Where Can You Get the Best Chinese Lessons Online? The motivations for learning Chinese are as diverse and compelling as the language itself. Perhaps you're fascinated by the rich history and culture of China, eager to read its classical poetry or modern literature in its original form. Maybe you're looking to expand your business skills and communicate directly with the vast Chinese market. Or, you might dream of traveling through China, exploring everything from bustling cities to serene landscapes, all while engaging with locals in their native tongue.
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Fluenz is a digital language learning platform co-founded by Sonia Gil, an entrepreneur and travel vlogger. Gil herself went to China to develop the Mandarin Chinese program for English speakers. The Fluenz Mandarin course features over 100 videos, provides a realistic pathway for English speakers to achieve verbal fluency, and connects learning with targeted practice.
No trial and seems outdated, but offers a 30-day satisfaction guarantee
The first thing you'll notice about Fluenz is that it appears quite old-fashioned - it gives the impression that it hasn't seen an update in the last ten years. Out of all the programs we reviewed, Fluenz is the only one that doesn't provide any options for you to test it out first. They don't provide a sample lesson or give you free access to the student dashboard for a week. The best they have to offer is a slideshow with screenshots from the desktop application. Unfortunately, that means that if something is broken (like an image matching game that grades you incorrectly or a recording that won't play) you won't know about it ahead of time, and Fluenz will already have your money. But, if you decide to purchase Fluenz Mandarin without trying it first, they do have a 30-day satisfaction guarantee to protect your investment.
Priced higher than competitors
Fluenz offers their Mandarin courses at rather high prices. The "Fluenz Mandarin 1+2+3" package costs $322, while "Fluenz Mandarin 1+2" and "Fluenz Mandarin 3" are priced at $258 and $187, respectively. (For comparison's sake, you can get lifetime access to all levels of some competing services for around $100.) Their homeschooling options, "Homeschool Basic Fluenz Mandarin 1+2+3" and "Homeschool Pro Fluenz Mandarin 1+2+3", are available for a whopping $954 and $1,908. If you share your email address with them, you're eligible for a discount, but nothing big enough to make their prices competitive in this review.
Feels like the classroom
With Fluenz, your learning starts with an introduction video that sets the stage for the lesson. Afterward, you practice through exercises, known as "workouts". Between these workouts, you watch more videos to dig deeper into the material. This alternating format of video and practice is effective, but the videos can seem a bit too formal at times. Unlike many other language programs that feel pretty hands-off, Fluenz feels more like a traditional classroom and aims to mimic a one-on-one tutoring session. But remember, the videos are pre-recorded.
Video lessons led by tutors
If you struggle to stay engaged without face-to-face interaction, like when studying new vocabulary on a screen, you might find Fluenz useful. It's unique among most language learning platforms because it provides clear video explanations in English while you work through the program. For Mandarin Chinese, a teacher named Yi Wei will guide you with easy-to-understand explanations about how sentences are constructed, the order of words, how to pronounce tones, and vocabulary.
Three levels of proficiency
In the first two levels of the Fluenz Mandarin course, you'll start with the basics: introducing yourself, talking about countries, ordering food, shopping, and planning trips. You'll also understand how Mandarin sentences work, ask questions, compare things, count, and learn important Mandarin concepts. This course preps you for real-life Mandarin conversations. In the third level, you'll build on your basics and learn advanced skills. You'll practice in situations like making plans, eating at restaurants, or even visiting a factory and ordering materials. You'll also learn how to talk about the past and future. After finishing this level, Fluenz says you'll be able to handle most conversations in China or keep learning Mandarin if you want to.
They only teach from English
Another thing Fluenz highlights about themselves as a point of pride is that they teach foreign languages from the point of view of an English speaker. They claim to be the only ones who do this, but pretty much every other service in our review of Chinese language classes works this way. Fluenz might be trying to say that they make more direct comparisons to English grammar structures during the lesson than other platforms, but either way, we don't find this super impressive. It might actually be a reason you don't want to choose Fluenz - for example, if Spanish is your first language and you were hoping to use it to learn Mandarin Chinese, Fluenz doesn't have a unique set of video lessons for your needs.
Study on any device
You can use Fluenz's program on any device, including your computer, iPhone, Android phone, and iPad. Whether you're watching videos or doing workouts, you can switch devices anytime and continue learning Mandarin. Don't worry about losing your place because Fluenz remembers where you stopped, so you can pick up from there on any device.
