Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
🌆 How do I improve my Chinese in New Westminster and what are the possibilities in terms of commitment?
Besides self-study with special programs, you have 4 primary opportunities for learning Chinese interactively in New Westminster. First, universities and community colleges are an especially good idea for in-state residents. Also, read about centers for continuing education and professional studies (they are better priced.) Your other option can be local private language academies that charge less and flexible in schedule and requirements. Third, non-profit learning centers usually offer cheaper group and more expensive in-person courses. Fourth, you can look for a private Chinese tutor in New Westminster. If flexibility is key, you can compare local New Westminster and online Chinese tutors.
🎟 Is it expensive to learn Chinese and how much should Chinese tutors ask?
For university and college courses you can estimate Chinese course cost by dividing annual tuition by ten (one course is usually 3 out of 30 credit hours offered) to get the price of about 50 instruction hours each semester. Language schools and independent Chinese tutors charge $30-55 for hourly group lesson, with private classes starting from $50 or more. Some of the less pricey Chinese tutors can be found online, with rates on Preply averaging 13 and tutor rates varying widely based on tutor hometown, experience and languages the tutor can teach in. Average student satisfaction for Chinese lessons on Preply is 4.96 out of 5 stars.
📚 What are the requirements for Chinese language skill level to sign up for a course?
When considering college and learning center classes be prepared prove your profeciency level. 'Canned' classes vary widely in terms of textbook quality, homework load and graded tasks, so research all such requirements in advance. With personal Chinese tutors you can find reviews for whom the tutor is effective with and which other expertise they make available (like teaching children or teens, etc.) For best flexibility, choose a tutor from a wide selection of those teaching online.
🔥 Why is Chinese so challenging and are there ways to learn it in a better way?
One-size-fits-all language instruction practiced in schools is not the most effective way to learn Chinese. In reality, you can gain basic Chinese fluency in 300 hours from zero knowledge. Studying and getting feedback several hours a week you will be able to understand most expressions, speak on some level, shop and place orders in about a year. Offline interaction is not a practical option for everyone, so online classes are a rapid and easy way of acquiring the basic knowledge of Chinese. After mastering basic skills, online marketplaces like Preply have Chinese tutors who specialize in intensive classes for intermediate and advanced speakers.
🤷 How long does it take to achieve a good level of Chinese?
Some people just have a natural ability and learn languages quickly, but for most to go beyond the basics and gain working fluency in Chinese will require at least 600 hours of study. The length of time can differ significantly depending on your current level of Chinese or knowledge of other languages in the same group. After alphabet and basic reading it is best to use the language as often as possible: watch television, write using your new language skills, try to communicate with native speakers to speak with, try as many as possible ways to think and speak in Chinese out loud. If it's more difficult than you had imagined you can also take conversational Chinese classes online.
🤳 What are my options when choosing the Chinese tutor?
In colleges and universities, you can possibly choose your own tutor (from a limited pool). Online, of course! The largest selection of tested Chinese tutors with detailed profiles and real student reviews is available on online language learning resources like Preply.
🗓 Will I be able to fit lessons in my busy schedule?
Colleges as a rule structure classes twice a week over a semester (75-day period). Language schools usually have shorter, 8-week, 12-week, and 16-week course sessions. Online, you can take as few as one lesson a year, as many as several a day - and as many (or as few) as you want during any time of day, on weekdays and/or weekends.