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.
Good
If you want to learn to speak a new language, Pimsleur thinks the best way to do that is to actually speak the language. In other words, Pimsleur's method relies on interactive speaking practices supported by techniques like Graduated Interval Recall for long-term memory retention, "mini-step challenges" to overcome conversational fear, focusing on core vocabulary to start speaking in as little as 30 days, and intuitive grammar learning through listening. This holistic approach is designed to make learning efficient, natural, and deeply ingrained, mimicking the way we naturally acquire language. After all, you've never seen a baby studying a sentence diagram, so why would you? Pimsleur offers Cantonese Chinese in addition to Mandarin Chinese.
Fit Chinese into your life easily
When you're starting any new habit, it's important that it fits into your lifestyle - the less friction there is, the easier the habit will be to maintain. For people who are short on time but who spend part of their day commuting or doing hands-on household chores, Pimsleur could be a great way to fit in some Chinese practice. The lessons are audio-only and therefore hands-free, meaning you can listen in the car, while you fold laundry, or while you're doing yard work. But it's probably best not to take your Pimsleur lessons at the gym or grocery store, unless you don't mind getting a few funny looks for talking to yourself.
Multiple account members allowed
Whether you're using the Pimsleur app on the move, engaging with Alexa in the comfort of your home, or sitting at your computer, your language learning can happen anytime, anywhere. What's more, your progress is seamlessly synced across all devices. And there's something for the whole household: one main account holder plus up to three additional members can track their individual learning journeys. So, if you're keen on navigating the streets of Beijing solo, or if your family dreams of a cultural deep-dive into the heart of China, each person gets a customized, in-sync learning experience
$19.95 for audio and text-based exercises
The first week of Pimsleur is free. After that, it's $14.95/month for audio-only. If you want the visual tools such as the Speak Easy role-play tool, a vocabulary bank, and flashcards, you have to pay $19.95/month. By paying $20.95 per month, you also get access to all of Pimsleur's language courses. Unfortunately, they don't disclose all of this upfront, only when you start the checkout process. They're likely counting on your credit card already being out to have a better chance of getting more of your money. If you're interested in discounts, consider opting for an annual plan. You can save up to 34% this way - it's $134.95 for Audio Only, $149.95 for Premium, and $164.95 for All Access. You can also cancel your membership or switch from a monthly to an annual subscription at any time.
You won't learn the characters until later
The obvious drawback of using the entirely audio-based plan to learn Chinese is that you won't get practice with the writing systems - neither pinyin nor hanzi. That's why we think to get the most use out of Pimsleur, you'll need the Premium subscription. After signing up and taking the free 30 minute audio lesson, we had a decent grasp on what certain phrases sounded like, but they didn't really click into place until we played the Quick Match review game where we could see the words we'd learned written out. For any written exercise, you can toggle between pinyin and hanzi. However, unless you have a photographic memory, you can't count on retaining much of the hanzi you're shown - at least not early on.
Pronunciation Practice is hit-or-miss
Pimsleur recently introduced a new feature where you listen to a phrase in English, then in Chinese, and then record yourself pronouncing it to be graded. However, we think their system could be a little tougher with its grading. For example, we didn't really know how to say the last word of "wo hui shuo yi dianr" ("I can speak a little"), and while the playback of our best guess sounded wrong to even our untrained ear, the AI still told us it was "Excellent" (just to make sure it doesn't give a positive result every time, we spoke some English into the mic and were appropriately asked if we'd like to try again).
Reading Chinese characters at the end of the course
How far can Pimsleur take you? The great news is that they have 150 of those 30-minute lessons across 5 levels of Mandarin proficiency. That's about 15 hours of audio for each level. You'll start with simple survival phrases and build up to confidently discussing complex topics, including your personal and emotional experiences. By the end, you'll understand fast-paced conversations and be able to express yourself in depth. Alongside speaking and listening, you'll also learn to read. Starting with Hanyu Pinyin, the phonetic system for Mandarin, and progressing to Hanzi, the Chinese characters, by Level 5. You'll finish feeling confident in your ability to communicate and with a deeper insight into the Chinese language and culture.
Great for audio learners, but try it first
We'd say Pimsleur is great - for a specific category of people, namely, the audio learners among us. There are plenty of testimonials from everyday people and celebrities alike to be found on Pimsleur's website for whom the method works great. Lots of users say they never thought they could learn a second language until they found Pimsleur. On the other hand, others who are used to and comfortable with more text-based, go-at-your-own-pace language learning methods might find themselves frustrated by having to ask Ms. Wang how she likes her tea fifteen times, word by word. So, we'd recommend you sign up to try out the free lesson and see if Pimsleur works for you.
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.
