Chinese Programs in Shanghai&Suzhou with Silk Mandarin

Name: Chinese Programs in Shanghai&Suzhou with Silk Mandarin
Brand: Silk Mandarin Language School
SKU: 202270
Rating: 4.92 (215 reviews)

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4.92 Rating

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Location

China
- Shanghai

Length

2 weeks

Language

Chinese

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Program Details

Immersion Level

Intensive Standard

Class Size

Private Lessons Small Class (1-7) Medium Class (8-15)

Weekly Classroom Hours

Housing

Apartment Host Family Hostel Hotel

Pricing

Starting Price

1350

Price Details

This is the price for 2 weeks of our Intensive 30 course.

What's Included

Some Activities Classes Wifi

What's Not Included

Accommodation Airfare Airport Transfers Meals Travel Insurance Visa

Last Updated: Apr 09, 2024

Last Reviewed: May 28, 2024

Wish List

34 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Intensive Program: With 6 lessons a day you will feel immersed in Chinese language and culture. Listening, speaking, reading and writing, and will all be taught in a balanced way. It aims at acquiring the highest level of Conversational Chinese. The focus of the lessons will be on daily life and this, combined with the use of games and pair/group work, will give an optimal learning environment and a full Chinese experience.

Part-time Program: The part-time courses are the perfect solution for those people that have a busy agenda. Part-time 4 and 2 are both top choices of people that work during the day or that prefer to study Chinese in a less intensive way. With part-time 4 and 2 you also have the possibility to choose to have class on weekdays or weekends.

Our Private Chinese Lessons account for the utmost flexible and personalised lessons. With our 1-on-1 course your class is tailored to your personal schedule and needs, focusing on topics of your choice.

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Video and Photos

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Program Highlights

Full immersion in Chinese language and culture.
Full time teachers native to China and bilingual.
Slow Motion Technique to teach you Chinese with just one rule.
2 in 1 curriculum to teach you Conversational Chinese and to prepare you to pass the HSK exam.
Group Class Starting Dates in 2024: May 13th, Jun 17th, Jul 15th, Aug 12th, Sep 9th, Oct 14th, Nov 11th, Dec 9th

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Program Reviews

4.92 Rating

based on 215 reviews

Leave a Review

Rating Spread Language

5 rating 92.09%
4 rating 7.91%
3 rating 0%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Instruction 4.95
Support 4.95
Fun 4.85
Housing 4.75
Value 4.65

Good for Students

Showing 73 - 80 of 215 reviews

My experience at Silk Mandarin has been nothing short of excellent thus far. The small class sizes make for a much more intimate learning environment where you are free to practise your speech and ask questions. Our teacher not only has extensive knowledge of Mandarin, but of English as well. He is able to anticipate where we will have misconceptions in our learning and helps teach and guide us towards understanding. One thing that has really impressed me in our classes is that we’re not only learning the language, but we’re also learning about Chinese history and culture as well. It is a very comprehensive way to learn and I highly recommend it! – Laurie MacNaughton

What was your funniest moment?

My funniest moment was in the very beginning of our studies when we were learning the proper tones. There were some interesting sounds coming out of the room at that time!

The classes at Silk Mandarin are engaging, fun and provide a wonderful insight into the Chinese Language. It's been great experience to understand how the Chinese language is structured and the stories behind the characters.Our teacher provides clear explanations in an enthusiastic manner to the time fly by. Overall I would highly recommend Silk Mandarin to people who is interested in learning Chinese. I look forward to continuing to learn Chinese to understand the local culture better and enjoy my life in Shanghai more!

What was your funniest moment?

how our teacher helps us to mastering the 3rd tone

I have thoroughly enjoyed learning Mandarin with SILK Mandarin. The lessons have been well resourced, stimulating and enjoyable. The course is very well structured and provides excellent steps to help you achieve your target. It is also focuses on Chinese history and culture which I have found fascinating. Our teacher provides clear and valuable feedback and this has really helped me grasp the basic concept of the language. I would reccommend this course to anyone who wants an educational and fun experience. James Hassett.

