China Study Abroad - Finding a Private Mandarin Tutor in China
Article by Maureen Hayes
In order to study Mandarin effectively, you need to put in a lot of effort and immerse yourself in the language and culture. In this sense, a China study abroad program is essential to gain Mandarin fluency. Whilst the lessons you receive as part of your university course will give you the fundamentals to develop your language skills, it is important to continually practice and learn more than you are taught in class.
A great way to do this is to find a private tutor to give you extra lessons outside of your regular classes. At Global Language we can provide you with extra tuition outside of your scheduled classes, this not only guarantees quality one-on-one language coaching from qualified teaching professionals, it also eliminates the need for finding a tutor when you get here. However, some students find that they like to step outside their China study abroad package and find their own teacher; and we completely respect this decision. It is important that you do what is right for your specific needs, and Global Language will be there to help you and give you advice on the right tutor for you and point you in the right direction for local listings if needed.
In the meantime, here are a few tips to remember when looking for a private tutor when in China.1.Don't pay too much. Whilst most of your teaching costs are included in your China Study Abroad package, should you seek further tuition outside of this, you will need to think about fees. Even in major cities you should not look to pay more than about 50rmb an hour for a regular teacher or perhaps up to 80rmb for a very experienced private tutor.
2.Make sure you speak Chinese. A number of language exchange adverts are visible online, and this can be a good way to make friends in China and share your culture. However, if your main aim is to improve your Chinese, make sure you don't spend your entire time speaking your own language. This will take up your valuable time and won't help you improve your Chinese. Many China study ab! road stu dents find themselves in a situation where they are paying for tutoring and yet the only one reeking in the benefits is the one getting paid whilst practicing his/her English.
3.Know what you want. Most good tutors will have some idea where to take the lessons, but don't be afraid to ask for what you want. If you have specific needs or target areas you want to focus on, then please let the tutor know. This way you will get the most out of your extra tuition and will progress more quickly.
No matter what type of extra tuition you choose, speaking Mandarin as often as possible will be extremely beneficial for your progression. In fact it is so beneficial that some professional tutors are hired because of the fact they can not speak English.
How to Say I Love You in Chinese, I Love You in Chinese, Love in Chinese
Early Start Mandarin Chinese with Bao Bei the Panda Volume 1: Colors and Animals
- Running time: 30 minutes
- DVD regionless - plays with any DVD player
Mandarin Chinese is the language to learn in the 21st Century. Experts agree that preschool-age language learning promotes life-long ease with second languages. Your preschooler is a terrific learner, with amazing energy and eagerness to learn new things. Optimize this opportunity by providing a wonderful introduction of a foreign language that will give your preschooler an edge in the future.
The DVD is approximately 30 minutes long. There is a list of the Chinese words and phrases at the end of the DVD in ping ying.
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