master's - Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language/Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other LanguagesMy studies were focused on both the linguistic and pedagogical aspects of teaching Chinese to speakers of other languages. Throughout my studies, I was introduced to a specialized curriculum that focused on the best ways to teach Chinese vocabulary, grammar, phonetics, and Chinese characters as well as how to incorporate cultural aspects into my teaching. I also underwent an intensive training process which included bi-weekly demonstration classes in front of my professors and the whole class.
Work Experience
2020 - 2021
Chinese InstructorTaught a Chinese course catering to students from Apollo High School and St. Cloud State University in MN, achievin a 100% pass rate in HSK levels 3, 4 and 5. With a particular emphasis on reading and writing, my curriculum also featured individual and group activities, including speaking and listening exercises, to enhance student engagement and participation. By designing the course from scratch, I was able to employ innovative teaching methods and cultivate an effective learning environment.
2019 - 2021
Co-instructor of ChineseCo-taught Chinese classes at St. Cloud State University (SCSU), in collaboration with Winona State University (WSU) via video conferencing. Under the guidance of Dr. Weidong Zhang, the lead professor from WSU, I delivered comprehensive instruction across three levels: beginning, intermediate, and advanced. In addition to my teaching responsibilities, I also provided individualized Chinese tutoring sessions to students at SCSU, further enhancing their language proficiency and academic success.
2019 - 2020
Chinese teacherTaught an immersive in-person Chinese class to senior high school students at Apollo High School, a public school in St. Cloud. In this role, I successfully supported a diverse range of student levels, spanning from beginning to advanced proficiency. Focusing on key skills in reading, writing, and speaking, I designed and delivered dynamic coursework that fostered a deep understanding of Chinese language and culture, achieving 100% pass rate in HSK (Chinese proficiency test) levels 3, 4 and 5.
2018 - 2018
Chinese teacherTaught Chinese for 2 months at Cathedral High School, a private school in St. Cloud. With students' proficiency levels ranging from beginning to advanced, I provided comprehensive instruction that focused on all four language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. My dynamic teaching style, which integrated interactive classroom activities and real-life situations, fostered a highly engaging and dynamic learning environment that contributed to the academic success of all students.
2015 - 2017
Instructor/Professor of ChineseTaught Chinese at Southwestern State University’s Department of Languages and Department of International Relations for 2 years while working on my Master’s degree. Taught a total of 12 different groups over the 2-year period, with a total of nearly 130 undergraduates and graduate students from Russia, Central Asia and Japan across all proficiency levels. The classes were focused on all four skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Over 80% of students passed HSK levels 1 through 5.
2016 - 2017
Chinese teacherTaught Chinese part-time at the Kursk Foreign Language Training Center in Kursk, Russia. It was mostly small-size classes and one-on-one lessons which were mainly focused on beginning level conversational and Chinese characters. 14 out of 16 students passed HSK levels 1 through 3.
2015 - 2015
Graduate intern/Teaching assistantAs a graduate intern at the Department of Chinese as a Second Language at Jilin University, I taught two different groups of a total number of 32 international students whose level was intermediate. The class was particularly focused on students’ listening skills.
2015 - 2015
Chinese teacherAs part of the "Online Chinese Teachers" program initiated by the Confucius Institute Headquarters, I taught Chinese online to over 100 students whose Chinese was beginning and intermediate, focusing on conversational Chinese, slangs, and idioms, and I created the curriculum and planned all lessons on my own.
2022 - 2022
Chinese InstructorTaught an online beginner level Chinese course to adult learners and St. Paul College students. Utilizing Zoom and PowerPoint, I employed a student-centered approach that integrated cultural aspects, Chinese radicals, simple Chinese character writing, and conversational dialogue listening, alongside an introduction to basic conversational Chinese. The class was designed to be engaging and interactive, providing ample opportunities for students to practice their speaking skills.
2020 - 2023
Online Chinese teacher/tutorI've been teaching/tutoring students online since 2020. I've taught elementary and middle school students ages 8-14 and adults. My teaching/tutoring covers speaking, listening, Chinese characters, essay writing, helping with homework/assignments, news and article reading, Chinese proficiency test preparation and more. I use HSK/YCT textbooks, audios, sample tests, material I found online such as news and articles. I also use Integrated Chinese. All students passed HSK 2-4 and YCT 2-4.
