beginner courses for those with no or little knowledge of Chinese

From 51.48 C$ /h

Perfect for beginners with no or little prior experience, this comprehensive course introduces Mandarin Chinese from the ground up. Learn foundational skills like pinyin (phonetic system), basic tones, essential greetings, and everyday vocabulary through interactive lessons. Master simple sentence structures, practice listening and speaking with real-life scenarios, and get familiar with Chinese characters gradually upon your needs. Engaging exercises, cultural insights, and slow-paced instruction ensure a stress-free learning environment. By the end, you’ll confidently introduce yourself, ask questions, and navigate simple conversations. Start your journey into one of the world’s most spoken languages—no prior knowledge is needed!
The courses can also be conducted without recognition of Chinese characters.

Location

Online from Netherlands

About Me

🌟 Hi there! I’m Dennis, a passionate and certified professional Chinese teacher with over 5 years of experience teaching students from 7 years old to adults across the globe! I love sharing the beauty of the Chinese language while exploring creative, interactive ways to make learning fun.

🎓 Credentials: Certified by CTCSOL (Certificate for Teachers of Chinese to Speakers of Other languages ), which validates my professional competence in teaching Chinese, and Mandarin grade A certificate (Putonghua/mandarin proficiency test), which proves my standard pronunciation.

❤️ Why I Teach: I believe language learning should be joyful and meaningful! Whether you’re a curious kid, a busy professional, or a culture enthusiast, I’m here to help you unlock the beauty of Chinese through creativity and real-life connections.

🌸 Beyond Teaching: Outside of teaching, I enjoy discovering new cultural experiences, reading about modern education trends, and engaging in activities that enrich my understanding of diverse perspectives.

✅ Expertise Across Ages & Levels:
• Taught 100+ students from the U.S., Germany, the U.K., Spain, France, and more on platforms and in organizations.
• Kids (7-15 yrs): At an European International School, I'm responsible for teaching middle school students HSK standard courses.
• Teens & Adults: Currently, I'm an Online Mandarin Instructor at an online American language school, where I teach U.S. teenagers and high school students Mandarin. And on Preply, I've been teaching Chinese to adults and children with different ages and levels from various countries.

🔥 Methodology:
• Communicative & Student-Centered: My classes use a blend of communicative, project-based, scene and task-based approaches, and Total Physical Response (TPR) techniques. This dynamic mix ensures that every lesson is engaging, interactive, and tailored to your learning style. I incorporate the communicative approach and project-based learning to align with ACTFL standards, ensuring that students can use Chinese in real-life situations. When teaching HSK courses, I focus on building a solid foundation in vocabulary, grammar, and test-taking skills. The comprehensive courses I teach are designed to comprehensively enhance students' listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. For conversational courses, I emphasize practical language use and cultural understanding. For younger learners, I often adopt the engaging teaching method and the scene-based method to make the learning process fun and interactive.
• Bilingual Support: Smooth transitions between English and Chinese for absolute beginners.
• Customized lessons: Tailor lessons to your needs, whether it’s mastering pronunciation, preparing exams, communicating for family or business, refining your skills, exploring Chinese culture, or discussing Chinese dramas!
•
📚 Courses I Offer:
• 《HSK Standard Course》 (Level 1-6)
• Beginner courses who know nothing about the Chinese language
• Chinese for Kids & Teens
• Comprehensive course for learners who want to comprehensively enhance listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills
• Conversational Chinese with or without recognition of Chinese characters
• Business Chinese
• Travel & Tourism Chinese
• Survival Chinese
• Cultural Deep-Dives
• Others tailored to your needs

🚀 Why Choose Me?
Learning Chinese with me means embarking on a personalized journey that emphasizes practical communication skills and real-life usage. I design each lesson to meet your unique goals, ensuring you build confidence and fluency in a supportive, culturally rich environment.

