Let's Play Mahjong with Jami and Elva

Hi! We're Jami and Elva! Sisters, business partners, and mahjong teachers with over 30 years at the table together.

In this episode:

Jami and Elva open a set of Channing’s Joy tiles, made to support the autism community, with the message “Choose Joy. Choose to Include.” Later, a teacher’s confession about eye-rolling and the kind way to bring it up, what to do when a student says “please don’t seat me with so-and-so,” and what happens when someone misnames a tile. Plus whether “easy” hands are really easy and a teacher spotlight on our friend Ali!

Follow us on:

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/letsplaymahjongnynj/?hl=en

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561591564579

_______

More about Ali Barbera

Location: Pound Ridge, NY; primarily teaching in Westchester County, Fairfield County, and NYC

www.Mahjwithali.com

Socials:

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/mahjwithali/?hl=en

FB: https://www.facebook.com/mahjwithali

Quote:

"One of my favorite things is seeing strangers sit down next to each other and leave as friends. By the end of the lesson they’re swapping numbers and cheering for each other, and the friendships keep going well beyond the game."

Hi! We're Jami and Elva! Sisters, business partners, and mahjong teachers with over 30 years at the table together. This week we're at the Women's Club of Red Bank playing with our 3D printed tiles from Spools!

In this episode:

Are you the slow player at the table? Jami and Elva talk pace of play, how to stop overthinking the Charleston, and how to keep up with seasoned players. This week's classroom confessions include a country club mishap and teacher tips on why you shouldn’t deal tiles for other players. Plus, a teacher spotlight on Vicky Campbell of MahJ Memphis.

Follow us on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letsplaymahjongnynj/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561591564579

Tiles:

Keen Butcher - Spoolshttps://spools.com/

"My grandmother loved mahjong, but she couldn't carry her 14 lbs anymore. So I designed a set she could carry. I made a full-size mahjong set, with 20 inch racks and pushers, that's bold, vibrant, and easy to read. But the set is super lightweight. A set of tiles weighs 1.6 lbs and the whole kit weighs just over 3. This allowed her to bring the set anywhere, in her house or even on the go."

_____________

Teacher Spotlight: Vicky Campbell

Location: Memphis, TN

Vicky services the city of Memphis and surrounding areas - the entire Shelby County, TN and Mid-South area - towns in Arkansas and Mississippi

Links:

www.mahjmemphis.com

FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/681091527991595/

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/mahj_memphis/?hl=en

Quote:

"What I love most about teaching is not only bringing this game to people, but, seeing the relationships that are formed with other students/players. I've had a student tell me that she is so grateful to me and this game because it has been life changing for her - she was a homebody and never got out. Now she is out playing Mah Jongg and has made lots of friends. It's so rewarding for me to see all the relationships. Regarding teaching tips - I try to make all my lessons fun. My students laugh and tell me how strict I am about the rules, but, they will also tell you how much they appreciate the fact that I taught them how to play the right way. They always feel confident when sitting down to play with strangers."

Hi! We're Jami and Elva! Sisters, business partners, and mahjong teachers with over 30 years at the table together.

Happy Mahjoween! 🎃

Today we play Mahjong the 'messy' way, with no walls!

In this episode:

Should you memorizing the NMJL card?...your game play changes drastically when you do.Jami and Elva confess about a mic mishap at a corporate event and a conversation overheard in a bathroom, recall the student who whited out the singles and pairs hands on her card, and give tips on recommending easier hands and reading the room. Plus, a teacher spotlight on mother-daughter team Renee Matlock and Kara.

Follow us on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letsplaymahjongnynj/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561591564579

_________

Learn about Renee and Kara:

The Mahj Makers

"A mother-daughter duo growing the Mahj movement—one tile, one table and one laugh at a time.”

Location:

The Mahj Makers are always on the move! Serving three areas!

• Southwest Chicago suburbs

• Quad Cities

• Southwest Florida

Socials:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themahjmakers/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheMahjMakers

Hi! We're Jami and Elva! Sisters, business partners, and mahjong teachers with over 30 years at the table together.

