About Us
At M for Mandarin, we believe that learning Mandarin should be as creative and exciting as it is educational.
Our approach goes beyond traditional language learning—incorporating art, music, culture, and interactive activities into every lesson.
We’re all about making Mandarin practical, engaging, and fun for learners of all ages and levels. Whether you're looking to connect with your roots, explore a new culture, or master a new skill, we tailor every class to your unique goals.
Join us in New York, the Hamptons, or online, and let’s make learning Mandarin an inspiring journey!
Anastasia Lew is the founder of M For Mandarin. She believes that creative education sparks a lifelong love for learning. With a vision to make Mandarin more accessible and engaging, she creates programs where learners of all ages develop language skills while exploring Chinese culture through art and interactive lessons.
Anastasia’s bilingual journey began at the age of ten at the Moscow Chinese International School. She earned a Bachelor’s in Education and later moved to Shanghai to pursue a Master’s in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language at Shanghai University. With over ten years of teaching experience in China, Russia, and the United States, Anastasia is dedicated to inspiring learners through creative and effective educational methods.
As a non-native speaker, she understands the challenges of learning Mandarin, which makes her approach uniquely empathetic and relatable for her students.
At M for Mandarin, the programs are designed to make learning Chinese fun, relatable, and enjoyable. Students gain a rich and immersive experience while mastering Mandarin.
FAQs
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Most kids’ lessons are 45-60 minutes, depending on age and attention span. Adult lessons typically run 60 minutes, but we can customize based on your preference.
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100%! Many adult students start from scratch. We’ll ease into it together and focus on real-life, useful language from day one, with no drills and no stress.
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Very flexible. Since all lessons are private, we can work around your schedule, whether that means evenings, lunch breaks, weekends, or other times.
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Absolutely. We’ll revisit what you remember, fill in the gaps, and help you grow your skills confidently.
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Both, but tailored to your goals. Pinyin helps with pronunciation and early speaking, while characters connect you to reading and writing. If you’re more interested in conversation, we can keep the focus there.
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Yes! We offer tailored sessions based on your goals, whether you’re prepping for a trip, reconnecting with family, or diving into business Mandarin.
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We welcome little learners from age 3 and up. Lessons are playful, creative, and personalized to your child’s developmental stage.
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Definitely. Private lessons help complement school learning, build confidence, and fill in gaps or even go beyond what’s taught in class.
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Definitely! Conversation practice is a big part of every lesson, helping you build confidence and fluency naturally.
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We tailor every lesson based on your preferences, whether you learn best through visuals, listening, speaking, writing, or a mix. We keep it engaging and suited to you.
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Apps are mostly for memorizing words, and they don’t help you actually speak or use the language in real life. With private lessons, you practice real conversation, get feedback, and learn in a way that actually sticks.