• Proven Results: My students consistently progress 1-2 HSK levels within 6 months!
• Flexible & Accessible: Lessons adapt to your pace—no boring textbooks! Throughout your learning process, I will always be available to provide support, whether in class or after class.
• Fun & Engaging Way: Through interactive games, real-life scenarios, and interesting projects, you'll find that Chinese learning can be a blast. No more boring lectures!
• Personalized Attention: I develop customized learning content based on your individual needs, whether you're a beginner taking your first steps or an advanced learner aiming to refine your skills.
• Cultural Insights: As you learn the language, you'll also discover the rich and fascinating Chinese culture, from traditional festivals to modern-day trends.

Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your skills, my engaging teaching style and interactive methods will help you achieve measurable progress.

🌈 Let’s Start Your Journey!
Take the first step toward mastering Chinese and immerse yourself in a supportive, culturally rich learning environment. Book your first lesson with me today and experience the exciting world of Chinese language and culture firsthand!
Looking forward to meeting you soon!

Education

I obtained a Master's degree from Fudan University in 2008, with a major in Management.
I obtained a bachelor's degree from Huaqiao University in 2004, with a major in Management.

Experience / Qualifications

Certified by CTCSOL (Certificate for Teachers of Chinese to Speakers of Other languages ), which validates my professional competence in teaching Chinese, and Mandarin grade A certificate (Putonghua/mandarin proficiency test), which proves my standard pronunciation.

Age

Children (7-12 years old)

Teenagers (13-17 years old)

Adults (18-64 years old)

Seniors (65+ years old)

Student level

Beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

Duration

60 minutes

The class is taught in

English

Chinese

Skills

Chinese

Chinese for adults

School

Mandarin chinese

Availability of a typical week

(GMT -05:00)

New York

Online via webcam

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

Sun

00-04

04-08

08-12

12-16

16-20

20-24

a passionate and certified professional Chinese teacher,5+ years of experience, for students of all ages and levels

53.94 C$ /h

Hi there! I’m Dennis, a passionate and certified professional Chinese teacher with over 5 years of experience teaching students from 7 years old to adults across the globe!
🎓 Credentials: Certified by CTCSOL (Certificate for Teachers of Chinese to Speakers of Other languages ), which validates my professional competence in teaching Chinese, and Mandarin grade A certificate (Putonghua/mandarin proficiency test), which proves my standard pronunciation.
🔥 Methodology:
• Communicative & Student-Centered: My classes use a blend of communicative, project-based, scene and task-based approaches, and Total Physical Response (TPR) techniques. This dynamic mix ensures that every lesson is engaging, interactive, and tailored to your learning style. I incorporate the communicative approach and project-based learning to align with ACTFL standards, ensuring that students can use Chinese in real-life situations. When teaching HSK courses, I focus on building a solid foundation in vocabulary, grammar, and test-taking skills. The comprehensive courses I teach are designed to comprehensively enhance students' listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. For conversational courses, I emphasize practical language use and cultural understanding. For younger learners, I often adopt the engaging teaching method and the scene-based method to make the learning process fun and interactive.
• Bilingual Support: Smooth transitions between English and Chinese for absolute beginners.
• Customized lessons: Tailor lessons to your needs, whether it’s mastering pronunciation, preparing exams, communicating for family or business, refining your skills, exploring Chinese culture, or discussing Chinese dramas!
📚 Courses I Offer:
• 《HSK Standard Course》 (Level 1-6)
• Beginner courses who know nothing about the Chinese language
• Chinese for Kids & Teens
• Comprehensive course for learners who want to comprehensively enhance listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills
• Conversational Chinese with or without recognition of Chinese characters
• Business Chinese
• Travel & Tourism Chinese
• Survival Chinese
• Cultural Deep-Dives
• Others tailored to your needs
🚀 Why Choose Me?
Learning Chinese with me means embarking on a personalized journey that emphasizes practical communication skills and real-life usage. I design each lesson to meet your unique goals, ensuring you build confidence and fluency in a supportive, culturally rich environment.

• Proven Results: My students consistently progress 1-2 HSK levels within 6 months!
• Flexible & Accessible: Lessons adapt to your pace—no boring textbooks! Throughout your learning process, I will always be available to provide support, whether in class or after class.
• Fun & Engaging Way: Through interactive games, real-life scenarios, and interesting projects, you'll find that Chinese learning can be a blast. No more boring lectures!
• Personalized Attention: I develop customized learning content based on your individual needs, whether you're a beginner taking your first steps or an advanced learner aiming to refine your skills.
• Cultural Insights: As you learn the language, you'll also discover the rich and fascinating Chinese culture, from traditional festivals to modern-day trends.

