"I have done a bit of business in China and I already recognized that not being able to speak Chinese was [adding to the difficulty] in establishing and building relations with customers," he said.
"The other driver was that I wanted to do something completely different and had never been much good at languages," he added
Again, Atherton found Huang via Google after steering clear of more formal Chinese language tutors online, but he admits the technology also appealed.
"As soon as I came across the possibility I thought I have got to try this because it makes so much sense -- and it works," he said.
"Although you don't have someone in the room with you, face to face, you are actually talking to someone in China right now, that is the compensation," he added
As well as the videophone, Skype also provides a chat facility where Huang's students can check the spelling of the words and a digital whiteboard, where she can draw characters.
Huang now works approximately 20 hours a week preparing for and tutoring her students, but she admits that her reliance on technology is a built-in vulnerability.
In December, a strong earthquake struck off the coast of Taiwan ripping through the undersea Internet cables, crippling services across southeast Asia.
Skype relies on a good connection to transfer smooth images and sound, but the entire Internet into China was debilitated for the following four weeks -- and so was Huang's teaching business.
"If the Internet cuts off we can do nothing. Last month, after the Taiwan earthquake I was going crazy. The Internet itself is the only thing that is difficult," she said.
Huang tailors her classes to each student individually, sending an outline of the next lesson the day before.
After the lesson she sends, or "Skypes," an MP3 recording of the new material that was covered.
"At the end of each lesson she'll ask me what I'd like to learn next time, she'll then compile the material based on my desires," Tommy added.
"It's very important to have this freedom. A lot of teachers will restrict you to a textbook, which is too rigid. I want to know how to do things a bit more rock n' roll. Where is the post office? Who cares. Teach me how to how to get a beer after hours."
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