

Todd profile and its contact details have been verified by our team.
Todd
- Rate $53
- Response 1h

$53/h
1st lesson free
- Chinese
- Mandarin
- Chinese speaking
- Chinese listening
- Chinese accent reduction
40+ Years Speaking Mandarin | 20+ Years in China — A Clear Approach to Learning Mandarin. Free 45-Minute Intro Lesson.
- Chinese
- Mandarin
- Chinese speaking
- Chinese listening
- Chinese accent reduction
Lesson location
Recommended
Todd is a respected tutor in our community. They are highly recommended for their commitment and the quality of their lessons. An excellent choice to progress with confidence.
About Todd
I’m a lifelong language learner and Mandarin specialist with over 20 years of experience living and working in China and Taiwan. I hold a BA in Mongolian Language and Literature from Inner Mongolia University and spent more than a decade in China working in international business and cross-cultural negotiation.
Chinese language and culture have long fascinated me. My studies have included classical texts such as the Yi Jing and Dao De Jing, deepening my understanding of how the Chinese language reflects its culture and philosophy — almost forming its own universe of thought.
Beyond teaching, I write and create Mandarin learning materials, designing systems that help students embody Chinese — not simply translate it. My approach moves learners beyond vocabulary and grammar through careful pronunciation refinement and clear explanations, leading to deeper cultural understanding and the ability to think and communicate naturally in Mandarin. (Read student reviews below)
I’ve taught 900+ lessons and received over 320 five-star reviews, helping students grow from hesitant speakers into confident communicators. Whether you’re just beginning or working toward professional-level fluency, I’ll help you build clarity, confidence, and cultural insight.
Feedback from former students:
Student feedback:
“If you’re looking for a best-in-class Mandarin teacher with a deep understanding of the language, look no further.”
— Alexander, 103 lessons
Student feedback:
“Todd has exceptionally high standards for pronunciation. Unlike many teachers who accept ‘good enough,’ he carefully identifies pronunciation issues and provides clear, practical ways to fix them.”
Student feedback:
“After just a month of lessons with Todd, I was already seeing noticeable improvements in my Mandarin pronunciation.”
Student feedback:
“Because Todd lived in China for many years, he brings deep cultural understanding to his lessons along with strong language instruction.”
Student feedback:
“I went from zero knowledge of Mandarin to reading elementary stories and holding basic conversations in less than six months.”
Student feedback:
“As a native English speaker, it helped that Todd had gone through the same learning journey himself and understands the challenges learners face.”
— Brent, 40 lessons with Todd
Student feedback:
“Todd begins with careful pronunciation training and clear feedback, helping students build strong vocal muscle memory from the start.”
Student feedback:
“His explanations are clear and constructive, which helped me progress much faster than I expected.”
Student feedback:
“Todd was the exact teacher I needed to push my Mandarin to the next level. He speaks clearly and at the right pace for learners, which helped me build a strong foundation…”
— Dan, 21 lessons with Todd
Student feedback:
“Lessons with Todd are engaging, enjoyable, and intellectually stimulating.”
About the lesson
- Elementary School
- Middle School
- High School
- +21
levels :
Elementary School
Middle School
High School
Première
Terminale
College
University
Adult Education
Masters/ Graduate School
Doctorate
MBA
Early childhood education
ILR Level 0
ILR Level 1
ILR Level 2
ILR Level 3
ILR Level 4
ILR Level 5
Other
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
Proficient
Children
- English
All languages in which the lesson is available :
English
My lessons focus on spoken fluency, tone precision, and learning to think naturally in Mandarin.
I use authentic materials, guided Q&A, and structured conversational practice to help students build real-world communication skills. Rather than relying heavily on generic textbooks, I design each lesson around your interests, goals, and professional needs. I bring in targeted materials and texts that directly support what you want to achieve.
Pronunciation and tone accuracy are a core part of my teaching. I provide clear, constructive feedback so your Mandarin becomes both natural and precise.
Whether you are strengthening fundamentals or working toward advanced fluency, my aim is to help you speak with clarity, confidence, and cultural understanding.
Recommendations
Recommendations come from relatives, friends and acquaintances of the tutor.
Todd's a great teacher. His lessons are all informed by his experiences traveling and living in China and Taiwan for many years. He's an attentive conversation partner, always aware of what I'm trying to say and helping me reinforce words and their meanings within the rich cultural context of how they're actually used, and he's always ready to dive into the nuances of how ideas are expressed differently from what I'm used to.
Todd has been my Mandarin tutor for about a year now and I have been incredibly happy with my progress. He has incredible insight into the language and culture! I’ve been to China twice - one time pre- and another post- beginning lessons with him, and I noticed a significant difference in my ability to communicate clearly. Just recently, we had a lesson on Lunar New Year phrases and the culture surrounding the holidays. He and I focus a lot on tones, which tend to be buried in traditional education, but is crucial for non-native speakers to learn and focus on. I would really recommend Todd to anyone wanting to learn or refine their Mandarin skills. I’ve had many mandarin professors and Todd is by far the best. Makes me excited to keep progressing
View more recommendations
Rates
Rate
- $53
Pack rates
- 5 h: $243
- 10 h: $458
online
- $53/h
free lessons
This first lesson offered with Todd will allow you to get to know each other and clearly specify your needs for your next lessons.
- 1hrs
Details
Numbers in Chinese carry cultural meaning beyond simple mathematics. The number eight (八) is especially beloved. You may have seen combinations like 888, 668, or 168 — each has its own tone and resonance within the Chinese mindset.
Eight is considered lucky because its pronunciation (bā) resembles the sound of 发 / 發 (fā), meaning “to prosper” or “to get rich.”
In Chinese, numbers are more than numbers — they are culture expressed through sound and symbolism.
Todd's Video
Other tutors in Chinese
Xiaozheng
Calgary & online
- $45/h
- 1st lesson free
Jue
Coquitlam & online
- $35/h
- 1st lesson free
Ruting
Toronto & online
- $26/h
- 1st lesson free
Crystal
Toronto & online
- $15/h
- 1st lesson free
Linxuan
Montreal & online
- $30/h
- 1st lesson free
Jessica
Toronto & online
- $60/h
Liz
Toronto & online
- $60/h
- 1st lesson free
An
Edmonton & online
- $35/h
- 1st lesson free
Zhanzhi
Montreal & online
- $50/h
- 1st lesson free
Coco
Burnaby & online
- $30/h
- 1st lesson free
Elfa
Toronto & online
- $40/h
Cheng-Hung (Jerome)
Edmonton & online
- $35/h
- 1st lesson free
Daiana
& online
- $40/h
- 1st lesson free
Iryna
Toronto & online
- $50/h
- 1st lesson free
Grace
Edmonton & online
- $30/h
- 1st lesson free
Della
Toronto & online
- $45/h
- 1st lesson free
Jian
Toronto & online
- $25/h
- 1st lesson free
Xia
Toronto & online
- $18/h
- 1st lesson free
Amber
Edmonton & online
- $35/h
- 1st lesson free
Wendy
Ottawa & online
- $50/h
- 1st lesson free
-
More Chinese tutors
