In recent years, interest in learning Chinese has skyrocketed in America. What hasn’t changed, however, is the difficulty of learning Chinese. That’s where we come in. We offer customized private Chinese tutorials at all levels:
- Beginners: introduction to grammar, speaking, and basic characters
- Intermediate: taking reading, writing, and speaking to the next level (sample syllabus here)
- Advanced: exploring seminal texts and classical Chinese
We have also worked with more advanced students looking to prepare for the Chinese SAT subject test, or to fine-tune oral skills through conversation tutorials that emphasize usage, vocabulary development, and the mastery of common idiomatic expressions.
Our Chinese tutors are exceptional teachers - they are PhD candidates and teaching fellows at NYU, Columbia University, and Harvard University, published authors, and Chinese-teaching professionals. They can teach anyone; whether you’re traveling to Beijing on business and want a basic grounding in the language, or you need help working through the works of Mencius for your thesis, our Chinese tutors can help you.
Select the focus that is right for you to learn about how we can help you improve your Chinese.
Academic Test Preparation Business Enrichment Cultural Exploration
Suggested Approaches
While each of the language teaching methods below can be effective, the type of learner and your specific goals will impact which method we choose for your tutoring. In your initial evaluation, we will assess which approach best suits your linguistic goals and your learning style. Our 5 approaches cater to all linguistic goals, from grammar-heavy test preparation and translation, to conversational enrichment and business-Chinese packages.
Resources
Because we are not invested in selling proprietary materials, we’re able to pick and choose the best textbooks. Here are some of our favorites:
- Integrated Chinese: Simplified Characters, Part 1
- Integrated Chinese: Simplified Characters, Part 2
- Modern Chinese Workbooks
- Chinese Flashcards Kit Level 1
Daily Immersion: Newspapers & Music
In addition to what you study during your tutoring session, one of the most fun aspects of learning a new language is exploring the culture that it comes from! Check out podcasts, music and local newspapers to get a taste of Chinese culture.
Podcasts are a great way to supplement your language classes. Immerse yourself as you stroll through Harvard Square, or as you walk down Lexington Avenue.
Local & regional newspapers are a great way to follow current events in your new language, while advancing your reading comprehension:
There are also tons of newspapers published in the United States that cater to bilingual populations. Find these daily publications around NYC or Boston to get local news in your target language.
Tip: Highlight or make a list of the words you do not recognize as you read. Don’t stop to look them up immediately. Finish the article and see how much you can understand without the dictionary. Then, look up the words, and re-read. This process may seem repetitive, but it asks your brain to work a bit more actively, and will yield results!
Some musicians are particularly easy to listen to in their native tongue. Listening to music will get you comfortable hearing your target language and help your comprehension. While you’re at it, you’ll expand your knowledge of colloquial vernacular and regional slang.
- Jay Chou
- Andy Lau
- Faye Wong
- Leehom Wang
- Jolin Tsai
- Eason Chan
Tip: Look up the lyrics in English before starting so you have a sense of the meaning of the song before you start listening. This will make it easier to recognize vocabulary.
