About Zoey, Chinese teacher in Amsterdam
I am Zoey, Ziqiao Zang (臧子乔), a Chinese teacher in Amsterdam and the founder of KeSong Chinese. I have taught Chinese as a foreign language since 2011, in the Netherlands since 2016, and I write every page on this site.
By Zoey (Ziqiao Zang), Chinese teacher since 2011
At a glance
- Name: Zoey · Ziqiao Zang · 臧子乔 (Zāng Zǐqiáo)
- Profession: teacher of Chinese as a foreign language
- Teaching since: 2011; in the Netherlands since 2016
- Education: MTCSOL (Linguistics and Applied Linguistics) and BA Chinese Language and Literature, Zhejiang Normal University
- Now: founder of KeSong Chinese; Chinese language instructor at UvA Talen
- Languages: Mandarin Chinese (native), English (fluent)
- Find me on: LinkedIn · YouTube: KeSong Chinese · Groningen Confucius Institute staff page · Global China Insights
My story
At Zhejiang Normal University (浙江师范大学) I studied Chinese Language and Literature (2004–2008) and was editor-in-chief of the university’s literary magazine. Teaching Chinese to people from other countries became my profession.
I went back to the same university for a Master of Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (MTCSOL, 汉语国际教育硕士), in the field of Linguistics and Applied Linguistics (2011–2014). My postgraduate research focused on teaching Chinese as a foreign language.
From 2011 to 2015 I taught at Shenyang Ligong University (沈阳理工大学): Ancient Chinese Literature and Modern and Contemporary Chinese Literature for undergraduates, and Chinese language and ancient Chinese history for international students. I also organised Chinese-culture activities for students.
In 2016 I moved to the Netherlands and joined the Groningen Confucius Institute, based in Amsterdam, where I worked for more than nine years (until July 2025) as a language educator, curriculum developer, instructional designer and event manager.
Since July 2025 I have been a Chinese language instructor at UvA Talen, the University of Amsterdam’s language centre. And I founded KeSong Chinese (可颂中文): my own independent studio for learners who want a personal, flexible programme with more depth for HSK and business goals.
Track record
| International Chinese teaching | 15+ years, 9 of them in the Netherlands |
| Students | designed and delivered Chinese programmes for 2000+ students |
| HSK | established and managed an official HSK online exam centre since 2022, with 250+ test candidates |
| Teacher training | 16 teacher-training sessions with 500+ attendees |
| Culture | 12 cultural salon events with 200+ participants |
| Digital teaching | YouTube e-learning videos; online teaching with Zoom; interactive lessons designed in Canva |
The HSK work matters a great deal to my teaching. Running a test centre showed me exactly how the exam is organised and where candidates gain and lose points, and I bring that into every HSK preparation course.
What I teach
As a Mandarin teacher in Amsterdam and online, I teach adults at every level:
- Complete beginners, from pinyin and tones to HSK 1: Chinese for beginners
- HSK 1–6 and HSKK preparation, including the new HSK 3.0: HSK preparation
- Business Chinese for professionals and teams: Business Chinese
- Conversation, including morning classes: conversation classes
- Culture workshops and partnerships: culture workshops
Lessons are one-to-one or in small groups, online or in person in Amsterdam by arrangement. One-to-one lessons are €60 per hour; see prices.
How I teach
My lessons follow three steps.
- Begin with your goals. An exam, a job, a partner’s family, a trip: the reason you learn decides what we learn first.
- Learn in context. I combine structured teaching with stories, literature, images and real conversations. Words stick when they mean something; that is why my YouTube channel tells short stories for every HSK level.
- Make it your own. From the first week you use new language to talk about your own life. Progress is reviewed regularly, and the plan changes when your life does.
I pay particular attention to tones and pronunciation in the first months, because good habits then save years later, and to reading characters in context rather than from lists. For working learners I keep homework short and regular: fifteen minutes a day is better than two hours on Sunday.
On YouTube
On the KeSong Chinese YouTube channel I publish Chinese stories at every HSK level (with pinyin, subtitles and grammar notes), a workplace-Chinese series about high-context communication, and short podcasts about everyday life. This short introduction gives a first impression:
The video loads from YouTube when you press play.
Visit the channel: youtube.com/@CoSong-Chinese. For my professional background, see my LinkedIn profile.
Articles I have written
Every guide on this site is written by me. These are the articles in English:
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HSK exam guide
Levels, HSK 3.0, test centres, dates, fees and registration in the Netherlands.
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HSK 1
Word list, grammar, exam format and sample questions.
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HSK 2
Word list, grammar, exam format and sample questions.
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HSK 3
Word list, grammar, exam format and sample questions.
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HSK 4
Word list, grammar, exam format and sample questions.
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HSK 5
Word list, grammar, exam format and sample questions.
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HSK 6
Word list, grammar, exam format and sample questions.
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How long does it take to learn Chinese?
Realistic hours per HSK level, what is hard, what is easy, and a 12-month plan.
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Chinese characters
How the script works, radicals, stroke order and the 100 most common characters.
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Pinyin and the four tones
A clickable pinyin chart, the four tones, tone pairs and the classic mistakes.
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Basic Chinese phrases
Hello, thank you, sorry, I love you: with characters, pinyin and audio.
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Chinese numbers
Count from 1 to 100 and beyond, hand gestures and lucky numbers.
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Mandarin vs Cantonese
What Mandarin is, how it differs from Cantonese, and which one to learn.
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Chinese names
How Chinese names work, common surnames, and how to choose your own name.
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Best apps to learn Chinese
An honest review of Duolingo, HelloChinese, Pleco, Anki and free resources.
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Chinese grammar basics
Word order, 了, measure words, questions and the patterns that matter first.
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Chinese culture for learners
Values, everyday habits, festivals and Chinese culture in the Netherlands.
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Chinese New Year 2027
The date, the Year of the Goat, traditions, wishes and Amsterdam celebrations.
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Chinese zodiac calculator
Find your animal and element by birth date, with characters and pronunciation.
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Chinese business etiquette
Business cards, meetings, dinners, toasts and guanxi, explained by a teacher.
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Where to learn Chinese in Amsterdam
Every option for adults compared: courses, tutors, online, free resources.
Get in touch
If you would like to learn with me, or organise a workshop or training for your organisation, send me an enquiry. I reply personally. 期待认识你！Qīdài rènshi nǐ! I look forward to meeting you.
Frequently asked questions
What are Zoey's qualifications?
Zoey holds a Master of Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (MTCSOL), in the field of Linguistics and Applied Linguistics, and a bachelor's degree in Chinese Language and Literature, both from Zhejiang Normal University in China. She has taught Chinese since 2011 and set up and managed an official HSK online test centre.
Where does Zoey teach?
At KeSong Chinese, her own independent studio, mainly online and in person in Amsterdam by arrangement. Since July 2025 she is also a Chinese language instructor at UvA Talen, the University of Amsterdam's language centre. Before that she worked for nine years at the Groningen Confucius Institute.
What languages does Zoey speak?
Mandarin Chinese is her native language and she speaks English fluently.
Is KeSong part of a university or institute?
No. KeSong is an independent language studio founded by Zoey. Institution names on this site are included only to describe her professional experience and current teaching work.
Learn with Zoey
One-to-one or in a small group, online or in Amsterdam by arrangement. Tell Zoey what you want to achieve and she will suggest a plan.
About the author
Zoey (Ziqiao Zang, 臧子乔) has taught Chinese as a foreign language since 2011 and in the Netherlands since 2016. She holds a Master of Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages from Zhejiang Normal University and set up and ran an official HSK online exam centre with more than 250 candidates.