Recent News

Notice of Spring Festival holiday

This week's cultural activity – Peking opera mask-making

Come and join us at our Dongzhimen campus every Thursday afternoon for our exciting new program of cultural activities! Everyone is welcome!

Our new cultural activity program kicked off 2 weeks ago with a tai chi class led by Chen Laoshi, giving students a great chance to learn more about Chinese culture，practice some basic tai chi moves and speak Chinese with the group of teachers that took part.

Last week, our students and Chinese teachers made masks in the style of those worn in Peking opera. We made the masks out of clay and left them to set, so this week they are all ready to paint!

This week

Activity: Peking Opera mask painting

Place: Dongzhimen school, downstairs meeting room

Time: 5-6pm

More info: Peking opera performances first began in the 18^th century and are still very popular today. The colorful and elaborate costumes, in particular the masks worn by the performers, are an integral part of the show. Come along and make your own mask! We will provide all the materials and teach you how – all you have to do is show up!

Please let us know in advance if you want to come along by emailing us at dongzhimen@thatsmandarin.com. We look forward to seeing you!

July excursions in Beijing - everyone welcome!

If you’re new to Beijing and don’t want to tour the capital’s many sights alone, then why not join us on our July excursions? That’s Mandarin is organizing student trips every weekend throughout the month and everyone is invited! A great way to see the major tourist attractions, meet other foreign students and practice your Mandarin with our native Chinese teachers.

If you would like to come along, please email us at dongzhimen@thatsmandarin.com and we can give you more info about the events of each day out. We look forward to hearing from you!

July 9^th – Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City

Visit to Tiananmen, the largest city square in the world, followed by a trip to the Forbidden City, the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Today, the Forbidden City also contains the Palace Museum where visitors can see many historical treasures on display.

We’ll finish the day with a meal at a Beijing roast duck restaurant, a must on any trip to Beijing!

July 16th – Great Wall (Mutianyu)

This week, we will be up bright and early to visit the highlight of every tourist’s stay in Beijing – the Great Wall. The section of the Great Wall at Mutianyu is slightly further away from the city centre than Badaling, but it’s well worth the trip, as there are far fewer tourists!

We will finish the day with a meal out close to our Dongzhimen Chinese School, where you can try some of the specialties from the North-East of China.

July 23rd – Trip to the Summer Palace

Visit to the Summer Palace in the west of Beijing, not far from our Wudaokou Chinese School. We will explore the palace buildings, enjoy the spectacular views from the top of Kunming Hill and wander around the beautiful grounds. A great way to spend a day out in Beijing!

In the evening, we will eat at Haidilao, a famous hotpot restaurant with impeccable service and excellent food. Come and join us!
July 30^th – Olympic site/798 Art District

Two trips in one this weekend! First, we will take a trip to the Olympic Site, looking around both the Bird’s Nest and the Water Cube,the main venues of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. In the afternoon, we will go to 798 Art District, which is situated on a former factory site in east Beijing and is now home to many small art galleries, cafes and shops – a fantastic way to while away an afternoon in the city.

In the evening, we will take a trip to Ghost Street, a traditional Chinese street offering food from all across China, and will eat at a great barbecue restaurant.

If you are interested in taking Chinese classes at any of our Chinese schools (Dongzhimen Chinese School, Wudaokou Chinese School or Jing’an Chinese School), then please get in touch with us today on info@thatsmandarin.com or fill in our online application form.

Graduation celebration: 10 free Chinese classes for 2011 graduates

If you’re graduating this year and haven’t got round to planning your next steps yet, then why not take advantage of our great special offer for all 2011 high school and university graduates? When graduates sign up for a package of 100 Chinese classes with That’s Mandarin this summer, they will receive 10 classes absolutely free of charge! This is a limited offer, so sign up early to avoid disappointment.

If you’re looking to improve your employment prospects, need a change of scenery or want to fill up an empty summer, then book your flight to Beijing or Shanghai today and study abroad in China with That’s Mandarin! If you can’t study Chinese in China with us, then why not study Chinese online with us, wherever you are in the world?

