FAQs
What is the difference between Chinese and Chinese Mandarin?
Chinese is a vague word for the people and the language from the China area. It depends on the context and situation when it is used. A broad definition of Chinese (the language) is a group of languages that has the same grammar structure. It is also known as Sino-Chinese, for example, Mandarin, Cantonese or Fo-gan. Like many European languages, a lot of them cannot be understood among Chinese people if they speak their mother tone only. This is why a national language was needed in order for people to communicate with each other. Mandarin, a language which Manchurian ( the people who funded the last dynasty in China) learned to speak Han people’s language, was chosen as the official language for officers about two hundred years ago. The language was similar to the original Chinese and spoken in Beijing area for the next two hundred years even after Republic of China won the revolution to fund a democratic government in 1911 and People ’s Republic of Chinese funded by the communist party in 1949.
What is the difference between traditional Chinese and simplified Chinese?
The biggest difference of Traditional Chinese and simplified Chinese is the written characters. The traditional Chinese has been developed and used for about 5000 years in China and is still used in Hong Kong and Taiwan and overseas Chinese communities; Simplified Chinese was adapted by the Communist Chinese since 1949 and is promoted in mainland China since then. There is no difference of traditional and simplified Chinese in spoken language.
Do I need to learn a lot of characters?
Not really. You do not need to learn the characters to speak Chinese. It is not a phonetic/ letter language. You can still speak perfect Mandarin Chinese if you cannot read or write Chinese characters.
Which form of Chinese should I learn?
As you like! Traditional Chinese has more meaning because of its developing history but it is more difficult to learn. Simplified Chinese is easier to learn but some characters have somehow lost the original shape. However, we have tutors from China and Taiwan, so whatever you decide to learn, we will allocate the most suitable one for you. In most of the cases, Chinese people from Taiwan can write both simplified and traditional Chinese.
What is Pinyin? Is it Chinese?
Pinyin is a phonics developed after 1949 in China. It borrows the Latin letters for the basic Chinese vowels and consonants. Therefore the letters in pinyin pronounce differently from English pronunciation. That’s why you definitely need a native Chinese speaking teacher to teacher to illustrate the pronunciation. In fact, there are several different existing phonics for learning Mandarin Chinese Mandarin, but pinyin seems to be the easiest one for English/European learners in the beginning. It is not Chinese for Chinese people because Chinese people use characters for the written language. It is only to facilitate people to learn the pronunciation for each character.
Is Chinese Mandarin difficult to learn?
Yes and no. The spoken language is very easy to learn because it doesn’t have a strict grammar and there are limited sounds in Chinese. The written Chinese is more difficult for westerners to learn but if you are really keen to learn, it is not a problem at all.
Why learning Chinese Mandarin from us?
A: a. We have a long history and experience of teaching Mandarin Chinese. We have a standard training procedure before the teacher can actually start teaching students. Teaching skill and quality is strictly evaluated and monitored in our teaching team, unlike other companies. After all, not every Chinese speaking person can teach Chinese. b. We only do small class teaching so that everyone can have enough time practicing their Chinese with the teacher, unlike learning Chinese Mandarin in the colleges, people don’t get much time to practice with the teacher and the teacher do not have enough time to correct the pronunciation. That’s why many people feel frustrated and drop out very soon. c. We deliver classes to your house so that you and your friends do not have to travel to us. It saves everyone time and money.
What is the best age to learn Chinese Mandarin?
Any one at age can learn Mandarin Chinese. Different age and people have different needs for learning Mandarin Chinese. Our teachers are trained and skilled to teach people with different needs. That’s why you choose us.
Why it is better to learn with a group?
Learning with a group of people can always keep your motivation high because people like to have competition. Also you can have more chance to practice your Chinese outside the class with your friends. Some people think it is cool to talk their own language between friends.
How many hours of tuition should I get per week?
Ideally the more the better because you are learning a language and you learn a language faster and better by emerging yourself in the environment. However, in the reality, people are very busy these days. Having class twice or more seems to be a pain for everyone. We reckon that you need at least 1.5-2 hours if you really do not have time.
How many hours of practice do I need per week?
The more the better! There is no better way than try to practice as much as you can when learning a language.
I have learned Chinese for a while and found myself not improving a lot. What should I do to boost it?
If you are not learning Mandarin Chinese with us, maybe you should think about changing your teacher to ours if you haven’t have improvement for a while. We have many ways to help you learn Mandarin Chinese in a more efficient way. You will find yourself improving a lot after a few sessions.
I can pick up words when hearing Chinese people talking but they seem not understanding me at all. What should I do?
this is a very common problem people have when learning Chinese. The only reason was that you are not saying the tones correctly. Tones are very important in Chinese pronunciation. It is not that difficult for a new learner to speak perfect Chinese but you need a good and strict teacher in the beginning. Our teachers are all native Mandarin speaker who had received a high quality Chinese education in China and a master’s or PhD degree in UK.
I have no problem understanding Chinese in the class and can communicate with the Chinese take away near my home but often I cannot understand anything when listening to a group of Chinese people talking?
If you always practice your Chinese, there is no reason you can’t pick up a few words from a group of Chinese’s talking unless they are speaking their dialect, for example, Cantonese or Fo-Gen.