New episodes every Wednesday at 10am EST!

In this episode:

We deal Siamese Mahjong the way Glady's Grad intended, Elva’s first bad-venue experience, and tournament drama with Jami called dead twice! Later, a confession about wall pushers who knock the tiles over and an lesson where two husbands came to class “to save their marriage”. Plus, a teacher spotlight on Shana Gottlieb of Keep Mahjing On.

Follow us on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letsplaymahjongnynj/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561591564579

________

Learn about Shanna!

Shanna Gottlieb – Keep Mahjing On LLC

Website: keepmahjingon.com

Instagram: @keepmahjingon

Started in 2022, Keep Mahjing On has grown into a team of instructors who have taught more than 1,000 players, with a focus on making Mahjong approachable, social and fun while giving students a strong foundation to confidently play on their own.

Quote:

"My favorite moment as an instructor is watching the chaos turn into order. A new player can sit down completely overwhelmed by 152 tiles, a card full of seemingly impossible combinations and something called the Charleston—and then suddenly, it clicks.

But what I love even more is what happens after the lesson: students exchange numbers, start group chats, create weekly games and form real friendships. We may teach Mahjong, but what we’re really building is community and connection around the table."

Hi! We're Jami and Elva, and welcome to our very first episode of Let's Play Mahjong with Jami & Elva! We're sisters, business partners, and mahjong teachers with over 30 years at the table together.

In this episode:
A shout-out to our friend Tina, who wrote the song that opens the show; holiday prep, from party planning to the cookie swap; and a post-game look at what to do with your Jokers when you know a hand isn’t going to happen.

Follow us on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letsplaymahjongnynj/?hl=en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561591564579

Learn About Tina!

Tina Cheatham
Mahjong Instructor & Creator of The LoCoMahj Project
'Teaching and celebrating the rhythm of the tiles'

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/locoma

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/thelocomahjproject/

Faceboook: https://www.facebook.com/p/LoCo-Mahjong-61583928610754/

Quote:

"My biggest teaching tip for absolute beginners is to give yourself lots of grace.There's so much to learn and no one is particularly good at it when they are first starting out. My happiest teaching Mahjong is sharing the joy of being there for someone's first Mahjong."

Subscribe for weekly Let's Play Mahjong updates, and let us know your favorite holiday traditions in the comments!

Hi! We're Jami and Elva, and welcome to our very first episode of Let's Play Mahjong with Jami & Elva! We're sisters, business partners, and mahjong teachers with over 30 years at the table together.

In this episode:Classroom confessions about the students who text us mahjong questions at all hours of the night, reminiscing on the August day we hauled our tile bags through downtown Manhattan and one of them spilled across the street, and a real teacher tip on setting boundaries when you run your own business. Plus, we are sending a special shout-out to our friend Holly, also known as Simply Mahj, over in Houston.

Follow us on:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letsplaymahjongnynj/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561591564579

Subscribe for weekly Let's Play Mahjong updates, and let us know your funniest teaching moment in the comments!

_____________________________

More about Holly!

Growing up playing Chinese and Filipino Mahjong, Holly always had the game in her blood but when she discovered American Mahjong in August 2024, something clicked. She was hooked, and she never looked back. What started as a personal passion quickly grew into a mission to build a space where everyone could experience the joy, connection, and pure fun that mahjong brings.

Website: https://www.simplymahj.com/

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/simplymahj/?hl=en

Hi! We're Jami and Elva, and welcome to our very first episode of Let's Play Mahjong with Jami & Elva! We're sisters, business partners, and mahjong teachers with over 30 years at the table together.

In this episode: Classroom confessions on the high school student who came to class stoned (and how it became a real teaching moment), a teacher tip on what actually belongs in your mahjong emergency bag, and a spotlight on Joyce — our go-to teacher for corporate events and the reason we survived the beach club gig.