2018 - 2022
Chinese Instructor, Chinese Test Center Director• Successfully designed and delivered online courses for Apollo High School and SCSU students, achieving 100% pass rate in HSK (Chinese proficiency test) levels 3, 4 and 5
• Co-taught classes across proficiency levels and provided impactful tutoring sessions
• Skillfully managed 2 Chinese proficiency test centers in MN, awarded 'Outstanding Test Center' twice in 4 years for seamless operations
2018 - 2022
Researcher & Program Manager• Led 3-year research on Chinese immersion and second language teaching, evaluating programs and assessing proficiency tests
• Hosted engaging webinars and contributed to conferences on Chinese immersion, language teaching, and teacher training
• Co-managed "story circle" program and Minnesota Chinese Tutor Platform, overseeing tutor recruitment and training while fostering academic and cultural exchange between American and Chinese students
2018 - 2022
Program Manager & Translator• Streamlined office operations, efficiently coordinating events, proficiently translating all programming and research materials and documents, as well as facilitating educational and cultural exchange programs
• Successfully managed diverse teams of interns and teachers, demonstrated exceptional leadership by ensuring smooth transitions, promoting efficient collaboration, and driving optimal performance
2018 - 2019
Chinese Teacher• Taught senior students with focus on reading and writing, resulting in 100% pass rate in HSK level 4
• Instructed students at beginner to advanced levels, providing immersive learning experiences covering all four essential skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing
2017 - 2018
English Teacher, Curriculum Developer & ResearcherTaught students ages 5-16 at various proficiency levels, while contributing to curriculum development and research efforts to create high-quality courses and reading materials
2015 - 2017
Chinese InstructorInstructed 130 undergraduate and graduate students from Russia, Central Asia, and Japan in 12 classes, with over 80% of students passing HSK levels 1 through 5
2016 - 2017
Chinese TeacherConducted small classes and one-on-one lessons, prioritizing conversational Chinese and Chinese characters, culminating in 14 out of 16 students passing HSK levels 1 through 3
2015 - 2015
Teaching Assistant & Online Chinese Instructor• Instructed 32 international students across 2 classes in intermediate listening skills
• Created and successfully delivered engaging online lessons on conversational Chinese, slangs, and idioms to diverse cohort of over 100 beginner and intermediate level students
2019 - 2022
Chinese Language Program Researcher & Coordinator• Conducted extensive research on Chinese immersion and second language teaching for 3 years, evaluating immersion programs in Minnesota and assessing Chinese proficiency tests
• Published academic research journal in Chinese titled Evaluation of the Language Proficiency Tests used for Early Total Chinese Immersion Programs
5.0
Rating
28
Students
294
Lessons
100%
Attendance rate
95%
Response rate
Chinese (Mandarin) Lessons
Trial Lesson
20 lessons completed
USD 30.00+
Have Fun with Chinese Language and Culture (Beginner to Advanced)
A1 - C2Language Essentials133 lessons completed
USD 35.00+
Package with 4% off
Everyday Conversational Chinese: Speak Confidently in Real-Life Situations
A1 - C2Conversation66 lessons completed
USD 35.00+
Package with 4% off
Productive Chinese Proficiency Test Preparation for all levels (HSK, HSKK, YCT, AAPPL, STAMP, AP Chinese and more)
A1 - C2Language Essentials31 lessons completed
USD 35.00+
Package with 4% off
Comprehensive Business Chinese Mastery: Navigating Various Industries with Confidence (Beginner to Advanced)
A1 - C2Language Essentials0 lessons completed
USD 41.00+
Package with 4% off
Journey into Mandarin Wonderland: Unveil the Wonders and Fun of Chinese Language and Culture for Young Explorers! (Beginner to Advanced, ages 6-18)
A1 - C2Language Essentials44 lessons completed
USD 35.00+
Package with 4% off
Have Fun with Chinese Language and Culture (Beginner to Advanced)
A1 - C2Language Essentials0 lessons completed
USD 35.00+
Package with 4% off
Availability
Based on your timezone (UTC+00:00)
My creations
Quiz (2)
13 Reviews
Cory Turner
1 Chinese (Mandarin) lesson
Had my first lesson with Kai, he was great! He quickly put me at ease and made the lesson fun, I hope to book more with him!
Mar 14, 2025
Denis Rogov
2 Chinese (Mandarin) lessons
Кай отличный преподаватель с отличным английским, русским и естественно китайским =)
Рекомендую!
Mar 26, 2024
Sakhaaya Burnasheva
7 Chinese (Mandarin) lessons
Пробный урок китайского на русском отлично прошел! Спасибо Каю за материалы и разговор! Буду заниматься дальше =)
Jan 26, 2024
Karlee
44 Chinese (Mandarin) lessons
Excellent class! Excellent teacher! Thank you!
Apr 2, 2024
Alexander Kodama
21 Chinese (Mandarin) lessons
I've been meeting with Kai for a while now and it is a blast every time! He gives tons of feedback and he is easy to talk to!
Feb 23, 2024
Matyas
21 Chinese (Mandarin) lessons
I had a great trial lesson experience with Kai; he listened, asked questions, and took notes of the vocabulary I didn't know/he provided me with during the lesson. I look forward to my next class with him!
Jan 15, 2024
Trial Lesson
USD 30.00
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