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.
Great
The language learning at italki is a bit different from the other services in our review, many of which are gamified apps that you navigate solo. italki, on the other hand, connects you to real Chinese tutors who can meet your learning needs at any level via one-on-one video calls.
2 types of tutors
Many italki tutors also provide study plans for you to follow on your own between sessions. On italki, you'll find two types of tutors: Professional Teachers and Community Tutors. Professional Teachers have teaching certificates and offer organized lessons. Community Tutors are not certified, but the quality of their lessons often matches that of Professional Teachers. Community Tutors speak the language natively or at advanced levels and offer casual tutoring and chat practice.
Over 1,000 Chinese tutors available
When you browse italki, you'll find plenty of filters to help you find the perfect tutor - which is great, because they had over 1,000 tutors listed at the time of our visit. You can specify the type of lesson you want, from general skills such as conversation practice, grammar, to more specialized areas like business Chinese and even prep for the HSK test.
You can filter for tutors from Taiwan
If English isn't your first language, no worries. italki lets you find tutors who speak your native language too. There's also the option to select tutors based on their region, including mainland China and Taiwan. If you're learning Chinese with the goal to work or study in Taiwan, opting for a tutor from Taiwan can expose you to the unique aspects of Taiwanese Mandarin from the get-go, including its pronunciation nuances and cultural contexts. This kind of immersive learning experience is something you just can't find in the typical gamified language learning apps.
Keep track of your favorites with hearts
While we wish italki had filters for ratings or how many lessons a tutor has completed, this information can still be found on each tutor's profile page. To keep track of your preferred tutors, simply click the heart on their profile to add them to your favorites. Each tutor's profile is packed with useful information, like rating scores, lesson and teaching style descriptions, credentials, and student feedback. In fact, many tutors even go the extra mile by introducing themselves through short videos.
Trial lessons starting at $7
italki is definitely a cost-effective option if you're looking to improve your Chinese, especially if you want to get better at speaking. The platform lets you try out lessons with different tutors at low prices to see if their teaching style works for you before committing to full-price lessons. These trial lessons usually cost between $7 and $15, which is a bargain - that's only a little more than you would pay to take your tutor out to coffee. The full price cost of lessons depends on which tutor you choose and what you want to learn. For example, a short 30-minute lesson for kids will have a different price than a long session focused on preparing for the HSK exam. italki shows the trial lesson price first when you're browsing - unfortunately, you'll need to take an extra step and click into the tutor's page to find out their regular prices for more lessons or packages.
Community Tutors are just as good as Professional Teachers
On italki, you can find Professional Teachers like Amelie, who has been teaching for over 10 years and offers a range of lesson packages, including a "Tailored Chinese Class" for all levels from A1 to C1, priced at $10.00+ with a 3% discount for packages. Amelie is known for her structured approach, covering everything from basic phonetics to practical conversation skills, and she boasts a perfect attendance record with 466 lessons given to 53 students. Then there's Kai Aoel, a Community Tutor with six years of experience, teaching students from around the globe. Despite not having a teaching certificate, Kai maintains a 5.0 rating across 2,325 lessons with 268 students - proving that you don't need to be certified to be an effective Chinese tutor. She offers "fun and relaxed" lessons that are customized to your goals, including a "Chinese for Specific Purposes" package starting at $19.50 for a 30 minute lesson.
Periodical Language Challenge offered
Join italki's Language Challenge to boost your language skills quickly. By signing up, you pick how many hours you want to study and start taking lessons. Depending on how many hours you achieve - from 12 to 24 - you can get different rewards like digital badges, certificates, and coupons for discounts on lessons. You can aim higher with your goals anytime, but you can't lower them. Don't worry if you don't meet your exact target; you'll get rewards for the closest goal you did achieve. Remember, trial lessons count towards your goal, but group classes don't.
Group Classes available
With italki Group Classes, you can learn with 2-6 students online, focusing on special topics like a Fried Dumpling cooking class or Learning Chinese Characters Through Pictures. These classes are a great way to practice speaking and listening with others from around the world. If you're looking for something more regular, Group Courses offer a series of classes on a single topic or general language skills, meeting weekly. This gives you consistent practice, a well-planned course, and the chance to make friends with your teacher and classmates. Just make sure the course fits your schedule, you're ready with Zoom, and you check out the class materials before starting.
Fit lessons into your schedule easily
If you're juggling multiple commitments, italki's lesson time filter can help you narrow down the list to tutors whose Chinese lessons fit into your schedule. Filter tutor availability by general days of the week, specific times of day, or by specific dates using a calendar date picker. For spur-of-the-moment study sessions, you also have the option to see tutors for Instant Lessons or lessons Within the next 72 Hours. If you've picked a tutor and you're ready to schedule a lesson, you can select a lesson duration ranging from 30 to 90 minutes.
Convenient calendar tool
Using italki's calendar tool, you can then choose your preferred date and time. The tool highlights available times in green, booked times with gray stripes, and unavailable times are grayed out. If none of the available slots work for you, you can always reach out to the teacher and request a time outside their current schedule. Just bear in mind that if your chosen teacher is based in China, you might need to adjust your schedule to accommodate time differences, possibly waking up early or staying up late for lessons.
You'll need an appropriate place to study
italki is a more personal way to learn languages, but it's not for everyone. If you feel shy or nervous in one-on-one instructional settings, italki's Chinese tutoring might be a bit much for you. Also, you need a good internet connection and an appropriate place to learn, so it's not great if you're thinking about studying at noisy cafes or where talking is discouraged, like the library or on public transport. But, if you like making new friends and are eager to learn, italki could be perfect. It's really good for keeping you accountable and helping you build relationships with native speakers.
italki tutors are committed to their work
Learners have shared glowing feedback about their experiences with italki tutors. One student said about Amelie, "She is so encouraging and enthusiastic, and it shines through in her engaging and fun-filled classes". Kai's teaching approach received praise too: "I think it's important to genuinely enjoy what you learn in order to progress and to also have a safe space to experiment and try out new vocabulary or grammar structures. Teacher Kai gives me this opportunity through what she has aptly named our ‘restful learning' sessions." The bottom line: italki tutors are committed to both their students and to the platform - many of these student reviews date back several years, so you don't need to worry about finding a tutor you love and then being left in the lurch. italki also has a strong 4.6-star rating on Trustpilot, with users saying great things about how easy it is to use the platform and find a good teacher, and how helpful italki's support team is.
We recommend them
italki gets our stamp of approval as an excellent way to improve your Chinese skills, especially if you're aiming to sound like a native speaker. If you're ready for one-on-one lessons tailored to your needs and enjoy connecting with your tutor, italki might just be the language learning platform you've been searching for. With a diverse selection of tutors, a supportive community, and positive feedback from fellow learners, we're confident that italki will help you progress in your language learning journey.
Continued from above...
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!
Compare Any 2 Products
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.
Top Products.
Top Reviews.
Top Consumer Reviews.
Reviews
Browse through thousands of reviews.
Social Media
Like us? Follow us! We'd love to have you join our community.
Newsletter
Stay up to date with the latest reviews. We'll keep you informed, and we'll never sell your information to anyone.