______________

Learn More About Joyce!@Mahj on Long BeachBased in Long Beach, NY traveling to Nassau and Suffolk Counties and NYC - Private homes, pubs and restaurants, beach clubs, and country clubs.

Insta: https://www.instagram.com/mahjonlongbeach/?hl=enFB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572029051037

Quote: "My joy is watching a player’s face when it all clicks in and they get it. The happiness that washes over them when they find a line and understands what to do next, or calls a Mahjong that brings about a big smile, and even seeing their posture change when their confidence grows. Most of all, I love hearing that they have their own crew and play weekly or often and I know they are bonded in friendship through the game that is the catalyst."______________

Support our channel!

Tiles:Garden Glow - Matcha Pearl by Bespoke MahjongUse discount code “LETSPLAYMAHJONG” for 10% off!https://www.bespokemahjong.com/?srsltid=AU7gw4XPysBMS-2_Bs0YSEt6P2adVh7GL2Blm1FmGcgZPRucZoEcO616We earn a small commission when you use the links above, at no extra cost to you :)

Hi! We're Jami and Elva, and welcome to our very first episode of Let's Play Mahjong with Jami & Elva! We're sisters, business partners, and mahjong teachers with over 30 years at the table together.

In this episode:

More classroom confessions (fair warning: it's another bodily function story — and this one made Jami cry), teacher tips on exactly how many lessons a new student actually needs before it "clicks," and a spotlight on the amazing Sara Huisking, aka "The Tile Teacher".

Follow us on:

Instagram

Facebook

Let's Play Mahjong

_______________________________________

Learn more about Sara Huisking:

Sara is based in New Jersey and teaches throughout NJ and NY, including Long Island, Brooklyn, and the Hudson Valley.

She specializes in teaching American Mahjong through beginner lessons, refresher classes, guided play, open-play events, and strategy instruction. Her goal is to make the rules clear, approachable, and fun while helping players feel confident enough to join any table.

Quote: "I originally learned to play mahjong by learning Hong Kong style. Watching my family and friends who I taught HK, embrace American has been so rewarding. Also teaching my nieces and nephews, and hearing them say mahjong for the first time- incredible!"

Hi! We're Jami and Elva, and welcome to our very first episode of Let's Play Mahjong with Jami & Elva! We're sisters, business partners, and mahjong teachers with over 30 years at the table together.

In this episode:

The classroom slip-up Jami still can't live down, a confession from our teacher community about a student who just couldn't stop arguing with her tiles, a teacher tip on why your email list matters more than your social media, and more!

Follow us on:

⁠Instagram⁠

⁠Facebook⁠

⁠Let's Play Mahjong⁠

______________________

Learn more about Linda Ronsenson:

She's absolutely the best! She's out mentor, biggest supporter, and fabulous moderator for tournaments! Linda is also an admin to 'Mah Jongg, That's It!' and runs the South Jersey Mah Jongg Players Facebook page.

Location: Cherry Hill, NJ

Instagram

Hi! We're Jami and Elva, and welcome to our very first episode of Let's Play Mahjong with Jami & Elva! We're sisters, business partners, and mahjong teachers with over 30 years at the table together. Today we're playing Siamese Mahjong and sharing some stories.

In this episode:

Elva's celebrity encounter she didn't realize at the time, Jami's story of "the Snappy Client" turned star player, a few real teaching tips (including our favorite trick for pushing advanced students out of their comfort hands), and a spotlight on Mary Ellen from our teacher community.

Follow us on:

⁠Instagram⁠

⁠Facebook⁠

⁠Let's Play Mahjong⁠

______________________

Learn more about Mary Ellen Clark:

Member of Mahj Life Instructor Guild, Certified through Oh My Mahjong

Location: Tallahassee, Florida

Website:

https://linktr.ee/mahjcommunity

Instagram

Facebook

Quote: "I love seeing the joy on students’ faces when they get their first mahjong and tell me they now feel confident to attend an Open Play with others they’ve never met before. It’s like handing them a ticket to ride – a ticket to join a world with others that previously felt out of reach!"