Where Can You Learn How to Speak Chinese?

There are a variety of options for learning to speak Mandarin Chinese. Deciding which option is best for you might make the difference between an enjoyable learning experience and getting turned off of the Chinese language entirely. Here are a few of the options available to study Chinese.

Traditional Chinese Classes

If you learn how to speak Chinese in a traditional classroom setting, you’ll benefit from loads of resources and a teacher who has likely had the experience training years of students in tones, characters and Chinese conversation.  You might also get caught in the shuffle, however, and not get the personalized attention you’d get in other settings. Also, standard Mandarin Chinese textbooks can sometimes get boring.

Private Chinese Tutoring

A private Chinese tutor will give you one-on-one help, which can be great for mastering perfect pronunciation and Chinese grammar. A Mandarin tutor is also more likely to teach you colloquial Chinese and Chinese slang, the kinds of things you won’t get in a classroom setting. Disadvantages of a Chinese tutor include cost and an irregular schedule that might encourage you to skip lessons.

Online Chinese Courses

Online Chinese courses have been popping up all over the Web, with venues like Chinese Pod making waves with people all over the world who are interested in learning the Chinese language. People who learn to speak Mandarin through these sites generally get up and running quite quickly and the cost of an online Chinese course is typically cheaper than a similar college Mandarin class or private tutoring.

Chinese Language Software and Audio CDs

The three big producers of Chinese language software and audio CD lessons are Rosetta Stone, Pimsleur and Rocket Chinese. Like an online Mandarin course, these programs can get you speaking Chinese quickly and have been used by thousands of people from casual tourists to people wanting to learn the language for business or in preparation for moving to China.

Immersion Study Abroad in China

For serious Chinese learners, there’s nothing like a study abroad in China. You’ll get classroom time in the language, of course, but the real lessons come when you need to ask for directions, order food at a restaurant and negotiate a decent price for something you desperately need and somehow forgot to pack when you were still back home. Learning Mandarin in China can be a lesson in life as well as a lesson in the language.