Sam set to offer new Mandarin lessons

Sam Postlethwaite

CasaLingua already offers lessons in five languages from our Consett classrooms and online – and we’re adding another this summer!

Mandarin is an exciting new addition to our classes. We’re able to offer them thanks to our new tutor, Sam Postlethwaite.

With a name like that, you can know Sam isn’t a native of China! But he has spent 14 years there and his wife is Chinese. As a result, he not only understands and speaks the language, but he also has a deep understanding of the language and its culture.

Sam decided to go travelling the world and to teach England at the age of 21. But he was so captivated by China and comfortable with the language, he decided to stay there.

“I never expected to learn the language, to be honest,” he says. “And then one day it just dawned on me that I was able to speak Chinese. I thought, ‘I'm having conversations in Chinese!’ and I never left.”

Sam’s Q&A

Why were you so keen to go to China?

As a child I was always fascinated by East Asian culture with the dragons, martial arts and stuff like that. When I was looking to teach English as a foreign language, China popped up quite a lot. There’s a big demand for English language teachers in China, so it was one of the first places that popped up. I had considered going to Japan or Brazil, but China came first and I stuck with it for another 14 years!

What did you enjoy about Chinese culture?

Chinese people are very welcoming and very friendly people. You can meet someone on the streets, have a conversation and within 10 minutes they’d be offering to cook a meal for you both in their house. They’re very food-centric, which I like.

Do you have a favourite dish?

There are so many different types of food, so it’s difficult to pinpoint one. But I do like the broth dish where you have a pot in the centre of the table bubbling away and you cook your food in, such as lamb strips or vegetable skewers. And Chinese barbecue is amazing!

Why did you come back to the UK?

My wife, Lu, is from China and after about 6 years of marriage we had our first son. And two years later we had our second son. I live in Hexham and originally come from Corbridge, and we both felt it was better here to raise our family. We love China but the cities are very busy, crowded and polluted. We wanted them to experience the countryside and green spaces. Both of our sons are bilingual. 

When did you find out about CasaLingua?

I was Googling and looking for work around the area. I am a Chinese language teacher, but there isn’t a huge demand for that here, at least not right now. I’ve been working as a translator at Nissan as they have bought equipment made in China that is being installed by a local team. They require translation and interpretation so I am assisting with that. It has been a lot of fun. But when I saw that there was a language school, I thought that I could offer to teach Mandarin. I’m looking forward to teaching my first learners from CasaLingua.

What do you like to do in your free time?

I’m really into powerlifting. And I do love running, too, and I also cycle a lot. I haven’t a car at the moment, so that’s how I get around. When I was working for Nissan, I was using public transport and then biking to the factory at Washington!

Why learn Mandarin?

Mandarin is the world's most spoken first language, with over 1 billion native speakers. They are primarily found in China, Taiwan, and Singapore. For more facts about Mandarin click here.

With stunning countryside and breathtaking history, these areas of Asia have long been a destination for travellers. Being able to speak Mandarin can help make such visits easier and more fulfilling.

Anyone wishing to do business with companies in China, Singapore or Taiwan can break down barriers if they’re able to speak Mandarin confidently. That’s why we’ve added Mandarin to our growing list of languages. To sign up or find out more, click here.