Whether you're a beginner or looking to refine your skills, my engaging teaching style and interactive methods will help you achieve measurable progress.

Conversational Chinese with or without recognition of Chinese characters

51.48 C$ /h

Whether you want to focus purely on spoken Chinese or integrate character recognition, this flexible course empowers you to communicate confidently in real-life situations—tailored to your learning goals.

Choose Your Path:

🗣️ Speaking-First Track: Master everyday conversations using pinyin and tones without character study. Perfect for travelers, socializers, or those prioritizing quick speaking skills.

✍️ Integrated Track: Add Chinese character recognition to your speaking practice, learning to read signs, menus, and simple texts while building verbal fluency.

What You’ll Learn:

Practical Dialogues: Navigate scenarios like ordering food, making friends, shopping, and sharing opinions with natural phrasing.

Tones & Pronunciation: Drill clear speech through audio drills, shadowing exercises, and instant feedback.

Cultural Nuances: Grasp unspoken norms, slang, and humor to sound like a local.

Optional Characters: Learn 50-200+ high-frequency characters (if chosen) to decode real-world texts without writing.

Course Highlights:

Real-World Focus: Role-plays, podcasts, and video clips mirror authentic interactions.

Adaptable Content: Switch tracks anytime—start speaking immediately, then add characters later if desired.

Progress at Your Pace: Bite-sized lessons, interactive quizzes, and conversation simulations for all schedules.

Ideal for beginners to advanced learners seeking practical communication skills for travel, work, or social connections—with or without characters. Start speaking confidently today!

Shan

4.94

(18)

Hi, I'm Shan. Glad to meet you here!

I was born and brought up in China. I came to the Netherlands after my master study in Beijing and worked as researcher at Utrecht University and later as teacher at Erasmus University. I specialize in teaching Mandarin Chinese to both absolute beginners and advanced-level students. No matter you are preparing for future career, HSK exams or out of pure interest, your goal will be achieved with my professional instruction.

My class is well-organized and fun. Step by step, you will be able to speak Mandarin Chinese fluently!

Three key characteristics of my class:

- Communication oriented
- Culturally related
- Real-life materials for practice

Ready to start? Send me a message.

Marina

4.94

(18)

I am a professional full-time Chinese Mandarin teacher from the North of China where Mandarin comes from.
I have been teaching for about 10 years as a teacher. I have my own school and website for studying Chinese. Students' ages are from 3 to adults. They are from all over the world. You can study with me online /come to my office/ Go-home lessons. Classes can be one-to-one or group classes.

I have been helping numerous people learn to speak Chinese and do exam HSK. Children always have fun learning Mandarin with me. I teach Mandarin for business purposes, traveling, YCT (for Children and teenagers), BCT (business Chinese), Conversational practice, Advanced level Chinese classes, etc. Any levels are all welcome.
Classes type:
Daily Chinese
HSK class: Level 1--Level 6
HSKK class: HSK speaking test (Beginner to advanced)
Chinese grammar class
BCT / Startup Business in China: Business Chinese (Beginner to Advanced)
YCT class: Level 1--Level 6 for children to teenagers
Easy steps to Chinese: 3-12 years old children
There are some other classes that welcome to messages me.

I grew up and had educations in China. I moved to Europe for teaching Chinese in 2019 November.
I am fun, active, very patient, and responsible. I have never come late to all of my classes for more than 10 years.
For children's classes, I prepare songs, videos, cartoons, teaching and explaining at the same time, They learn really fast and never feel bored when they are excited with a fun teacher and materials. I believe that interest is the best teacher. So I try my best to prepare before classes and send materials after classes to students.

The classes can be taught in Chinese, English.

Helen

4.94

(18)

• Born and raised in Beijing, China, I speak Mandarin Chinese, which is standard Chinese.
• Graduated from Capital Normal University in Beijing (teachers' university), where I graduated in educational sciences.
• Living in the Netherlands since 2012. She has been a teacher for many years in both China and the Netherlands.
• I can teach in both English and Dutch.
• My students are of all ages and education levels and come from all walks of life.
• I teach both individually and at group level, both physical lessons and online lessons.

