Finding the right teacher I study Chinese at university in Melbourne. I have just completed my first semester, 6 months, of Chinese studies. I have good teachers at university, but in class, it's hard to get much individual attention. So italki has been a very important part of my study. I have a great Chinese teacher here on italki. Her name is Elena Ann (http://www.italki.com/teacher/1263046). We found each other by chance, but I have stayed with her by choice. She worked with me all through my difficult first semester of learning Chinese. She is clever, patient, kind and very, very persistent. It seems to me that finding a good teacher is very much by chance. I follow people on www.italki.com who interest me and watch what they say. You can tell a lot from how someone responds to a question. Trial lessons can help too. I think the idea of packages of lessons is a good one, as it is a bit of commitment, to stick with study for a period of time. To me, finding the right teacher is a bit like finding a girlfriend or boyfriend. It often starts by chance, you feel each other out, trying to see whether you are suited to each other. Often, you find the right person in quite unexpected places. Please tell me how you found your language teacher or tutor? Was it easy to find the right person? Did you stick with your first choice? Was it love at first sight? Do you have any hints for other students? ~~Andrew