Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
🌆 How do I skill up on Chinese in San Diego, CA and what are the possibilities in terms of commitment?
Besides self-study with special programs, you have a few key choices for learning Chinese interactively in San Diego, CA. First, universities and community colleges are an especially good idea for in-state residents. Also, research centers for continuing education and professional studies (they are less pricey.) Your 2nd possibility can be local commercial language academies that are cheaper and flexible in schedule and requirements. Third, not-for-profit learning centers usually offer cheaper group and more expensive in-person courses. 4th and last, you can look for a private Chinese tutor in San Diego, CA. If flexibility is key, you can compare local San Diego, CA and online Chinese tutors.
🎟 Is it affordable to learn Chinese and what do Chinese tutors charge?
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 lesson hours each semester. Language centers and individual Chinese tutors charge $30-55 for hourly group lesson, with individual classes starting around $50 or more. Some of the less pricey Chinese tutors can be found online, with costs on Preply averaging 14 and tutor rates varying widely based on tutor hometown, availability and languages the tutor can teach in. Customer review average for Chinese lessons on Preply is 4.95 out of 5 stars.
📚 How much Chinese do I need to know to sign up for a course?
When considering college and learning center classes be prepared to show a language test profeciency score or take an entrance test to determine your level. 'Canned' classes vary widely in terms of textbook quality, homework load and testing, 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 classes for students of A, B, or C leves, etc.) For best flexibility, choose a tutor from many teaching online.
🔥 Why is Chinese so hard and are there ways to learn it faster?
Formal 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 a few hours a week you will be able to understand most sentences, have simple conversations, socialize in about a year. Offline interaction is not a practical option for everyone, so online classes are a fast and enjoyable way of acquiring the basic knowledge of Chinese. After acquiring basic skills, online marketplaces like Preply have Chinese tutors who specialize in intensive classes for intermediate and advanced learners.
🤷 How long does it take to master Chinese?
Some people brag about their natural ability and learn languages quickly, but for most to go beyond the basics and gain working fluency in Chinese will demand at least 600 hours of practice. The required duration 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 recommended to use the language as often as possible: watch news and movies, write using your new language skills, seek native speakers to speak with, try more ways to think and speak in Chinese out loud. If this is not easy you can also take conversational Chinese classes online.
🤳 What are my options when choosing the Chinese teacher?
In language learning academies, you can possibly choose your own tutor (from up to a dozen teachers). Online, always! The largest selection of verified Chinese tutors with full profiles and comprehensive reviews is available on online language learning resources like Preply.
🗓 What time of day and on which days are classes available?
Colleges as a rule structure classes two times weekly over a semester (15-week period). Language schools as a rule make available 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.