Award-Winning Mandarin Chinese Courses & Classes in Columbus, OH

If you are looking for a new challenge in your life, check out Varsity Tutors' online Columbus Chinese classes. Chinese is regarded as one of the most difficult languages to learn for native English speakers. Our helpful online learning environment is a great tool for learners of all ages, whether you are a student at Orange High School, The Ohio State University, or if you are an adult learner at any stage in your life. If you don't know where to begin learning one of the most complex modern languages, you can turn to a specialized online course that's based on your current proficiency level and directed by an expert Chinese teacher. Varsity Tutors has a rolling admissions schedule with new classes starting every month.

The Chinese language is made up of several different dialects. The most common is Mandarin. Mandarin is the number-one most spoken language in the world and has roughly one billion native speakers. Other Chinese dialects include Cantonese (the most widely spoken dialect in the United States) Gan, Hakka, Wu, and Xiang. All of these dialects share the same set of characters. There is no alphabet in Chinese. Instead, there are around 50,000 characters. About 2,500 of these characters are used regularly in modern language. Each character has its own syllable. Many of the characters are pictorial, which means that the character may look like the item it represents. To grasp the characters needed to complete ideas and sentences, there will be a good amount of memorization needed by students learning the language.

Mandarin Chinese is the national language of The People's Republic of China, including Hong Kong and Taiwan. Many business professionals who hope to do business with these global superpowers may wish to pick up Chinese to aid in their international negotiations. If you aren't looking to close deals across the pond, but are still looking to advance your career, learning Chinese may still be a good personal investment for you. Many employers will give preference to candidates who are bilingual. You may also want to join the billion people that speak Chinese to enrich your personal relationships and cultural circle as well.

What content could a Columbus Chinese course include?

As mentioned previously, Chinese can be a tough language to learn. Our courses are designed to assist at any point along the learning journey. Reading, writing, pronunciation, and understanding of the language will be the students' goal in these courses. Understanding and some memorization of characters will likely be covered at any level. This will help students get practice with common phrases and essential vocabulary. When it comes to grammar in Chinese, it is not similar to the way a native English speaker may expect. There are no articles, plural words, or verb inflections. Since there are no plurals, each word is the same no matter the number of the item. This is quite different than English, where typically an -s is added at the end. Once a student comes to terms with these major differences in general grammar, they may have an easier time understanding and learning Chinese.

Working in an online classroom for a Columbus Chinese class gives students ample time to practice speaking. This includes the heavy importance of pronunciation that Chinese requires. Chinese is a tonal language. This means the word you are saying will change depending on how you say it. Mandarin uses four tones, whereas other dialects may use up to nine different tones. The four tones used in Mandarin are falling, rising then falling, rising, and flat. Working on pronunciation also aids in understanding gender and pronoun characters. Pronouns have separate characters, but the same sound. It is only the pronunciation that differentiates them. Verbs are also a tricky area when it comes to Chinese speech. Some verbs sound very similar and there are only small spoken differences between two verbs that mean different actions. Working through these problems collaboratively with your online peers can help you conquer even the toughest of words.

What tools will students use in online Chinese lessons?

Students attending a Columbus Chinese course will get access to a state-of-the-art learning environment. The tools used will include video chat, a virtual whiteboard, and access to their instructor on a regular basis. Video chat is critical for not only seeing and hearing the teacher and the other students, but for providing a sense of community across multiple locations. Students get to work from where they are most comfortable, whether that is in the breakfast nook of their home or at the Columbus Metropolitan Library. The interactive whiteboard used for our courses offers a unique tool for students as they and their expert instructor can use it simultaneously to practice writing characters. Students will get a chance to learn collaboratively as they will be able to see their peers practicing their writing as well.

In addition to the online class environment, students will have access to one-on-one time with their instructor to go over more difficult material, if needed. Students may struggle from time to time, and we understand that. This is why Varsity Tutors makes "office hours" type interactions with the teachers available. Another part of language learning emphasized in Columbus Chinese courses is that there are opportunities to learn of the history, culture, and customs that go along with Chinese. Students may see and practice practical applications of the language, like bartering at a street market or ordering food from a restaurant.

How do I sign up for a Columbus Chinese class?

Getting started is a simple process. Varsity Tutors has a team of educational consultants that are here to help you find the perfect class for your proficiency level and unique schedule. There are new Columbus Chinese courses starting monthly, and they are offered at many times throughout the day - including during your lunch break, in the evening, or even early in the morning. Give us a call to begin your educational journey in the most popular language on the planet!