• Carefully prepare each lesson to make it as interesting and efficient as possible.
• I specialize in tailor-made personal language training. Using different teaching methods and textbooks for students with different backgrounds, levels and goals. Sometimes I also create new tailor-made teaching materials for students.
• Integrate Chinese culture into lessons.
• When desired: give homework, check it and discuss it.

Xingying

4.94

(18)

I run private lessons, where all levels are welcome. But if you’re a total beginner then I offer basic classes to help you find the way to get into it.

I develop diverse methods of teaching for the students. For the around 5-8 years old kids, I would like to set certain games to play with them, thereby the kids can learn the new language during the interaction and communication. In this way, different media, like color pictures, puppets, or storybooks are essential to make the course very attractive. For the teenager or advanced students, a structuralized teaching content based on scenarios or textbook could help the students to develop their language capacity efficiently in different aspects – listening, reading, speaking, and writing. Besides, I would like to give a deeper perspective for the Chinese- not only learning the language from the textbooks, but also the knowledge of the language, the culture, and the literature.

Also, based on your need and situation, we choose different textbooks and make a personal teaching plan for you.

Christina

4.94

(18)

Chinese native speaker personal tutor in Delémont, Switzerland. I offer online and face-to-face classes to students of all levels.

Whether you're a beginner or looking to improve your language skills, my courses are tailored to meet your specific needs and goals. I have experience teaching both Chinese and English, and I use a variety of engaging teaching methods to ensure that you progress quickly and effectively.

In Taiwan, I taught Chinese to foreigners; i have been working in international business field for over 20 years and have been exposed to cultures from over 50 different countries. Everyone is always full of freshness and curiosity for Chinese ...
Now I will share with you the pleasure and the harvest of learning Chinese.

If you prefer the convenience of online classes, I offer flexible scheduling and a user-friendly virtual classroom that makes learning from home easy and enjoyable. If you prefer in-person lessons, I am happy to travel to your home or office within Delémont.

Gwendolyn

4.94

(18)

I have been giving chinese lessons for more than 10 years. Before that, I was a radio broadcaster and a journalist in China, hence I have a perfect pronunciation of the official mandarin, without any accent. It provides my students the best conditions to learn chinese, as the tone you give to words when you speak chinese as a foreigner is of great importance if you want to be understood by natives.

I have a strong working experience helping students preparing their HSK exam, I also often teach diplomats, to help them acquire the necessary skills and understand properly the vocabulary specific to their job.

I also love to work with kids, as I was a mandarin teacher for 2 years in an international school in Singapore. I give them a playful learning environment and use fun learning methods, so even the youngest can stay focused!

Zhou

4.94

(18)

This lesson is the advanced version of my other tutoring offer. For enthusiastic learners that are willing to go a step further to be bombarded by the Chinese culture. I will provide more fun and engaging materials collected or designed by myself over the years, which can be desirable for those interested. They range from videos, blogposts, games, poems to virtual tours. Hope to see you soon!

Linlu

4.94

(18)

hello, I'm a native Chinese speaker. I have three years experience in language tutoring with different language level and different ages students. I help my students grasp clearer and better understanding of Chinese pronunciation and grammar. work on daily Chinese conversation and your work/study needs.
if you want to learn Chinese in a fun way, I'll be your best choice. I will tailor the course and instruction to your situation and learning style. the only thing you need to do is practice and speak out.

Yue

4.94

(18)

Master degree of Chinese Education teaching
👩🏻‍🏫5 years experience in online multi platform teaching
🇦🇺 Two years in Australia
📍 Current residence: Doha - Qatar 🇶🇦
📚 From basic Pinyin, tone to vocabulary, dialogue practice
📚 Provide efficient learning methods and track and feed back learning results after class
💚 Love language, like education, efficient learning style
💚 Patient, gentle, enthusiastic and responsible
💚 Students come from all walks of life all over the world, ranging in age from 6 to 65

Cissy

4.94

(18)

Fluent in English and B2-level German, I am passionate about helping speakers of both languages master Chinese through authentic connection. My approach skips the rigid, standardized textbooks; instead, we focus on practical dialogues and real-life conversations tailored to your interests.

