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Augustus Robinson
That's Mandarin offers a well organized and convenient way of improving one's Chinese, particularly through the one on one tuition not available in larger classrooms.
I most liked the fact that I can tailor the individual classes to suit my individual needs. The ability to speak freely for a long time on any topic in Chinese has given me a lot more confidence in using the language outside of class. In larger classes there is not that same opportunity.Read more testimonials...
1on1 VS Small Group Classes
Why 1on1 Chinese Classes?
In a one on one Mandarin class a student can make the best use of the time they have with the teacher by explaining exactly what they want to achieve in each class. If you are a beginner student, you will be out and about communicating with the locals in no time at all. If you already have a good level of Chinese, you will find these classes keep pushing you to improve your pronunciation and vocabulary whilst ironing out mistakes, because one on one Chinese lessons allow for maximum focus on your specific language problems. Once you have reached a certain standard of Chinese language, we can tailor these classes to your specific needs and interests.
In our experience, small group classes are a great option for absolute beginners. As everyone in the class is starting from scratch we will focus on ‘survival’ language first – you will learn to speak Chinese confidently in the situations where you really need it. Once your level has improved you have your own individual objectives and requirements and, if you want to, you can also learn to write Chinese. The focus of your vocabulary learning will also differ, so at this stage we recommend trying one on one classes so the class is more tailored to your needs.
Why Small Group Classes?
Group study works best in groups of up to four people with a similar Chinese language level. With your different experiences and knowledge, you can sometimes even learn more this way. Our teachers will use a variety of activities in these classes to encourage the group to converse and learn. In addition, you and your classmates can share with each other, the ups (and downs) of learning to speak Chinese. We will do our best to accommodate individual needs. If you have a particular area of difficulty, it is likely your fellow students share this too. We welcome suggestions as to areas the class needs to cover.
Putting together a schedule of morning group classes and afternoon one on one classes gives you the best of both worlds. New material is presented in the morning session to the group as a whole and is reinforced in your private, afternoon sessions. Any individual pronunciation problems or any particular grammar points or vocabulary difficulties that are posing a challenge to you will be addressed in your one on one tutorial. You can also choose whether you only want to learn to speak, or whether you’re keen to also learn to read and write Chinese as well.