We offer all our students a free trial Chinese class before committing to anything. Email us at info@thatsmandarin.com to sign up for your free class today!

PR News Release: That's Mandarin Shanghai Welcomes New Students

THAT’S MANDARIN CHINESE SCHOOL OPENS ITS DOORS TO NEW STUDENTS WHO WANT FULL IMMERSION EXPERIENCE

May 17, 2011 – SHANGHAI – As business continues to boom in Shanghai and an increasing number of foreigners head to China, experts say that so does the need for high quality Chinese programs.  Professional Chinese language school, That’s Mandarin, seeks to satisfy that need in Shanghai as they have in Beijing since 2005.  The school made its new home in Shanghai and welcomed an onslaught of new students this week, continuously filling almost all 20 spacious classrooms in the process.  The Chinese school’s owner says that the new growth is a healthy mixture of peak travel season rolling in along with an opening in the market to offer a unique approach to Chinese teaching in the country’s largest metropolis.

“After building two extremely successful institutions in Beijing over the past 6 years, I knew we needed to expand from the capital city and head south to the big city,” says Guo Xiaochao, founder and owner of That’s Mandarin.  Having started out as a Chinese teacher himself, he says he knows a thing or two about what foreigners really want out of Chinese courses.  During his pursuits, the story of his entrepreneurship has been featured in articles for The New York Times and China Daily, to name a few.  Guo says that his aim has been to create a well-rounded learning environment that gives students the opportunity to completely immerse themselves in Chinese culture.  “We want to help foreigners learn Chinese at a rapid pace whilst enjoying a unique cultural experience on their travels,” says Guo.  The new Shanghai campus and both Beijing schools offer full Chinese immersion packages complete with customized intensive Chinese classes along with accommodation, cultural activities, and weekend excursions.

Guo maintains that he has put everything he has into the recent expansion and is proud to offer the same high quality teaching, nationally-renowned service, and competitive pricing in Shanghai as at both That’s Mandarin’s schools in Beijing.  He says that quality is and has always been his number one priority when providing Chinese courses for foreign students.  “We understand it’s difficult to find good teachers and consistent quality.  That’s why we hire only experienced, full-time teachers and then train them to use our school’s unique teaching methods,” says Guo.

According to Guo, these teaching methods are a part of an overall learning plan that focuses very little on a textbook and concentrates mostly on oral practice (especially for beginners).  These methods include the link-word method, which uses word association cues to connect Chinese and English sounds and meanings, making the language learning process more immediately accessible.  The next main teaching method is story-telling, which encourages students to express themselves using vocabulary and basic grammar structures they’ve learned in order to create a real-life scenario or story that they might tell a friend or colleague.  Guo says that using this method pays off for students from beginner to advanced level.

The modern loft-style school located next door to Wagas Café in the Jing’an District of Shanghai is a six-minute walk from Jing’an Temple metro station.  Within the learning space, students have access to a casual meet and greet lobby along with a spacious café/lounge area overlooking the bustling city street.  School hours are Monday to Friday, 8am to 9pm as well as Saturdays and Sundays, 9am to 6pm.  As part of a grand opening promotion, That’s Mandarin in Shanghai is now offering a free trial class to all new students.

One month, two cities: Beijing and Shanghai joint intensive Chinese programs

Can’t decide whether to study Chinese in Beijing or in Shanghai? Then why not do both? That’s Mandarin is now offering students on our small group intensive Chinese program the chance to split their classes between our Beijing and Shanghai Chinese schools. Students will take 2 weeks of Chinese classes at either our Dongzhimen or Wudaokou Chinese Schools in Beijing and the other two weeks of classes at our Jing’an Chinese School in Shanghai. It’s the perfect chance to get a taste of life in China’s two most developed cities, and get a good grounding in Mandarin, all within the short space of a month!

As with our regular small group intensive programs, this is a full immersion program, including 5 hours of classes per day, weekly cultural activities and weekend trips. There’s no need to worry about accommodation arrangements either, as this will all be taken care of for you. All you need to do is book your flight to China, sign up for your intensive Chinese program and look forward to an action-packed adventure of a lifetime!

