From Beijing to British Classrooms: Rob Neal’s Commitment to Mandarin Education

When Rob Neal first arrived in Beijing in the early 2000s, he didn’t speak Mandarin. He didn’t know the bus routes, and he certainly didn’t expect that a short solo trip would set the course for the rest of his career.

More than two decades later, China remains central to his professional and personal life, and to his mission as lecturer in Modern Language Education (Mandarin) and Course Director for the PG Dip Mandarin and PGCE Mandarin at Oxford University’s Department of Education.

Rob’s path into Mandarin was anything but linear. With a background in French and German, his early career took him across Europe and Asia as an English language teacher, from Hungary to Japan. It was during his time in Japan, however, that China first made its mark. A brief visit to Beijing proved transformative.

“I remember getting lost, not speaking a word of Mandarin,” Rob recalls, “and just feeling that this place was amazing. I knew I’d be back.”

Teaching in China at a pivotal moment

Rob returned soon after he left China. This time – to stay. From 2004 to 2006, Rob taught English at Peking University, one of China’s most prestigious institutions. Teaching some of the brightest students in the country gave him what he describes as a “ringside view” of a nation in the midst of rapid change.

He says: “There was just this incredible sense of energy. China was buzzing socially, intellectually, culturally. It felt like history in motion.”

That experience left a lasting impression. Immersed in Beijing life, Rob studied Mandarin intensively, using the language daily both inside and outside the university lecture halls. He learned as much from his students as they did from him; travelling with them, debating with them, and gaining insight into a culture that values education, effort, and aspiration.

“It really got under my skin,” he says. “In a good way.”

Rob with his students at Peking University.

Bringing China back to the UK classroom

When Rob returned to the UK, the impact of China travelled with him. After completing teacher training, he spent nearly two decades teaching Mandarin in secondary schools in Sheffield and Manchester, often in challenging inner-city contexts. Alongside this, he pursued postgraduate research, culminating in a PhD focused on how beginner learners of Mandarin develop pronunciation and tone.

His research reflects a philosophy shaped by years in real classrooms. Rather than aiming for native-like perfection, Rob’s work emphasises intelligibility and confidence. “If learners can be understood, that’s what matters,” he explains. “Mandarin shouldn’t feel like an impossible mountain. It should feel achievable.”

Rob took up to 20 hours of Mandarin lessons per week when he was living in Beijing.

Making Mandarin accessible to all learners

In his current role, Rob is committed to making Mandarin a genuinely mainstream subject, one that is accessible to students of all backgrounds, not just for the posh kids with pushy parents. He works closely with schools, teachers, and trainee educators, bridging the gap between academic research and classroom reality.

Prior to joining the Department, Rob worked as the Manchester Swire Chinese Language Centre Coordinator, a role focused on embedding Mandarin into the mainstream curriculum across partner schools in and around Manchester. His work has also taken him further afield, supporting schools in cities such as Birmingham, Leeds and Oxford.

A key part of this role involves visiting schools and speaking directly to pupils about the value of learning Mandarin. Drawing on his own experiences, Rob encourages students to see Chinese not as an intimidating subject, but as an opportunity.

His message is simple: learning Chinese can change lives.

Language, life, and looking ahead

Mandarin has shaped Rob’s life far beyond the classroom. His family life reflects this too. His children are bilingual, and Mandarin is part of everyday life at home.

For Rob, teaching Mandarin is not just about language acquisition. It is about connection, curiosity, and preparing young people to engage meaningfully with the world. “China matters and our students deserve the opportunity to engage with it properly.”

As the Department continues to develop its Mandarin education programmes, Rob’s journey, from a lost traveller in Beijing to a leading figure in Mandarin teacher education serves as a reminder of the power of languages to open minds, shape careers, and build bridges across cultures.

Rob with his wife and children on their family holiday in Hainan.