Having traveled to countries like Singapore, Portugal, the UK, Germany, Czechia, and Italy, I bring a global perspective to my lessons. I love weaving my international experiences and personal stories into our sessions, making each lesson not just a language class, but a cultural exchange. Let’s learn Chinese through the lens of the real world!

Shizhao

4.94

(18)

Hi! I’m a native Chinese speaker with a degree in English, and I’ve been learning languages for many years through both professional training and real-life, everyday use. Because of this, I understand what language learners find difficult — and how to make the process clearer, easier, and more enjoyable.

My lessons focus on practical Chinese, confidence-building, and learning in a relaxed way. Whether you want to improve speaking, pronunciation, listening, or understand how Chinese is actually used in daily life, I’ll guide you step by step.

Tell me your purpose for learning Chinese — travel, work, exams, daily conversation, or personal interest — and we’ll customise the lessons to match your goals, pace, and learning style.

Let’s make Chinese learning simple and fun 😊

Maggie

4.94

(18)

Are you an adult learner aiming to use Chinese in real-life scenarios—whether for HSK exams, work meetings, or business communication? This course is designed to turn your Chinese skills into practical, usable tools.
As a CTCSOL-certified tutor with 2 years of 1-on-1 teaching experience, I focus on:
HSK preparation (Levels 1-5): Targeted practice for listening, reading, and writing (e.g., filling out forms, understanding daily conversations, passing HSK exams efficiently).
Business Chinese: Real workplace scenarios (e.g., introducing yourself in meetings, negotiating prices, writing professional emails, and making business calls).
Conversational fluency: Quick, natural phrases for daily/business interactions (no more memorizing useless vocabulary!).
Lessons are 100% customized to your goals: If you need to prepare for an HSK test next month, we’ll focus on exam skills. If you have a business trip to China, we’ll practice negotiation and small talk.
By the end of each lesson, you’ll walk away with phrases you can use immediately—no vague theory, just practical progress.
Let’s turn your Chinese learning into tangible results!

Ning-Shin

4.94

(18)

Chinese is an essential tool for expressing oneself and understanding the world. I offer comprehensive instruction, from basic Pinyin, Zhuyin, and Chinese character writing to advanced reading comprehension and essay writing skills, while also strengthening oral expression and listening comprehension. Learning Chinese not only improves academic performance but also cultivates logical thinking and confidence, laying a solid foundation for future learning of other subjects.

I will impart native speaker learning methods through engaging and relatable cultural sharing.

Jieren

4.94

(18)

If you need help to improve your math, physics or Chinese, no matter for daily life or for your academic study from primary school to bachelor, I would be more than happy to help. After years of private teaching during my two master's studies, I learnt how to deliver the information in a light and memorable way. In my class, of course we will go through the theories and practices together, but more importantly, you will exercise on the way of thinking and have a newer view on the subjects, which is even more important than the knowledge in a long way. The class won't be exhausting as your extra chance of learning, but will make you naturally try to understand and remember.

Kaiwen

4.94

(18)

I offer middle school and high school tutoring in Mathematics and Chinese, designed to support students at different academic levels and learning paces. My teaching approach emphasizes building strong foundations, developing logical thinking, and improving language comprehension, rather than short-term memorization.

From a parent’s perspective, I understand the importance of both academic progress and long-term learning habits. Each student receives personalized instruction based on their strengths, challenges, and school curriculum. Lessons focus on clarifying difficult concepts, strengthening problem-solving skills, and improving confidence in both subjects.

For Mathematics, I help students develop structured thinking, accuracy, and exam readiness. For Chinese, instruction includes reading comprehension, writing skills, vocabulary development, and cultural understanding, supporting both native and heritage learners.

Whether the goal is to keep up with school coursework, prepare for exams, or achieve long-term academic growth, I provide patient, consistent, and results-oriented guidance. I maintain clear communication with parents and adjust teaching strategies as students progress, ensuring that learning outcomes are measurable and meaningful.