For more information about this program, see our small group intensive Chinese program page or email us at info@thatsmandarin.com.

Weekend volunteering opportunity for our Beijing students

If you’re interested in volunteering, but are busy during the week, you can now volunteer on Saturdays. CMC (Compassion for Migrant Children) is  looking for 4-5 volunteers for their LVS program on Saturday mornings. Volunteers are needed to teach English to students aged 16-20 at CMC’s Dongba centre. A great opportunity to meet new people, learn more about Chinese culture and help others. Please email Becky at rebecca@thatsmandarin.com for more details or check out CMC’s website.

We are still looking for volunteers for Thursday afternoons, so let us know if you’re available. Click here for more details.

Intensive Chinese summer programs at That's Mandarin

Wondering how you’re going to fill the long summer break? Desperate for some time off work? Then make your way to Beijing or Shanghai this summer and join That’s Mandarin for one of our short-term intensive Chinese courses! Promising far more than just your standard Chinese language classes, our small group intensive programs and one-on-one intensive programs not only guarantee you fast-paced learning and an ideal language environment, but also plenty of fun along the way!

If you’re looking for an action-packed, month-long course, then our small group intensive Chinese program is for you. We’ll take care of everything from your Chinese classes to accommodation, weekend trips and cultural activities, offering you the ultimate, hassle-free China immersion experience. A great way to get your first introduction to the Chinese language, get to grips with the culture of a new country and make many new friends from China and across the world! Please see our small group intensive Chinese programs page for more details.

If you’re looking for more flexibility and individual attention, try our one-on-one intensive Chinese program, which includes 4 or 6 hours of classes per day. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced student, you’ll notice the difference in your Mandarin from day one of your time with us! Check out our one-on-one intensive Chinese programs page for more details.

Please get in touch with us at info@thatsmandarin.com if you have any questions at all!

Fantastic opportunity to volunteer in Beijing!

That’s Mandarin is now working with Compassion for Migrant Children (CMC), a charity which reaches out to the children of migrant workers in Beijing.

We are looking for volunteers to teach English on CMC’s Life Vocational Skills Program (LVS), a training program for migrant youth aged 16-20.

Time: Thursday afternoons 13:30-16:30 (2 hours of teaching with a Chinese assistant)

A great chance to see another side of Beijing, meet many new people, have new experiences and even practice your Chinese!

More information

Compassion for Migrant Children (CMC) is a Beijing-based charity, which offers programs in both their community centers and in migrant schools for the children of migrant workers.  Many of these children come to Beijing with their parents and do not have access to the same education as other children in the capital, which impacts greatly upon both their current lives and their future prospects. Please see the CMC website for more details about this great charity.

The Life Vocational Skills (LVS) program consists of a 6 month training program for young people aged 16-20, which teaches them practical skills needed in the workplace, followed by a job placement, which allows them to get all-important work experience and has a real impact upon the lives of many migrant youth.

This is a fantastic program, which I have taken part in in the past and I would really recommend others to get involved. You will have a Chinese teaching assistant who will help you out and will often lead part of the class themselves, so the teaching is nothing to worry about. Getting involved with the migrant community really does allow you to see a whole different side to the city and is truly a great experience. If you do have a few hours to spare on a Thursday afternoon, then it is worth doing!

Please get in touch with Becky at rebecca@thatsmandarin.com for more details. I look forward to hearing from you!

Learn Chinese in Shanghai: Jing'an teachers have all the right stuff

A day in the life of a Chinese teacher for That’s Mandarin Chinese Language School in Shanghai usually involves one part supreme organization, one part strict preparation, and not to mention a big dose of understanding and empathy.  Lucky for That’s Mandarin, our teachers have even more to offer than just a professional classroom environment and expert teaching method to students who want to learn Chinese in China.  In setting out to get to know our Shanghai teachers a bit better, it was found that our school has two accomplished musicians, a master ping pong player, a globe trotter, and a writer.  Our staff of experienced Chinese teachers in Shanghai found time in their busy schedules to answer a few questions about their lives, likes, and That’s Mandarin.

zhū xiǎo míng, is a fresh-faced young lady and seasoned language instructor originally from Húběi Province.  She’s wild about traveling and one of her favorite destinations at the moment is Thailand.  “I will never forget the people of Thailand.  I taught in Thailand for over a year and the students were so incredibly wonderful to me.  The Thai people are just lovely,” says zhū.  Prior to her journeys abroad, she studied bio-engineering at Hainan University, which she says always interested her.  She’s also an avid reader of novels—transcending from an obsession with Sci-fi reads in high school to now preferring a good romance over anything else.  She loves the comradery of all her teachers and students together at That’s Mandarin and enjoys the big city convenience of Shanghai.

