Tips to choose Online language school to learn chinese

Several online schools have come up to cater to the increasing demand for learning the Chinese language. Here are a few tips that would help to select an online course that suits your needs.

What to look out for

The most important aspect of the course is the tutor. Check whether the faculty has the requisite credentials to teach Chinese as a second language. The tutors and instructors need to be graduates from a top university with prior teaching experience to qualify as an online teacher. Chinese is a highly diverse language and hence it is recommended that you learn the language from a native speaker who can better explain the relation between the spoken and written word which are often independent of each other.

Also most online schools usually have a tie up with some of the reputed universities in China that provide them with the resources like educational material and tools. It is always beneficial to learn Chinese in these institutions as they have a formal structure in place with respect to their courses. Chinese online schools generally offer three levels of courses; Beginner or Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced. The textbooks and practice material are mailed to the students along with other aids for learning like a webcam. The course sessions are often flexible which enables the student to learn at one’s own pace. A general course touches upon various aspects of the Chinese language from the script and pronunciation to grammar and culture equipping the student with a sound knowledge base.

Special Courses

Online schools also offer special intensive courses suited for adult learners who need to gain basic functionality in Chinese for business or travelling purpose. These courses are tailored to suit the learner’s particular requirement like for business presentations or in acquainting the student with phrases used in daily conversation.

Online schools have a syllabus that makes full use of the technological features that an online course makes available. Video clips, sound records, headsets, CDs, webcams, and on screen handwriting devices are some of the tools that an online course utilizes to explain the finer points of learning Chinese language. The courses have one on one session where each student can discuss with the tutor about one’s specific difficulties and the level of progress one is making. Simulation techniques like role play, group discussions, meetings and conversations make the learning easy and enjoyable.

The Beginner or Elementary courses prepare the student in identifying and writing the basic characters and their pronunciation, communication etiquettes like greeting somebody and introducing yourself along with self learning tips like use of dictionary. The Intermediate courses explain more complex grammar concepts and their use in sentence patterns and construction, along with familiarity with a larger vocabulary and phrases used in general conversation. Advanced courses prepare the student to master the written and spoken forms with activities like giving a talk on some topic and writing articles and paragraphs.

The fees for enrolment in Chinese online schools are based upon the type of course, the duration of daily sessions and overall course length. Often the courses are structured in a quarterly or annual format with option to pay on a monthly basis.