Back to School: Improving Your Zhongwen In the Capital

September is the time to be going back to school. If you’re not happy with your Chinese level, or you’re jealous of more fluent friends, there’s no excuse not to try and up your game. We talked to four Mandarin schools in Beijing about their classes and how they can tailor them to fit your lifestyle.

Culture Yard
What do they offer? To learn Chinese quickly, they offer a six-week long intensive morning course (two hours per day and five days per week) at RMB 3,900. Evening courses come in at RMB 2,400 for eight weeks of two-hour classes, twice per week. If you’re looking for one-to-one classes, prices range from RMB 120-135 an hour (for fixed times) to RMB 140-200 an hour (for flexible times).
What if you’re working? Culture Yard offers both morning and evening classes and can schedule private one-on-one session for those whose schedules are irregular.
What’s studying here like? Culture Yard prides itself upon being a people-oriented school for serious learners: all their teachers have masters’ degrees in teaching Chinese to foreigners, materials are focused on learning ‘real Chinese’ rather than textbook-based content, and students are given regular homework assignments and tests. 
What do students think? Nick Skidmore, a British teacher working at Tsinghua University tells us that the Culture Yard feels like more than just a school: “The staff do a really great job of integrating classes, and during break times the communal area feels like a very vibrant place to meet people and chat. The teachers get involved with conversations as well.” 

10 Shique Hutong, Beixinqiao, Dongcheng District (8404 4166)
东城区北新桥石雀胡同10号

That’s Mandarin
What do they offer? Intensive classes (20-30 hours per week) are their most popular among students looking to improve as quickly as possible. Prices for these classes range from RMB 11,200 for a four week program, four classes per day with a small group, and RMB 21,600 to study privately, six classes per day. Discounts of up to 30 percent are available as That’s Mandarin is currently celebrating their 10th anniversary.
What if you’re working? Part-time classes (generally four to six classes per week) are more flexible, depending on which days and times suit students.
What’s studying here like? That’s Mandarin makes a point of hiring only full-time teachers to make sure classes are thoroughly prepared. The school uses the link-word method to help students remember new vocabulary and characters quickly, and storytelling is a big part of their teaching method. There’s also an online platform, “MandarinCafe,” where all notes and study materials are kept for students to review what they have learned.
What do students think? Honor Lundon-Lenehan, an Irish horse breeder and student of Philosophy and Chinese, has studied at That’s Mandarin in Dongzhimen for three months now, and tells us that: “The school’s capacity to adapt to individual’s needs is very impressive, and I have found my progress to be both solid and stable. I have been surprised by the improvement in my speaking ability whilst simultaneously continuing to improve my writing and reading skills.”

1/F, Bldg 4, 12B Xinzhong Jie, Dongcheng District (5218 6432)
东城区新中街乙12号4号楼1层

Purple Bamboo
What do they offer? Purple Bamboo offers communication-oriented classes, business topics, and rhetoric, as well as HSK and spoken Chinese courses at all different levels. Prices for one-on-one classes are between RMB 120 and RMB 500, while prices for group classes depend on teachers’ experience. 
What if you’re working? For people working in Beijing and keen on learning Chinese, Purple Bamboo suggests one-on-one classes, three times per week for beginners to make sure you get a good start. If you’re at intermediate or  advanced level, there are group classes of two to six students. 
What’s studying here like? Purple Bamboo uses their own unique teaching method called ‘Experience Chinese’ which focuses on an interactive learning atmosphere and puts the impetus on the student while getting them to speak. Topics in class are based on students’ cultural backgrounds, to avoid students being unable to relate to the textbook topics that are often too boring. 
What do students think? Meredith Karazin, an American and co-founder of LearnLab, a new education-tech startup accelerator and community in Beijing, who took the beginner’s class, tells us that “the classes were very good, I learned a lot and thought it was very efficient, and targeted on my weakness. They even took notes for me during class which speeds up the learning process a lot.”

Wudaokou 327-328, Longhu Tangning One Building 2-2B, Zhongguancun East Road, Haidian District (8244 9617)
海淀区中关村东路16号院龙湖唐宁One小区2-2B 327-328室

Wudaoying 61 Wudaoying Hutong, Dongcheng District (8244 9617)
东城区五道营胡同61号

The Hutong School 
What do they offer? The Hutong School caters classes to your needs. Classes for groups range from RMB 54 to RMB 79 per hour, and private classes are RMB 120 to RMB 165 per hour. Discounts are available for those signing up for more classes.
What is you’re working? Classes for those working in Beijing take place twice per week for two hours at a time, either in the morning between 8-10am, or in the evening from 6.30-8.30pm. If your work hours are more irregular, one-on-one classes may be the way forward.
What’s studying here like? The Hutong School focuses on a good atmosphere at school: you’re not just going to class but you’ll be meeting new people from all over the world during your studies here. On top of that, teachers are talented, and the school develops their own curriculum.
What do students think? The Hutong School was actually your writer’s school of choice when I came to study Chinese for a summer a few years ago. Although it’s a shame that they’ve now moved on to Sanlitun (they used to be located in a beautiful courtyard in a hutong off Jiugulou) I felt that the classes were all small, tailored to my needs, and I made friendships for life. My three fellow classmates are all also still living in Beijing, and we meet up on a regular basis. Last summer, I even attended one of my teachers’ weddings.

15/F, 1501, Zhongyu Plaza, A6 Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District (8523 6030)
朝阳区工体北路甲6号中宇大厦1501

More stories by this author here.
Email: margauxschreurs@truerun.com
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Photos provided by schools