TM.com: Cat person or Dog person?

zhū xiǎo míng: Dogs!  Definitely!!

TM.com: Zodiac Signs?

zhū xiǎo míng: Born in the year of the Tiger and I’m a Leo!  Grrrrrr!!!  Actually, because I can sometimes be a bit quiet, I don’t really appear to be like either one of my signs.  But to tell you the truth—I am!  I’m a go-getter and I love a good challenge!

zhāng dān dān hails from Hā’ěrbīn Normal University where she studied bio-technology.  “Yes, if you ever need any emergency medical assistance—I’m trained to help!” says zhāng.  Besides having basic nursing skills under her belt, she’s been teaching for years and loves it.  Zhang enjoys playing her traditional Chinese 26-string instrument called “gǔzhēng” in her spare time along with the occasional rousing ping pong match.  She’s also quite the snow bunny on the ski slopes, being originally from the northern city of Harbin.  “I love skiing—and I’m quite good!”  When asked what she likes most about Shanghai, she says, “The scenery here is great. The big city, the bright lights.  Oh, I also love to eat the xiǎolóngbao here!”  Random Fun Fact: She loves to sing, but is not really that good at it…  She loves teaching Chinese and loves her students!

TM.com: Cat person or Dog person?

zhāng dān dān: Hmmmm…both.

TM.com: Zodiac signs?

zhāng dān dān: I’m a pretty typical cancer and born in the year of the Dragon

yǐn sōng sōng comes from Jiangsu Province and is super excited about not only teaching Chinese, but spreading the spirit of his beloved culture.  With a degree in International Economics and Trade, his background underlines a healthy curiosity for international culture and business.  “I’m interested a lot of things actually.  I’m really into playing my guitar and basketball,” says yǐn.  Here’s an interesting fun fact about him: on the side, he plays in a rock band called “The Weekend”.  The band plays a mix of original songs and tunes from classic punk and hard rock artists like Green Day.  yǐn loves living in Shanghai because of its fast-paced feel.  “It’s a city full of challenges as well as surprises—I love it.”

TM.com: Cat or Dog person?

yǐn sōng song: I’m more of a dog person.

TM.com: Zodiac signs?

yǐn sōng song: Snake and Saggitarius

Born and raised in Shanghai, chén yíng hán has an intense passion for teaching.  She studied Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language at Shanghai International Studies University where she honed and perfected her teaching skills.  Other than her work, she is equally passionate pretty much everything else in her life.  “I love finding new trends, getting into technology and gadgets like the iPhone.”  She loves anything to do with Twilight (films and books) and admits to be an Edward and a Jacob fan and can’t pick a favorite.  Other interests include, Japanese television dramas, shopping on Taobao.com, and ping pong.  “Hah, I’m actually really really awesome at Ping Pong!”  She loves That’s Mandarin for its super comfortable facilities, modern design, unique teaching methods, laid back atmosphere, and great relationships between students and teachers.  Her favorite thing about Shanghai is what she calls the mixture of Eastern and Western cultures.  Recommended sites in Shanghai?  She suggests hitting up Xintandi and Tan Zi Fang for some of that dynamic cultural combo.

TM.com: Cat or Dog person?

chén yíng hán: Dogs!!!!  I have the cutest little Toy Poodle called Niu Niu

(sidenote: TM.com got a quick look at a photo of Niu Niu and confirms the cuteness)

TM.com: Zodiac signs?

chén yíng hán:  I’m a typical Libra.  It’s sometimes difficult for me to make decisions because I’m constantly weighing things in my mind.  However, I’m always honest and fair.  Everyone always comes to me for advice.  I was born in the year of the Dragon!

