Program Reviews

After a couple of months of learning Chinese informally through social media, I enrolled in a course through Silk Mandarin in Suzhou. From the beginning, the staff at Silk Mandarin have been remarkably friendly, as well flexible and responsive to my needs and interests as a learner. My teacher, Sisi, is a skilled language instructor and it is clear that she has extensive experience working with non-native learners—she is able to anticipate common challenges for learners of Chinese and understands how to explain them in terms that make sense to learners. She is also adept at continuously incorporating previous course content into new lessons, which allows me to reinforce the various concepts we have learned. During class, I always feel engaged and appropriately challenged; as such, I’ve felt both my proficiency and my confidence improve throughout my course at Silk Mandarin. As all of the above suggests, I’d highly recommend Silk Mandarin to learners!

Focusing on oral speaking practice as a primary objective really helped me a lot with gaining confidence and motivation to learn. Not putting so much pressure on character learning, but making it the secondary focus, helped me to progress faster. My teacher Christina made it comfortable for me to ask questions that increased my understanding, helping me to grasp the language faster and use it effectively. It gave me a lot of speaking opportunity, of which the importance can’t be overstated, especially since Chinese tones can be difficult to grasp.

Arriving in Shanghai in September 2023 I knew I wanted to learn mandarin, not only in order to facilitate communication in daily life, but also to gain access to Chinese culture in general, this as a sign of respect to the people of this country. For a certain number of reasons regular courses on one of the local universities did not work for me. By coincidence I found the address of SILK MANDARIN online and in some printed expat guide. After the initial contact it took only more or less one day to get in touch with all the relevant people at Silk in order to enrol for HSK1, very fast and very professional. The atmosphere is very friendly, the whole team does its best to make you feel at ease and being part of their "family". Teachers (at least those I know) are doing a really good job, questions are answered almost anytime of the day in almost no time, they are cool, competent and friendly but they are also demanding and insisting in order to get students out of their comfort zone, the only way to succeed with such a different language for westerners. Being in a blended learning course with pre-recorded elements I appreciate the good quality of the videos and the perfect intonations and pace of Jasmine, this is very important when learning a tone based language. I hope my mandarin journey will continue successfully over the next months and years.

At first I tried to learn Chinese by myself. I used video in YouTube, learning apps and etc. But I didn't feel the progress. Then, I found a video of Silk Mandarin School of Chinese and I fell in love with the way information was explained. After that I had a free lesson and I really enjoyed it. My teacher was excellent! I really like her being my tutor. From the very first lesson I got to know about things that I've never heard before. Slow motion technique, for instance. All these things together made me choose Sill Mandarin. Thank you for teaching us properly!

Silk mandarin is just the best place to learn Chinese for sure. I’ve been living in Shanghai and went through different experiences in different schools and the methods that silk mandarin offers are great and the best ones. You can advance in the learning of the language as fast as you want too. My teacher, Hannah has been so helpful and patient, she’s so willing for her students to understand and get everything in an easy and smooth way. They’re so flexible too, with my difficult schedule. Silk Mandarin 100% recommended!! The best school so far!

Silk Mandarin helps students to create a program that meets their specific educational needs. After sharing my learning goals and objectives, I was paired with Christina who is my teacher. She has helped me to understand the fundamentals of the Chinese language which is very beneficial to me. She also applies adult learning principles during our sessions. This is very important for my success. Christina makes my learning experience fun and motivates me to learn more. I was able to travel to China recently, and with Christina's support, I was able to begin using my beginner language skills. Thank you Silk Mandarin. I am very happy to have found your school and encourage others who are interested in learning the Chinese language to become students.

Silk Mandarin have lots of class options to suit different learning styles and schedules. I completed the HSK2 group intensive programme and then moved on to private lessons. My teacher has been both understanding and flexible with lessons as my work schedule changes constantly. The lessons are easy to follow and structured well. I've been working through the HSK content, but my teacher (Sherley) has also helped beyond the textbooks with vocabularly for everyday life and vocabularly that is unique to my job/life. Thanks Silk Mandarin :)

Dear Jane,

I hope this review finds you well.
I am writing to express my gratitude and provide feedback on the Chinese course I undertook under your guidance for the past year. I wanted to take a moment to reflect on my experience and share my thoughts.
First and foremost, I would like to express my sincere appreciation for your dedication, expertise, and passion for teaching the Chinese language. Throughout the course, your commitment to ensuring a supportive and engaging learning environment was evident. Your enthusiasm for the subject matter was contagious and played a significant role in my motivation and progress.
One aspect that stood out to me was the structure and organization of the course. The curriculum was thoughtfully designed, gradually building on foundational concepts and incorporating a balanced mix of listening, speaking, reading, and writing exercises. This comprehensive approach allowed me to develop a holistic understanding of the language and its cultural context. I particularly enjoyed the incorporation of diverse materials, such as videos, and dialogues, which enhanced my language skills and deepened my cultural awareness.
Moreover, your teaching style was highly effective in facilitating comprehension and retention. Your explanations were clear, concise, and tailored to suit the diverse learning needs. You seamlessly integrated interactive activities, discussions, and role-plays, which not only made the lessons enjoyable but also encouraged active participation and fostered a sense of camaraderie among us.
Furthermore, your commitment to individual progress was commendable. You consistently provided constructive feedback, highlighting areas for improvement while also acknowledging achievements. Your patience and willingness to address my questions and concerns further enhanced my learning experience and instilled confidence in my language abilities.
Lastly, I would like to acknowledge the cultural insights you shared throughout the course. Your personal anecdotes, historical background, and anecdotes about Chinese customs and traditions added a unique dimension to the learning process. It not only enriched my understanding of the language but also fostered a deeper appreciation for the Chinese culture as a whole.
In conclusion, I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to be part of your Chinese course. Your expertise, dedication, and engaging teaching style have undoubtedly contributed to my progress in the language. I leave this course with improved language skills, heightened cultural awareness, and fond memories of our class interactions.
Once again, thank you for your commitment to excellence in teaching and for creating a supportive and inspiring learning environment. I would highly recommend your Chinese course to anyone seeking to learn the language.
Wishing you continued success in your teaching endeavors.
Sincerely, Duy

Silk Mandarin is conveniently located in a modern tower in the Jing'an district of Shanghai. You can find many options in the area to have lunch after class and even a Starbucks coffeeshop to boost your energy before class😉.
At Silk Mandarin, they limit the number of participants in the groups (usually 6 students or less), which is ideal to make progress, to participate orally and ask questions to the teacher. Each teacher has of course her own personality and specific way of teaching, but they're all friendly, hard workers and very dedicated to their students. The method is a good mix of grammar, vocabulary and conversational skills. I highly recommend Silk Mandarin.

I'm very happy with my experience, it was easier than i thought to learn my first chinese characters. I went through an online class for 10 lessons, the teachers are here to explain details about characters that make them fun to learn and easier to remember. My teacher was Sisi!
Also the school helped me a LOT with getting my visa and with the problems i had while applying for it. I've been in contact with a total of 5 different teachers/managers, and all of them were lovely and very polite. I can't wait to go on with my course in Shanghai!