Meet UPWARD’s Student: Teona Mchedlishvili

The Chinese language is one of the most distinctive languages in the world, known for its unique characters and tonal pronunciation. For this reason, learning it is often considered a formidable barrier to overcome. However, in reality, nothing is insurmountable. To see this for yourself, read about Teona Mchedlishvili’s journey to achieving the HSK1 level Chinese certificate.

Teona has always been interested in learning foreign languages. Initially, she mastered European languages: during her school years, she studied Russian and English, and at university, French. She also learned Spanish with the help of mobile applications. However, for the past two years, Asian languages and culture have entered her life.

On the internet, Teona frequently explored Korean and Chinese culture. Eventually, she became so fascinated by the Chinese language that she decided to study it seriously. To achieve this goal, Teona first turned to the Duolingo app, and then discovered UPWARD, where she began studying Chinese in depth.

“To this day, I am amazed by the logic of the Chinese language and the harmonious connection between characters, words, and phrases.”

Before starting her studies, Teona considered Chinese characters an insurmountable obstacle. However, after coming to UPWARD, that perception changed—memorizing them is not as difficult as it seems from a distance. At this stage, tones remain a challenge for her, but with the help of her teacher, she is constantly improving them.

An additional motivation during the learning process was UPWARD’s initiative: this year, the academy fully funded the Chinese language proficiency exam for several students, including Teona. Winning this funding served as a huge incentive for her to pass the exam successfully. The resulting outcome speaks for itself—Teona scored the highest marks and earned her HSK1 certificate!

Teona was helped along her path to success by her teacher at UPWARD, Tatia Karkhashadze, who constantly tried to encourage her whenever she tackled difficult characters or grammar points. The teaching process was always tailored to the student’s abilities and skills, making it easier for Teona to grasp the Chinese language and keeping her highly motivated for the next steps.

Teona has already set her next goal—conquering the HSK2 level and obtaining the corresponding certificate. On this journey, she wishes herself and her classmates peace of mind and mental focus.

So, if you want to discover the Asian world and get to know it up close, UPWARD is the best starting point on this path!