How Can I Learn Mandarin?

The last ten years have brought online education from relative obscurity to some level of legitimacy. Though I am pretty skeptical of online degrees in Neuroscience, I do think learning Mandarin through online methods is very possible. However, a lot of people would rather go the traditional classroom route. If you live in Shanghai, multiple methods are available to you in any combination.
 

Public Universities

Whether you are serious about college credit or just want to learn Mandarin part-time while living in Shanghai hassle-free with a student visa, studying at a Chinese university might be a good option. Classes usually last 3-4 hours a day and cost 7000-10,000 RMB per semester. Your classmates will come from all over the world and some may not speak much English.

Its possible to keep up with a part-time job or full-time job with a flexible schedule while studying if you are self-disciplined. However, according to Chinese law, if you are on a student visa, you aren’t supposed to be employed. Not sure how enforced this is.

Schools: Jiaotong, Fudan, Tongji, Donghua, East China Normal, Shanghai Foreign Language University

Private Mandarin Schools

A simple Google search for “Shanghai Mandarin Schools” will list dozens of options for studying at a private company. Most of these schools hire professional teachers, some do not. These schools are more expensive but offer smaller classrooms and a variety of schedules for those who are less flexible. Visas can be arranged through these schools if you need one.

Language Partner

Advantage: Free, no contracts or set schedules, might become friends with your partner

Disadvantage: Might spend a disproportionate time teaching/practicing English rather than learning Mandarin, no contracts or set schedules, might become friends with your partner

Our forums have many Chinese people looking for language partners.

Private Tutor

If you are like me, have a full-time job, and would rather pay someone to have a one-on-one lesson a few times a week, I would suggest finding a private tutor. Our forums have loads of teachers advertising their services. Be warned that some teachers have no credentials and, since it’s all done “under the table,” no screening process. That doesn’t mean a non-certified teacher can’t be a great teacher, but the quality varies greatly and it might take a few trial lessons to find a tutor that’s right for you. The basic price across the board seems to be about 80RMB for one hour.

E-learning

For a fee, you can unlock a massive database of online audio lessons and PDF documents designed to improve your spoken Chinese. The most popular by far is Shanghai-based company ChinesePod.com, but they are starting to encounter some competition from other e-learning websites. Reviews for this kind of learning is mixed, but as interactive technology improves and things like online degrees become more common, I think this method of learning will become more developed and standardized.

A Combination

A combination of methods keeps the brain fresh and eager to learn even when the material is the same. If you are serious about learning Chinese, use a mixture of methods. As for myself, I used Pimsler’s audio CDs about six months before coming to Shanghai just to learn my tones and the basics of the language. Upon arrival to China, I found a great private tutor that I employed about once a week for 8 months. I then studied at a public university but I couldn’t keep a full-time job while keeping up with all the classes. Now, I rely on e-learning and will begin a search for a new private tutor very soon.

Furthermore, here are some free online resources that I have found helpful:

http://www.nciku.com/

http://www.askbenny.cn/

http://www.chinese-tools.com/learn/chinese

Do a Google Search. There are tons of resources.