Frequently Asked Questions

Everyone from kindergarten to adults. My specialty — and most of my experience — is K-8 students, but I also prepare teens for AP Chinese and HSK exams and teach adult learners in the evenings.

Not at all — most of my students start with zero exposure. My whole method is built for English-speaking beginners: we start with sounds, songs, and games, and children are using real Mandarin phrases from the very first lesson.

Rates depend on the format and location: private 1:1 lessons are billed as semester packages with monthly autopay, sibling and friend pods cost less per child, and co-op or group classes are billed per student per semester. Request a quote on the Rates page and you’ll have exact numbers within 1 business day — and every family starts with a free trial, so there’s no risk in finding out.

You and your child meet Teacher Penny (in person or online), do a short, fun mini-lesson so she can gauge level and learning style, and talk through goals. You leave with a recommended format and starting point — no obligation.

Wherever works: your home, a library meeting room, your co-op or school, or online for existing students and adults. Teacher Penny travels throughout Columbus and the surrounding suburbs — Gahanna, New Albany, Westerville, Dublin, Powell, and Upper Arlington.

Yes. She holds an Ohio substitute teaching license, which requires full state BCI/FBI background checks, and she taught for four years in the Gahanna-Jefferson public school district. Documentation is available to co-ops and schools on request.

A sequenced curriculum Teacher Penny developed and refined across four years of district teaching, organized into levels with clear milestones. Materials — workbooks, printables, songs, and games — are included; you don’t need to buy anything.

Yes. For older students, lessons follow a sequenced course of study with assessments that homeschool families can document for transcript credit. Teacher Penny provides progress reports and can help you describe the course for your records.

Life happens. With 24 hours’ notice, lessons are rescheduled at no charge. Weather cancellations automatically move online or to a make-up slot — the make-up policy is spelled out in every enrollment packet.

Semester packages with monthly autopay for private lessons and pods; co-op and group classes are billed per student per semester. Details come with your quote.

Levels and parent progress reports each semester — plus an annual Lunar New Year showcase where students perform what they’ve learned. You’ll hear your child’s progress, not just read about it.

Yes — Teacher Penny is trilingual (English, Mandarin, Cantonese) and one of very few Columbus teachers offering Cantonese lessons, especially valuable for heritage families.

Co-op and group classes run best with 6–12 students. Pods of 2–4 kids from one or two families are a great smaller option — get in touch and we’ll find the right format.

Start with the co-op coordinator section on the homeschool page: you can download a one-page program proposal to share with your board, then send an inquiry. Penny provides curriculum overview, licensing and background-check documentation, per-student rates, and a demo class or free cultural workshop so your families can try before committing.

Online lessons are available for adults, teens in test prep, and existing K-8 students (for example, as weather make-ups). For young beginners she strongly recommends starting in person — it’s where her method works best.

Yes — that’s the specialty. Daytime availability for homeschool families is one of the rarest things to find in a certified Mandarin teacher, and it’s the heart of this practice.