UNIQUE PHILOSOPHY

Our school believes that current methods for teaching Chinese are outdated. Having personally attended Chinese schools in China / Chinese courses in America, we believe that there are better methods to learn Chinese. A few of the staple points of our philosophy:

We teach communication not other things.

True education allows the student to continue learning on his / her own. By first focusing on communications you will be able to understand more of the Chinese culture and history because you'll be able to talk about them.

Writing Chinese characters by hand is not necessary.

Unfortunately, the majority of Mandarin Chinese schools have not entered into the modern age. Most Chinese schools in China focus their teaching methods by forcing students to write Chinese characters over and over. This is incorrect because:

• Simply by recognizing Chinese characters one is able to type on a computer
• The expectation to write Chinese characters by hand in a professional environment is low
• It is a cost/ benefit comparison in which the cost does not justify the end result

By focusing on speaking, listening, reading, and computer Chinese characters writing we can bring you to a functional level that is not possible if you were to spend much of your focus on Chinese characters. Advanced software will also aid in your reading instruction.

To illustrate this point: Know that, in China, the typical native Chinese speaker spends between five and seven years of their life learning to write Chinese characters (every school day, several hours a day). And they were living in a Chinese environment, in a Chinese family, and with Chinese characters visible everywhere!!! Now imagine how long it would take for foreigners!!! If you want to be a linguistics major or do research this is fine-for the rest of us: communication is the key.

Modern Times = Modern Methods = Modern Technology

Explained elsewhere (unique tools section), our Mandarin Chinese school in Beijing takes full advantage of a host of technological tools to help the student learn to speak Chinese fast and efficiently.

Just a sampling of some of the tools that we use:

• Students have the option to purchase a Palm Pilot, so as to record conversations and always have a convenient dictionary
• Dedicated computers in the classroom, aided by teachers
• Software dictionaries give the best background and usage to aid in understanding
• Chinese Learning Software is employed that help the students learn to read by instantly providing pronunciation, meaning, and translation
• Classes consist of computer-based training and work, preparing the student for real life/dealings in China

To understand how our philosophy is manifested in the way we teach Chinese click here: Methodologies and Principles Page

UNIQUE UNDERSTANDING

Our Mandarin Chinese school has focus. We only teach Chinese language to English speakers . Other Chinese schools in China teach many other languages or have several programs. You won't find links to other languages or countries. Our founder was a self-learner of Chinese, after attending some schools in China and America he realized the shortcomings. Unlike other schools in China, management stays in China to oversea quality of instruction. As a Chinese learner himself, he has personally researched and experienced the methods that best apply to a native level English speaker who wishes to learn and study Chinese in China.

UNIQUE FEATURES

In addition to the many proprietary technological tools that are used to aid and augment the standard learning methods, we also employee what we call "Live-Life Learning™". Live-Life Learning takes you outside of the classroom for maximum practicality and efficiency in learning Chinese in Beijing. Unlike other Mandarin schools in Beijing, we also give you a personal Chinese tutor.

UNIQUE TOOLS

Many self learners employee all kinds of tools, Chinese learning software, and multimedia programs and enjoy progress that is faster than the typical student. However, other Chinese schools do not employ the use of these. If you go to any institution of higher learning in the United States, you will find learning aids that augment the standard book. Unfortunately, school and universities in China are a little bit behind the times and have not yet integrated these materials/methodologies. We purchase third-party tools that we have personally evaluated and have tailored them for an integrated approach. We also have several proprietary materials. These tools integrate into traditional classroom learning and provide the opportunity for the diligent student to have abnormal gains in language ability compared to the traditional learner.

UNIQUE CHINESE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

Your environment has been tailored for maximum Chinese learning. From the moment you are picked up from the airport, you'll experience an environment that does not immerse you (or submerse you as we like to say) but provides a guided and continuing progressive exposure to the language. The location of the school has been carefully chosen. The Mandarin School is located in the Beijing University District, Haidian District, where most of the major Universities in Beijing are located. We put it close to the district yet remote enough to expose you to the true Chinese environment. Daily living activities & the environment are integrated into the curriculum as well, even down to labels in your dorm room.

UNIQUE VALUE RELATIVE TO OTHER STUDY IN CHINA PROGRAMS

We simply offer more. If you compare our offering to other Chinese schools in Beijing, you will see that we offer incredible value to you for the price. See our What's Included in our Study in China Programs Page