Job Discussion Forums

creeper1 · Posted: Fri Dec 02, 2011 8:45 pm Post subject: Getting Language Lessons

I guess getting private lessons in Mandarin or Cantonese would be fairly cheap in China.

I'm not talking language exchange which is really dating in disguise (often goes nowhere) but actually paying someone to give you some tutoring.

Would it be a good idea to ask one of your students to private tutor you in Mandarin or Catonese? Would that be weird?

Would it be better to ask someone from outside?

Opiate · Joined: 10 Aug 2011 Posts: 630 Location: Qingdao

Probably far better to cough up 50ish RMB per hour to hire a real teacher.

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

Opiate · Joined: 10 Aug 2011 Posts: 630 Location: Qingdao

To expand on my previous comment a little...

Perhaps I have had bad luck but I tried more than a few students/coworkers as teachers and found them all grossly inadequate. As has been said, they are not teachers. To be fair though, I have also found some teachers inadequate.

When you first arrive, maybe a student/coworker will be fine for your needs if you want simple survival phrases to memorize. Once you get past that point or actually want to 'understand' Chinese, you may need something more.

Since the quality of instruction can vary greatly and your needs may change, just try thing out and see what suits you the best. I would not suggest coughing up the cash for a language school but I would suggest taking the free 1 hour lessons many offer. get the phone number of the teacher if you like him/her and arrange something private.

I agree with 7969...if you take lessons from a coworker or student, always pay something even if they say you do not need to. Try and keep the relationship outside of school uncomplicated.

MisterButtkins · Joined: 03 Oct 2009 Posts: 1221

I had a really Chinese good teacher last year. She was a kindergarten teacher for Chinese kids. She had very clean pronunciation and explained things simply. She was very good at using simple examples to illustrate points. I paid her 40RMB/hour for 2 hours a week.

Having said that, some people just aren't good teachers. A lot of Chinese will never correct you, especially girls. Also, some of them are rather unaware of certain aspects of their own language, in much the same way that a typical American might have no idea what a 'gerund' is even though they use it correctly in speech.

Baozi man · Joined: 06 Sep 2011 Posts: 214

Find a university that offers "teaching Chinese as a second language." Usually you can find a student in the program who will give you lessons for a fee. Taking a Chinese course in a university is a good option.

askiptochina · Joined: 26 Feb 2010 Posts: 488 Location: Beijing

xiguagua · Joined: 09 Oct 2011 Posts: 768

I've found that most students were unable to explain or answer most of the questions that I had when learning the language. Like OP said, once you get passed the basic words/phrases, you start needing more grammar and a more solid foundation. This is where i've had trouble, even talking to the students whose major is Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language, they were ill equipped for my needs. Maybe I just think too much.

I would say get someone to help you. It's really hard to learn Chinese when your #1 responsibility is teaching and speaking English. I always had the idea that if i'm speaking English in class, but speaking Chinese outside of class to the same students.......then i'm just enabling them to continue not speaking English outside of class, which isn't good for my #1. So for me it's been tough, i'm better than my colleagues, but nowhere near where I should be at for being here as long as I have. I'm looking into a Chinese University to study.

Baozi man · Joined: 06 Sep 2011 Posts: 214

While studying Chinese at a Chinese university which also trained students to teach Chinese, I hired four different students in that major. One had graduated and was teaching in another university. I was satisfied, more or less, with each one. One I chose to not hire laughed at my pronunciation. She did not get a job.

If you decide to attend a university, avoid Beijing and Shanghai, unless you like to throw your money away. I attended several years ago and it was quite affordable. Do ESL a couple of years, save the money, change to an X visa. Your set.

After completing your studies, you can change back to a Z visa and resume teaching ESL.

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

Max per hour I've heard of for a prof Chinese teacher on a one to one basis was 60RMB.

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

When I first came here, I realized that I was spending more time teaching my 'Chinese tutor' English than learning Chinese. In the end, paying him/her 30 yuan an hour to teach him/her English was not what I had in mind.

In the end, I just decided to make Chinese friends who speak no English. That and learning Chinese chess and playing it in the park with old guys really paid off.

I would not say I have 'mastered' Mandarin, but I am able to hold a fairly decent discussion with your average Zhou on issues ranging from the economy, politics (which I try to avoid), philosophy/religion (which I try to avoid), history (which again I try to avoid), language, food... pretty much anything. One thing I am weak on is technical/scientific terms like transistors, silicon chips, radiation, etc.

Want to really learn Chinese well?

Learn Chinese chess, live in a smaller place, don't hang out with other foreigners too much, and makes friends who do not speak English. Rather than them using English, you use Chinese.

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

'Average Zhou' - love it!

jayjjasper · Joined: 27 Aug 2011 Posts: 344

I went as far as I could on my own and then hired a proper teacher from a language university to meet once a week.. more expensive than other methods .. but the hour I get is really helpful with "tone-ing" up ....

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

sirius black · Joined: 21 Nov 2011 Posts: 41

I really want to learn mandarin when I move to China. I'll try and prepare beforehand. I'm intimidated by the language's reputation at being amongst if not the hardest language to master.
I do plan on dedicating myself to learning it though. Not sure if the chinese chess suggestion was made tongue in cheek or not.
From trying to learn other languages and seeing others try to learn, I don't think there is one 'best' method because people learn differently as well as age (children pick up languages usually far easier than adults for example).

However, what I've found that works for me and for a lot of people is to do a combination of things. Self study (online and/or book & CDs), formal classes or tutor and being brave and try to interact with native speakers as much as possible in that language.

I've found that no matter how difficult it is for people to pick up languages, if they dedicate themselves to it and have the drive they do suceeed. What I am trying to ascertain is how difficult generally it is and how long it will take someone dedicated to trying to learn it to understand what is mostly being said and able to respond to most questions.