I can not recommend the classes at SILK Mandarin highly enough. From our very first lesson, our teacher provided us with an active and challenging classroom environment. The lessons are very well prepared, engaging and fun. Apart from learning the pronunciations and grammar, I was amazed at how quickly we were able to understand the sentence structures and stories behind the Chinese characters. This is all down to the clear instructions, explanations and encouragement our teacher provides in class. I have really enjoyed the experience so far and am looking forward to continuing my classes! Aisling O Donoghue

I was coming into the process with three central goals in mind: 1. to have a refresher on the basic fundamentals of the language and grammar, 2. to have a tangible result at the end of my learning in the form of passing my HSK exams and 3. to develop an ability to read and write characters. From the very first trial class I was engaged and inspired by the highly interactive and less scholastic approach of Silk Mandarin, but also how each class and stage is highly focused around building upon as well as perfecting the basics of the language. Through this process, I have also reignited my passion and curiosity for Chinese culture, which has inspired me personally to immerse myself in other areas beyond the HSK syllabus. I would thoroughly recommend Silk Mandarin to anyone looking to press reset on their Mandarin language skills, and learn from some of the best teachers in China.

What would you improve about this program?

Overcoming the fear factor of making mistakes was key for me. My teacher was always supportive, but also pushed me during class as well as during personal assignments.

I started my journey at silk mandarin just over a year ago. A friend of mine recommended the school so I went for a trial class and I loved it. I signed up for three private classes a week. Due to circumstances I already had three different teachers, but all three of them where really professional and adjusted the classes to my needs. I am really impressed by their way of teaching and the knowledge they all have. As I said before, I take three classes a week, and just over a year I almost finished HSK4. This is definitely because the teachers are very motivating and you feel they just love their job. Not only do they provide theoretical classes, but once in a while they also provide Chinese corners to learn more about the Chinese culture. This is such a good way to learn things about China and its culture you didn’t knew yet, but it also gives you the chance to get to know other students. So, I would definitely recommend Silk Madarin to everybody who wants to start their Mandarin journey. Dont hesitate if you are not sure, just go and find out their amazing school for yourself!

What would you improve about this program?

Nothing at all, I love the fact that the teachers adjust the program to your needs.

Silk Mandarin is a highly organised and professional Mandarin Chinese language learning centre. I have experienced both one on one and group learning methods and the teachers cater specifically for my learning needs. My teacher, Shirley, is an expert in being able to assess my learning needs, provide simple instructions to follow and makes every single lesson an enjoyable experience. She also ensures I progress through the HSK curriculum with an understanding of grammar, tones and Chinese culture

From my first visit to Silk Mandarin I was impressed by the professionalism, care, and courtesy extended by the staff. Thanks to their instruction I have seen my language abilities (in the fields of reading writing, speaking, and listening) improve exponentially. Not only is the instruction high-quality, the materials provided are both useful and accessible. In addition, my teacher has always been attentive to my particular needs and difficulties as a student. I heartily recommend Silk Mandarin to anybody looking to improve their Chinese abilities.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?

Taking the placement tests to determine my level was very nerve-racking. However, I was able to overcome my stress over the results thanks to reassurance from my instructor as well as undertaking further practice and review.

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Questions & Answers

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Interview

Why did you choose this program?

When I arrived in Suzhou for work I wanted to expand on my Chinese reading, writing, speaking and listening. To that end, I needed a school which would be willing to go beyond simple conversational lessons and be willing to help me with my reading and writing as well. In addition, because I was working, I required an institution capable of working around my busy schedule. During my first visit to their facilities I was very impressed by the professionalism of Silk Mandarin’s staff and the quality of their instructional materials. I knew that it was the right place to achieve my goals.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

Since I was already living and working in Suzhou I thought there weren’t many things I needed my school to set up for me. However, my program still assisted me with many things to facilitate my language learning. My school provided textbooks and workbooks, as well as access to their library of graded readers. Most conveniently, when the time came, they arraigned for me to take the HSK test appropriate to my level and handled the shipping and reception of my official scores. I was responsible for helping to select a class and homework schedule which worked for both me and my teacher.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

Do not allow setbacks to become disasters! Learning any language is difficult and learning a language with a completely different writing system is doubly so. I personally had many situations where poor pronunciation or imperfect use of grammar led to a misunderstanding in my daily life in China. This can lead to a decrease in your motivation to learn and a decrease in your practice time. Fortunately I had a great teacher who worked hard to reignite my passion for Chinese and this kept my motivation from fading away. The only way to fail at learning a language is by giving up!

