What makes Missy Mahjong's lessons the best

Missy Mahjong lessons are small

The best way to learn to play mahjong is with a group up of 4-8 students. Of course I can teach more students at a time, but that becomes a mahjong introductory party, not a serious lesson.

Missy Mahjong lessons are interactive

In my lessons, I don’t lecture or talk at you. I like to start with students organizing the tiles and putting them in order by suit. By touching these tiles, they are solving the puzzle collectively and learning the tiles. I don’t have to explain that there are 4 identical numbered tiles in each of the three suits. I don’t have to explain the 1 bird bam multiple times, the students figure it out by sorting at process of elimination.

The Missy Mahjong signature teaching sheet

I have created a great teaching sheet for the NMJL rules. It doesn’t cover everything, but it is a quick start. It is a color-coded paper accompanied by a Missy Mahjong pencil to take notes. The teaching sheets features a sample of the card with beginner friendly sequences. After the lesson, the students can take this back with them to practice online and refer back to it during games. I can always email this to the students if they want to make copies to teach their friends and families too. If you want one, send me an email request at missymahjong@gmail.com

Teaching winning sequences

I show a few examples of winning mahjong sequences to start the lesson. I highlight some of the lines explaining proper joker usage, pairs, pungs and groupings of singles. After three of four examples, I turn it over to the students, asking them to try to make lines on the teaching sheet. I can offer corrections and explanations during this hands-on lesson.

Shuffle and start

Playing mahjong isn’t easy. I believe we all learn best by practice. This is what makes my lessons fun and lively. We shuffle and start playing within the first few minutes. I’m not in the business of selling more lessons or being a mahjong coach. I want to get each student playing so they can practice online and join the mahjong social clubs in Nashville, Chicago and Lake Geneva.

The Missy Mahjong Deal and Charleston

The deal and the Charleston can’t be explained. These game techniques must be learned and practiced. After the NMJL deal is taught, the players rack the tiles in the sloped portion of their rack. I tell players that we aren’t teaching strategy just yet, I want to get them playing practice games. Strategy will come later online, practicing with other players and with watching other teachers’ videos on Instagram, tik tok and You Tube. I give each student a line on the practice sheet to complete. I “rig” the first game so each player has something a little different that they are collecting. This makes the Charleston easier and faster. We aren’t explaining the blind pass or stopping the Charleston. Those strategy techniques can wait.

Missy Mahjong plays at least two games in a two-hour lesson

Students learn by playing the game. We aren’t focusing on strategy, we are focusing on play. Mahjong is a structured game with structured rules. The strategy will come next. As the games go on, I encourage the players to pick their own lines and be flexible. We spend more time on the matching and the “go-fish” part of the game than the scheming.

Everyone should be ready to play online after one lesson

Practice is what is going to make players better. Students will have the building blocks to play online and practice with 500 games. There are so many excellent teaching videos out there with strategy tips and rule reminders. All of my students are able to watch these videos after one of my lessons and have an idea of what these teachers are explaining.

Book the best mahjong lesson

I am not saying I am the best mahjong player or best mahjong teacher. I do think I offer the best mahjong lesson though. I keep the games moving, friendly and fun. My goal is to recruit more players to help build mahjong communities, attend philanthropic events and read my mahjong lifestyle newsletter. I want players that take a lesson with me to go out and spread this game to others!