Only Pinyin
From what we can tell, Fluenz Mandarin doesn't teach you to write in either simplified or traditional Chinese characters. It only focuses on Pinyin. If being able to read and write in Chinese is a priority for you (and we think it should be) this program won't be the best fit.
We can't rate it well without more transparency
Even though Fluenz Mandarin is popular and used by some top organizations like the Navy's Special Warfare Command, it needs to do better to compete with other Chinese learning programs. You wouldn't be able to learn Chinese characters, and it only offers three levels of learning. It's not as complete as some other higher-ranked programs, but it is a lot more expensive. To improve its rank in our review, we'd need to see more, like a sample lesson or access to a student dashboard.
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The motivations for learning Chinese are as diverse and compelling as the language itself. Perhaps you're fascinated by the rich history and culture of China, eager to read its classical poetry or modern literature in its original form. Maybe you're looking to expand your business skills and communicate directly with the vast Chinese market. Or, you might dream of traveling through China, exploring everything from bustling cities to serene landscapes, all while engaging with locals in their native tongue.
Learning Chinese, however, presents a unique set of challenges unlike those found in learning languages like Spanish or French. For one, there's the intricate system of Chinese characters, each carrying its own meaning and pronunciation, which can seem daunting at first glance. Then, there's the tonal nature of Mandarin Chinese, where the meaning of a word can change dramatically with the pitch of your voice.
But don't let these hurdles deter you. With commitment and the right resources, you're on your way to fluency. Mastering Chinese opens up a universe of cultural, professional, and social opportunities, allowing you to connect with over a billion speakers worldwide.
Online Chinese lessons offer a variety of approaches to suit different learning preferences. For auditory learners, there are programs focused on immersive listening practices, helping you attune your ear to the nuances of the language. If you're game for a challenge, gamified learning platforms make acquiring new vocabulary and grammar points engaging, rewarding your progress with points and badges.
For those who prefer a more structured learning path, comprehensive courses provide a blend of video lessons, interactive quizzes, and writing exercises, ensuring you develop a well-rounded skill set, from character recognition and writing to speaking and listening.
And if personal interaction is what drives your learning, tutoring services connect you with native Chinese speakers for real-time conversation and cultural exchange, enriching your study with authentic experiences.
Feeling overwhelmed by the options? Here's what to consider as you begin your journey to learn Chinese:
To guide you to the best Chinese lessons for your goals and preferred learning style, our team at Top Consumer Reviews has tested today's leading options and provided honest feedback on what each one offers. So, what are you waiting for? Embark on your Chinese learning adventure today!
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Why Should You Learn Chinese?
In this day and age there are lots of reasons to invest in learning different languages. But what are the reasons to learn Chinese specifically? You might be questioning which language you want to learn next, and if so Chinese would make an excellent choice. There are many reasons to learn the language of such an illustrious culture, and this list will only be an abbreviated version, but it's something to strongly consider if you are up to the challenge.
One reason to learn Chinese is probably the easiest to understand - do it for the culture! China is a country with a beautiful and fascinating history, and learning the language is one more way to learn about the culture. If you ever visit China, you'll be glad you took the time to learn the language, and it'll help you understand more while you're there. And even if you never visit China, it can be a fun experience for yourself that also gives you a peek into a whole different part of the world.
Another, more specific reason for learning Chinese is for the future. Right now, China has connections with almost every country across the globe, and learning the language to communicate could be very helpful. From being a translator, to hoping to work in business, a smart language to learn would be Chinese. China works with a lot of countries, and is a massive producer of various items, so learning how to negotiate and talk to people in their own language would go a long way towards making a good impression.
Chinese is a very difficult language to learn, and there are many different ways you can communicate with it. That being said, learning Chinese could open several new doors for you. You could impress people with your knowledge, and even expose yourself to Chinese pop culture. You would see a whole different side of the world through Chinese movies and literature; things so easily get lost in translation, but by cutting out the middleman and doing it yourself, you make sure you are hearing everything correctly. You must look at the challenge of learning the language as an invitation instead of an obstacle. You are bringing yourself to new heights, and perhaps you will inspire more people to join you, by learning Chinese as a second language.
For these reasons and many more, learning Chinese is a great decision. Use your time and money to learn a new skill that could be invaluable to you for a variety of reasons. As long as you remember to respect the culture it comes from, learning Chinese can be a very healthy and exciting goal to work towards achieving. Join millions today in learning a whole new world through the language of China.
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