Misty F   

New tutor

🏆Certified Pro(10Y+) | 🚀Fix Your Speaking Fast (HSK & Business Expert) | 🗣️Real Life Conversation | 💬Fluency & Pronunciation

What is your favorite word in your language and why?

My favorite word in Chinese is “缘分” (yuánfèn). It is difficult to translate directly into English because it carries a deep cultural meaning. It refers to a special kind of fate or invisible connection that brings people together at the right moment in life. In Chinese culture, we believe some encounters are not accidental — whether it is friendship, love, or even a meaningful conversation. I love this word because it reflects warmth, coincidence, and human connection in a very poetic way. As a teacher, I also feel that meeting students from different countries is a kind of “缘分.”

What is your favorite dish from your hometown? If you no longer live there is there a good local restaurant that serves it?

My favorite dish from my hometown is Tiánshuǐ Miàn (甜水面), a traditional noodle dish from Sichuan. The noodles are thick and chewy, covered in a rich sauce made with soy sauce, sesame paste, garlic, chili oil, and a hint of sweetness. It perfectly represents the balance of flavors in Sichuan cuisine — spicy, savory, fragrant, and slightly sweet at the same time. What makes the dish special to me is not only the taste, but also the memories attached to it: small family-owned restaurants, busy streets, and the comforting atmosphere of home.

Besides the languages you teach, do you speak or study any other languages?

Yes! I genuinely love languages and enjoy studying them as a lifelong passion. Besides Chinese and English, I have studied Korean, Spanish, French, Yiddish, and Latin. I may not speak all of them fluently, but learning different languages has helped me better understand how people think, communicate, and learn. As a language teacher, this experience allows me to empathize with students because I understand both the excitement and the frustration of learning a new language. I also enjoy discovering the history and culture hidden inside languages — every language offers a different way of seeing the world.

What are your interests outside of teaching at Strommen?

Outside of teaching, I am a passionate film lover and spend a lot of time exploring cinema from different countries and periods. I especially enjoy films that reflect culture, human emotion, and social change. I am also deeply interested in art and traditional Chinese culture. In my free time, I enjoy learning and experiencing traditional crafts such as Shu embroidery (Shǔ Xiù) and cloisonné enamel art. These art forms require patience, precision, and appreciation for beauty — qualities that I also bring into my teaching. I love visiting museums, galleries, cultural events, and historical places because they constantly inspire me and help me stay connected to both tradition and creativity.

What do you consider your hometown? Why do you love it?

I consider my hometown, a small city in Sichuan surrounded by mountains and rivers, to be my hometown. It is known for its peaceful atmosphere, beautiful nature, and fresh air. The moment you arrive there, you can immediately feel the difference — the air is cleaner, the pace is slower, and there is a sense of calm that is difficult to find in large modern cities. What I love most about it is the feeling of familiarity and connection to nature. Rain, rivers, tea fields, and misty mountains are all part of everyday life there. It shaped the way I see the world: appreciating quiet moments, human warmth, and the balance between people and nature. No matter where I go, it always feels like home to me.