Best in Shanghai

The best way for me to recommend Silk Mandarin is to say that there are 2 Mandarin schools within a 15 minute walk from my home (1 is just across the street), but I chose Silk Mandarin, which, door to door, takes me an hour to reach. That’s 2 hours of commuting, 5 days a week, for a 3 hour class. And it’s worth every minute of the commute, even in the middle of a hot Shanghai summer. I had researched and talked with representatives of several Mandarin schools and chose Silk Mandarin because it was clearly the best. The teachers are exceptional, and 6 weeks into intensive courses I am amazed at how much I can speak, read, and write. The courses move quickly, but the teachers are accommodating, patient, and supportive, and I can’t say enough good things about them. I don’t think I’ve ever bumped into a teacher or other staff member in the school who did not stop to talk with me (they all even know my name, which speaks to the professional collaboration and caring nature of the school). After living in China for 7 years and never studying the language, Silk Mandarin has helped open my adopted home to me in a whole new way. Mandarin schools are a dime a dozen in Shanghai, and choosing 1 is overwhelming, but I have already been recommending Silk Mandarin to friends and colleagues, and I will continue to do so.