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

The average day or week in this program varies based on the needs and situation of the student. For my part I attended an individual class three times a week for two hours before heading off to my workplace. Students with a less hectic schedule can opt for longer group classes and can take advantage of the many recreational and cultural events that the school organises for weekends and holidays. Still, no matter your schedule, there are always opportunities to interact with staff and other students as part of the Silk Mandarin community.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear in going abroad was that I would not be accepted into a community and that I would fail in my language learning goals. My language program and the welcoming people of China helped me overcome these fears. I always felt like I was part of a learning community among my fellow students and my accommodating teachers. When you have people you can ask questions to and bounce ideas off of the day to day difficulties of living abroad become much more manageable. My fear of failure was further mollified as I saw my conversations with locals become more fluid and comprehensible. Over time I started to view interacting in Chinese not as a frightening prospect, but as a fun and helpful way to test knowledge and learn new ways of communicating.

How did this program accommodate your unique learning style and language goals?

Silk Mandarin was extremely focused on my goals from the outset: when I explained that I wanted to pass HSK tests within a certain timeframe they immediately started working out a study plan to get me where I wanted to be when I wanted to be there. As my unique weaknesses and strengths started to become apparent my teacher adjusted our activities in class. For example in order to address my low HSK listening scores much more time was spent on listening practice. What’s more, as time went on and my priorities shifted my teacher was willing and able to help me with new goals and ambitions. A good example of this is when I wanted to become more proficient in writing Chinese characters from memory and so my teacher assigned and even graded additional writing practice on top of the program’s standard workbook homework. The flexibility and individual care I received is perhaps what I found most impressive about Silk Mandarin’s program.

Barney Goatley

2019 Alum

Daniel T

2019 Alum

Jacob Johnson

2019 Alum

Felix Wendlandt

Luke Nestler

2019 Alum

Daniel de Smeth

2017 Alum

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

What is your favorite travel memory?

The most memorable trip I made was to Florence, Italy.

We went to the bookstore that day and then went to Michelangelo Square in the afternoon. At 3 or 4 pm, there were not many people in the square. In the evening, when the sun was about to go down, people gradually grew. On the stairs, on the square, in the cafe, on the path, the crowd was full of people, and everyone was waiting for the sunset. The sunset slowly became very red, slowly falling, and everyone was cheering and hugging happily at the last moment when they were completely gone.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

My current company has allowed me to grow a lot, and my colleagues and boss have helped me a lot. I will meet regularly to solve my problems in time when I encounter difficulties. Especially in the teaching process, no matter new or old colleagues, I will be enthusiastic to help me. Thank you very much for my company.

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What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

One of the best stories I have ever heard was from my student Jackson. We were in class one day, and he was very happy to tell me that his Chinese friend was not good at school, German friends didn’t speak Chinese, and they couldn’t communicate, but after he and I learned Chinese, he could help them communicate He felt very happy and thanked me.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

I will choose the content related to teaching because I think such projects will be very helpful to my teaching and help me become more familiar with the teaching content so that my class will be smoother and more confident. I will also choose some projects made from teaching materials so that I can make my thinking logic clearer and have a sufficient understanding of the teaching content.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

What makes my school unique is that the atmosphere of the whole school is very kind and the learning atmosphere is strong. Each teacher is dedicated and dedicated to education, and the leaders also get along well, and everything is communicating effectively. The educational philosophy of our school is very advanced, making it easier for students to learn Chinese.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

I think the biggest success factor for a company is that the hearts of the entire team are together and work together to make the school better. If the team works well, the company will grow better. There is a saying in China: Three Zhuge Liang top one Zhuge Liang.

Hannah Ma

Chinese Teacher

Wang Yali

Chinese Teacher

David Wang

Teacher, Product Manager

Jasmine Zhou

Teaching supervisor

Giacomo Verde

Digital Marketing Executive

Location

Location:

Shanghai

Currency:

Chinese Yuan

Weather:

Jan-Mar

57 F / 36 F

Apr-Jun

82 F / 54 F

Jul-Sep

90 F / 72 F

Oct-Dec

73 F / 41 F

Airports:

Shanghai Pudong International

( PVG )

Shanghai Hongqiao International

( SHA )

Shanghai, fondly known as the Oriental Paris, is the largest commercial hub in mainland China. This country blends eastern and western cultures and will bring out different sides depending where you are from.

About Silk Mandarin Language School

We at Silk Mandarin believe that understanding each other’s language and culture unites people. It is our mission to teach Mandarin and Chinese culture to all who have an interest in it, whatever their ambition, background or age, and wherever they are. Since we opened our doors early 2015, our ground-breaking Slow Motion Technique has proven to be...