Our reviewers evaluate products and services based on unbiased research. Top Consumer Reviews may earn money when you click on a link. Learn more about our process.
Friday, February 26th
Transparent Language is one of the few Chinese language providers that offers both Mandarin and Cantonese Chinese instruction. Their classes are available as an audio course as well as an online subscription for adults. Transparent gives students less structure within the lesson framework than we observed in other Chinese lessons, so Transparent Language may work best for self-directed learners who don't need regular prompting to motivate themselves to progress in their Chinese studies.
Chinese Class 101, from Innovative Language, uses a variety of approaches - audio, video, written, and so on - to teach Chinese and includes a good selection of lessons that teach different dialects as spoken in various parts of the world. The user interface can be somewhat overwhelming, and the sales tactics might feel pushy to some customers. We recommend trying the 7-day free trial before committing to a paid membership.
With more than 16% of the world's population who speak Chinese as their first language, it's no wonder that modern education is prioritizing learning Chinese as a foreign language. From immersion-based elementary schools to language learning programs found online, it is estimated that as many as 40 million non-native speakers around the globe are currently studying Chinese.
There are two primary dialects of Chinese: Mandarin, or "Standard Chinese", the official language of China and Taiwan; and Cantonese, the official language in Hong Kong and Macau and influential in the Guangdong Province. While the two are similar, Chinese students may want to focus more on one or the other, depending on their purposes for using the language.
From beginners learning the intonation of a simple ni hao to those looking to fine-tune their knowledge of Chinese characters and pronunciation, students have many programs from which to choose to help them better grasp the intricacies of the Chinese language. When deciding which Chinese lessons will be the best option, we recommend getting a feel for each program's methods.
The most well-rounded Chinese lessons use strategies to reach different learners - visual, auditory, and so on - through flashcards, pronunciation practice using a microphone to compare the student's speech to that of a native speaker, games, and other online resources.
On the other hand, some Chinese programs focus on a single approach to teaching the language (for example, worksheets or audio lessons) that may or may not be the best way for a particular student to learn.
When choosing a program for Chinese lessons, there are several things to consider. These include:
TopConsumerReviews.com has reviewed and ranked the best Chinese Lessons available today. We hope these reviews help you learn the most common language around the globe quickly and easily!
Select any 2 Chinese Lessons to compare them head to head