By continuing you agree to eChinacities's Privacy Policy .


Q: What is a good place in Changning District, Shanghai, to learn mandarin?
I am looking for a reliable place to start learning Mandarin, in the Changning District of Shanghai. I have pretty much no Mandarin language skills beyond 9 or 10 basic words. I am hoping to find a reasonably-priced training provider that will teach me well - i don't want to just learn "survival mandarin", I want to be able to start on a full-out language training program. I only have about 3-4 hours free each week (yes, it will be a long process at that rate, but one has to start somewhere...)
8 years 29 weeks ago in Teaching & Learning - Shanghai
Find a private tutor, i have been through this hell before and i strongly recommend not to study at private chinese language schools. Their teaching method is based on "the slower-the better", even after two months your level will not be significantly improved. My ex school gave me a teacher who was half an hour late every fucking time and her english was terrible, moreover she did not care about students progress at all, but the school refused to change her till she had some problem with a boss and she was fired. Another thing you should consider is price, it is going to be 120 r\h with a school and much less if you will find a private tutor. Mine is 80 r\h and she has brilliant english (trust me it is pretty rare) and when she is not in hurry she stays just to chat in chinese. Believe me studying with a tutor is the most efficient way to learn chinese. In case it has to be a school - be careful, their contract means nothing. Stay away from Chinese Tutoring Lessons (its owner is Katherine Liu) otherwise it will cost you a lot of nerves and money.
If you gotta start somewhere, might as well be survival mandarin. You won't remember the language unless you need to use it.