Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
🌆 How to learn Chinese in Syracuse, NY and what does it take in terms of commitment?
Besides self-study using mobile applications, you have several main opportunities for learning Chinese interactively in Syracuse, NY. 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 spource can be local private language academies that cost less and flexible in schedule and requirements. Third, government-supported learning centers usually offer cheaper group and more expensive in-person courses. 4th and last, you can look for a private Chinese tutor in Syracuse, NY. If flexibility is key, you can compare local Syracuse, NY and online Chinese tutors.
🎟 How expensive is it to learn Chinese and how much should Chinese tutors ask?
For university and college courses you can estimate Chinese course cost as 1/10th of the yearly tuition (one course is usually 3 out of 30 credit hours offered) to get the overall charge for about 50 course hours each semester. Language academies and individual Chinese tutors charge $30-55 an hourly group lesson, with individual classes starting from $50 or more. Some of the better priced Chinese tutors can be found online, with costs on Preply averaging 13 and tutor rates varying widely based on tutor location, availability and popularity. Real student rating 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 pass a few pre-requisites. Planned classes vary widely in terms of textbook quality, homework commitment and tests, so research those in advance. With personal Chinese tutors you can find out in advance for whom the tutor is effective with and which other add-ons they make available (like instruction for beginners, etc.) For better flexibility, choose a tutor from those teaching online.
🔥 Why is Chinese not easy and are there ways to learn it faster?
Standardized language instruction practiced in schools is not the most effective way to learn Chinese. As proven by others before, 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 everyday expressions, be understood when you talk, shop and place orders in about a year. Physical language immersion is not a practical option for everyone, so online classes are a rapid and easy 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 speakers.
🤷 How long does it take to master Chinese?
Some people have a natural ability and learn languages quickly, but for most to go beyond the basics and gain working fluency in Chinese will take at least 600 hours of study. The required duration of time can differ by a lot depending on your already acquired level of Chinese or knowledge of other languages in the same group. After alphabet and basic reading it is advised to use the language as often as possible: watch news and movies, try typing using your new language skills, try to communicate with native speakers to speak with, try additional ways to think and speak in Chinese out loud. If you're struggling when starting a discusssion you can also take conversational Chinese classes online.
🤳 What are my options when choosing the Chinese instructor?
In language learning academies, there's a chance you can choose your own tutor (from up to a dozen teachers). Online, absolutely! The largest selection of tested Chinese tutors with detailed profiles and real student reviews is available on online language learning platforms like Preply.
🗓 What time of day and on which days are classes available?
Colleges as a rule run 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 choose your own lesson frequency and time, on weekdays and/or weekends.