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Ian McGraw
In between my BA at Stanford University and my Ph.D. at MIT, I came to China to get a solid foundation in the Chinese language. I thought that I was capable of teaching myself Chinese as I had done with other subjects in the past. I even had the advantage of having quite a few bilingual friends who were willing to help me out. After two months of self-study, however, I realized my progress was depressingly slow. I needed help.
Thus, I contacted That's Mandarin. It was definitely the best decision. Their methods are truly innovative. I can still remember the first lesson when Guo-laoshi explained to me the beauty of the Chinese language by constructing a vocabulary list of interconnected words. For example, if I were given the word wai4guo2ren2 (meaning foreigner), he would also explain the meanings of wai4bian1 (outside), guo2jia1 (country), ren2 (person). They created a web of interrelated words to study, making memorization quicker and easier.
As my Chinese improved, That's Mandarin 's methods adapted. After four months my vocabulary was over three thousand words and I was able to improvise full stories during class. Outside of the classroom I found myself able to hold steady conversations and follow much of the rapid-fire dialog of a Chinese television show. I also began to break free of the canned-examples of the text books and started reading characters in the form of signs, subtitles, and even comic books.
From the very first day I met them, I knew they were the right teachers for me. Their energy matched my enthusiasm for learning, and their methods are created from the very core of what makes Chinese such a wonderful language. Thus, if you are a serious student of Chinese or would like to become one, I whole heartedly recommend you learn with That's MandarinRead more testimonials...
Children’s Chinese Classes
It is widely acknowledged that the best way to learn a language is to start early. At That’s Mandarin, our teachers have a wealth of experience of teaching young children, ensuring that your child’s first steps in Chinese are not only productive, but above all, fun. With games, cartoons and stories on the agenda, we can guarantee that your kids won’t think of their Chinese classes with us as a chore! Whilst we do not profess to be able to make learning the language ‘easy’, we certainly make it a lot less hard than its reputation suggests. As second language skills become increasingly important in today’s competitive world, why not save your child the stress of learning a language later on and set them off on their Chinese journey today?
Starting with Pinyin and basic pronunciation, and working up to extended sentences and practice of handwritten characters, we will cover all elements of the language in a way that is appropriate to your child’s unique character and learning style. Every child can take a free trial class with us before they sign up for classes, after which we will tailor a curriculum especially to their needs. Tip: watch popular TV shows with your child, such as Ni Hao Kai Lan. The perfect way to entertain and educate your little ones!
Our Methods:
- Plenty of games and songs to keep kids interested
- Learning through cartoons and short video clips
- Reading comics and short stories to introduce basic characters
- Focus on speaking –basic conversation, retelling of stories in their own words
- Encouraging every child to be confident when speaking Mandarin!
Young Chinese Learner’s Test (YCT)
The YCT is a Chinese proficiency test for non-native speakers under the age of 15. Successful candidates will be awarded an official certificate of Chinese proficiency, which will be useful when applying for school courses or China study abroad programs.
The YCT consists of independent writing and speaking exams. The writing exam has both a listening and reading element and is divided into 4 levels, which are explained below. The speaking exam is divided into Elementary and Intermediate levels. The elementary speaking exam is designed for students at Levels 1, 2 and 3, and the intermediate speaking exam is designed for students at Level 4. During your child’s free trial class, we can advise on which level best suits them and tailor a study plan to ensure exam success!
- YCT Level 1: Students should be able to understand and use some very basic everyday Chinese, such as introducing themselves, speaking about their families, food and drink, etc.
- YCT Level 2: Students should be able to understand and use some simple Chinese phrases and sentences. They should now be able to have basic conversations with native speakers.
- YCT Level 3: Students have reached a high level of basic Chinese and can communicate quite freely about familiar daily topics.
- YCT Level 4: Students can communicate in Chinese at a basic level on topics extending beyond daily life. When traveling in China, they can manage to communicate in Chinese about most issues.