Last but not least, chén yán, another native Shanghainese gal, loves to keep it fresh and fun in her classroom.  After earning her degree in Business English at Shanghai Finance College, she started on her exciting path in teaching.  “I have a good sense of humor and always like to incorporate that in my classes. I really enjoy the art of communication and helping foreigners get accustomed to the surroundings here in Shanghai,” says chén yán.  She loves That’s Mandarin for its never dull teaching methods and fun, casual environment.  Her other hobbies include writing short stories, singing pop songs, and reading.  She also says that she could practically live off of dumplings she loves them so much. Lucky she grew up in Shanghai!

TM.com: Cat or Dog person?

chén yán: Both!

TM.com: Random Fun Fact?

chén yán: I love fashion. Just walking the streets of this charming city, you can see all sorts of new and interesting fashions.

TM.com: Zodiac sign?

chén yán: Rabbit and Scorpio

Learn Chinese in Shanghai with That's Mandarin Shanghai Chinese school

Now you can come and learn Chinese with us in Shanghai too! Our new school, conveniently located in the centre of the city, is finally open! Come and check out our modern and stylish campus, take classes in one of our comfortable and fully-equipped classrooms, or relax with a cup of fresh coffee in our reception area. Our teachers are all fully-qualified and experienced, and are ready and waiting to teach you today!

To celebrate the opening of our school, we are currently offering a special promotion to students in any of our three schools. If you buy 100 classes, you will receive 10 additional classes free of charge! Sign up for your free trial lesson with us now and come and see for yourself!

Special promotion:Buy 100 classes, get 10 free!

To celebrate the opening of our Shanghai school, we are currently offering a special promotion to students in both Beijing and Shanghai! If you buy 100 classes with us, you will receive 10 additional classes absolutely free of charge. Book your next package of classes before 15th April to take advantage of this great offer!

Intensive Chinese language courses

If you want to start learning Chinese, but don’t want to struggle with the basics for years on end, then try one of our intensive Chinese courses, designed especially for that purpose! We have both small group intensive Chinese courses and one-on-one intensive Chinese courses available, so depending on how much time you have and your goals and motivations for studying Mandarin, you can select a program to suit you.

Our small group intensive Chinese program, which involves 4 hours of small group classes per day, supplemented by a one hour private class, promises rapid improvement in your Mandarin level, while guaranteeing you plenty of fun with your classmates and teachers! The weekend excursions and cultural activities offered ensure that it won’t just be your language that’s improving, but also your understanding of this rich and interesting culture. You only have to commit for a month too, so it’s perfect if you have some time off over the summer, are on a gap year or can take a short break from work. Click here for more details about the small group intensive Chinese program.

If you think that private classes would be the best way to improve your Mandarin, then you can opt for our one-on-one intensive Chinese program, which is both flexible and tailored to each student’s individual needs. If you can’t commit for 9 weeks, or want to extend your time with us, just let us know and it can be easily arranged. With 4 or 6 hours of one-on-one classes per day, this is certainly an excellent way to get to grips with the language. Click here for more details about the one-on-one intensive Chinese program.

All our students are entitled to a free trial class with us before committing to any program. Please click here to sign up for your free trial!

Our Shanghai Chinese School will open Spring 2011

You’re Invited to the That’s Mandarin “red” Christmas Party!

Another year has come and gone and it’s time to come together and
celebrate the holidays at the That’s Mandarin Dongzhimen campus once
again!

December 2009 That's Mandarin Christmas Party...

Check out the photos from our annual Christmas party

Partnership with Beijing Radio and Nciku.com

TM has teamed up with Beijing Radio, and NCIKU (Chinese learning website) to organise activities to help people learning Chinese.

In the press: How to find Chinese language schools

TM recently provided China Daily with material for their article advising Westerners on the pitfalls of finding a Chinese teacher in Beijing.

December 2009 TM in the news

Check out the story in The New York Times featuring That’s Mandarin

November 2009 Karaoke Competition

Teachers and students enjoying together a trip to the local karaoke bar.