Award-Winning Mandarin Chinese Courses & Classes in Chicago, IL

Chinese is one of the hardest languages for people to learn, but with the help of a Chicago Chinese class offered by Varsity Tutors, you can be well on your way to understanding the language. There are so many different and unique qualities to the Chinese language, such as the roughly 20,000 characters used to write it. Because the language is so tough to grasp, a student from Marist High School or Wheaton College may find the online course a helpful tool to aid in their understanding of Chinese. You don't even have to be a student; many adult learners join our courses to learn at any stage in their lives. The online class environment serves as an excellent venue to regularly practice your Chinese vocabulary, speech, and character writing. Classes are available during various times that fit into your schedule and have monthly start dates.

Chinese is a complex language that actually exists as several dialects, including Mandarin, which is the most widely spoken dialect and the official language of the People's Republic of China. Another dialect is Cantonese, which is most used by U.S. Chinese speakers. There are still more dialects like Xiang, Wu, Gan, and Hakka as well. Written Chinese dates back to the Shang Dynasty, which ruled thousands of years ago. There are around 50,000 separate characters in the Chinese language that all the dialects share. Around 20,000 of those are used today. The most frequently used characters are actually around 2,500 in number, however. Many, but not all, characters are based on the object they represent, and each character is a syllable.

Learning in a Chicago Chinese course allows students to get solid practice conversing in Chinese. Knowing the Chinese language may give you the upper hand on job applications, as many employers look for bilingual candidates. Mandarin - a Chinese dialect - is the national language in the People's Republic of China and Taiwan. These are global business giants, and by having the ability to learn Chinese, you may be able to conduct business discussions in these countries. Mandarin is the most spoken language in the world. Just imagine being able to engage in conversation with a great proportion of the world's population! There are currently over a billion native Chinese speakers.

What content will a Chicago Chinese class cover?

One of the key points to understanding Chinese is getting a grasp on the characters. There is no alphabet in the Chinese language, so everything that is said has a separate character or characters to go along with it. As much class time as is needed will be spent on the characters. After that, students will work on speaking, writing, and reading. In a Chicago Chinese course, students will learn of the different Chinese dialects and then work on speaking one or more of them. While learning to speak Chinese, students will discover that it is a tonal language, meaning the tone in which you say a word changes the meaning. There are four different tones that are used in Mandarin: flat, rising, falling then rising, and falling. Pronouns are another topic that will be covered. There are different characters depending on gender. The pronouns have the same sounds but different pronunciations in gendered uses.

Students will learn that there are many grammatical parts that are missing in Chinese when compared to English. Chinese has no plurals, verb inflections, or articles. Once a student is able to comprehend these facts of the Chinese language, learning may become easier for them. The Chicago Chinese course will cover commonly used phrases and essential vocabulary. The students will learn about sentence structure, and about verbs and how to differentiate verbs that sound alike.

Along with the core language being covered in the class, there will also be plentiful opportunities to learn about Chinese culture, history, and customs. This immersive teaching environment can allow students to learn practical applications of the language such as bartering with a street vendor in Zhengzhou or negotiating an important business offer in Hong Kong. Students can learn of the rich history of China and how each dynasty has affected the language of today. Students can also learn about the important customs that go along with every type of conversation and how to remain honorable.

What tools will I use in an online Chicago Chinese course?

If you decide to enroll in one of these online classes, you can expect to be taught by an expert Chinese instructor. The classes are catered to be accessible and paired accordingly with your current level of understanding of the language. You will work in a collaborative online environment with other students at the same proficiency level as you. You will utilize a webcam to be able to see and interact with the teacher and your classmates. This will allow you to practice your character pronunciation and sentence structure out loud. You will also have access to an interactive blackboard where the teacher, the other students, and you can all work collaboratively. If you require extra assistance on a certain topic, you may request a one-on-one meeting with the instructor online. These meetings are run similarly to a professor's office hour on a college campus. This is just one of the many learning aides that Varsity Tutors offers.

How do I sign up for a class?

If you have a busy schedule but still want to gain skills from learning another language, Varsity Tutors is here to help! We have rolling admissions into our Chicago Chinese classes. New classes begin every month and are offered in the morning, midday, and evening. This gives you the best choice to fit a class into your unique schedule. If you are interested in joining a class or learning more, please get in contact with one of our educational consultants. They will help you find the Chinese proficiency level and class schedule that works best for you. You may join the billion people who speak Chinese and may gain a broader cultural outlook on life with your new-found language skills. Give Varsity Tutors a call today to begin your journey!