To study and not think is a waste. To think and not study is dangerous. Confucius
“Chinese” as a language doesn’t actually exist. When people say “Chinese,” they are most likely talking about the Mandarin language. Mandarin and Cantonese are the most used languages in China. In fact, there are about 300 other languages spoken in China!
However, with Mandarin being the most widely used, it has become the language of industry, business, and more. There are about 1.2 billion Mandarin speakers worldwide, with 960 million of them being native speakers!
Even though certain locations, like Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Jiangsu speak different dialects, for the most part, you can communicate with people from big cities with ease in Mandarin.
China has the world's second-largest economy and is classified as an emerging and developing economy. Given the sheer number of speakers and the fact that these speakers belong to a growing economy, learning Mandarin could be great for your career.
Additionally, China is a country with a rich and diverse history and culture. Since culture and language are two sides of the same coin, by learning Chinese (and Mandarin, in particular), you can gain a deeper understanding of the culture and history as well as enjoy Chinese literature, film, and music in their mother tongue.
Chinese is a difficult language for English speakers to master because it’s so different, but it is entirely possible and many English speakers do learn Mandarin fluently.
How do they do it? That’s what we will be discussing here in this article! Read on to find out 7 pathways you can use to learn Mandarin.
Primary and Secondary School Classes
Many schools in New Zealand now have the option to take Mandarin as a language, in addition to other languages like French, Spanish, German, and Māori.
If you are a parent who wants your child to learn Mandarin, this is fantastic news, since your child can start learning the language young, when the brain is better able to absorb new information relating to language!
But, if your child has begun secondary school without taking previous Mandarin courses, or if you are a secondary school student, you don’t need to fret.
You should also have the option to begin learning Mandarin at this point in school. If not, there are always other options!
NCEA-Level Classes in Secondary School
If you’re advanced enough, you can enrol in high-level Mandarin classes in secondary school.
Taking these classes and doing well in them means that you are likely on the path to being able to pass the HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi) aka the Chinese Proficiency Exam.
Passing the HSK is extremely beneficial if you want to study in China for a subject that isn’t learning Mandarin, or if you want to work in China or with a Chinese company someday.
University Classes and Courses
Whether you took Mandarin in school or not, anyone can enrol in a Chinese course at University.
Chinese as an Undergraduate Major
Some universities will offer Chinese as a major, meaning you can obtain a bachelor’s degree in the subject. Many universities will have this as a BA, but some more technical universities may offer it as a BS.
Chinese as a Graduate
If you’ve obtained a bachelor’s degree in Chinese or a Chinese-adjacent subject, you may be able to complete studies for a Master’s degree in Chinese or another Chinese-adjacent subject.
Chinese as a Post-Graduate
Some universities offer Doctoral degrees in subjects that will require you to know Mandarin, like translation, teaching, Chinese history and culture, Chinese art, Chinese religion, and Chinese politics.
Chinese as a Module or Concentration
A module allows you to have a significant amount of study in one area without committing to it as a core subject. So, for example, if you’re studying art history, you can supplement it with a module on Mandarin Chinese so you can go on to study the history of Chinese art with knowledge in both subjects.
Local Classes
Courses not part of a university are ideal for people who don’t want to enrol in uni, but want the benefits of taking a formal and comprehensive course. It’s also a great choice for children who don’t want to or can’t take a Mandarin course in school.
The availability of local classes will differ from place to place, but many communities have some kind of offering for people who want to learn Mandarin outside of school.
Classes Provided by Secondary Schools
Some schools will have after-school programs for students and adults alike to learn Chinese. Some such programmes include:
- Onehunga High School Adult Learning Centre in Auckland
- Aorere College in Auckland
Classes Provided by Learning Institutions
Many Mandarin and Chinese-specific institutions are present in New Zealand. Most of them will have programmes for adults and children.
You can search out institutes like
- Wellington Chinese Language School
- Rewi Alley Chinese School
- New Zealand Chinese Association
- Selwyn Community Education
- Confucious Institute
- Sunshine Club
- OliveTree Languages
- Pistachio Mandarin Language Centre
for learning Mandarin outside of a school or university classroom.
Also, see if there are any Chinese cultural clubs or events in your area! Look for bulletins on physical bulletin boards or online community message boards. You can also ask your local school, university, library, and education or tourism centres for information on clubs and events.
Online Courses
Thanks to technology, you can find plenty of online courses for learning Mandarin at any level. Some courses are self-paced, and others are true online school-like courses that require real-time attendance.
You can find such courses on websites like:
- Coursera
- Preply
- EdX
- Class Central
- That’s Mandarin
- The Open University
- Harvard Free Courses
- GoEast Mandarin
- Yoyo Chinese
- ChineseClass101
- Litao Chinese
Some online courses are free, others are paid. Some offer certifications of competence or completion at the end, some do not.
The first thing to do is start. The second is to continue. Chinese Proverb
Immersion Programmes and Study Abroad
Ready to take the plunge and take the ultimate language-learning challenge?
Immersion classes are exactly what they sound like: Only the target language is used for the entire time you are in class.
Immersion classes are a great way to challenge yourself to learn quickly and more easily. Without the ability to fall back on your native tongue, you become better at thinking and communicating in Mandarin out of necessity.
Immersion Courses in New Zealand
While few and far between unless you’re in a high-level college or university course, it is possible to find immersion classes locally in New Zealand.
Again, look in all the same places you would find any Chinese class.
You may also be able to enrol in a course that is an intensive, few-week-long experience to learn Mandarin quickly.
Study Abroad Classes in China
For the best learning experience, travel and stay in China!
There are many programmes, courses, and institutions that offer study abroad options for people of all ages. Some programmes are for a few weeks, and others can last about a year. Some programmes will have you staying in a school most of the time, some will have you go out into society and learn in real-life situations, but most will use a hybrid approach.
Many universities will have study abroad as an option as part of a major in Mandarin, or even as a possibility for students in other areas of study.
Why go to a course in China? When you’re fully immersed in the language and culture of a place, it becomes much easier to pick up on the language. The intricacies of peaking become more apparent when you’re listening to native speakers. You will learn how to speak conversationally, not just as if you’re in a class.
Being able to appreciate the culture, architecture, social norms, art, and more at the same time helps add context to the language, and vice versa. Culture and language are two sides of the same coin, after all. They are always influencing each other simultaneously.
You can only appreciate that fully if you see it for yourself!
Apps and Self-Study
Some of the online courses mentioned above are self-paced and/or free, which makes them perfect resources for self-study.
You can combine those classes with resources like books, blogs, YouTube, music, podcasts, TV and movies with subtitles or dubbed audio, and apps to create your own learning experience.
Additionally, apps that help people learn Mandarin include:
- Pimsleur
- Italki
- HelloChinese
- Anki
- Pleco
- LinQ
- Hello Talk
- Tandem
- SuperChinese
Pros of Self-Study
- Self-paced
- Lower cost
- Choose what to study
- Unconventional learning methods
- Can see if you like the subject before committing to a course
Cons of Self-Study
- No help from a teacher
- Might learn something incorrectly without realising
- No accountability
Self-study is a great option for some, and for others, it’s simply too open-ended. If you’re a casual learner, using apps and the free part of the internet can be a great option!
For more serious learning, there is a good chance you’ll learn faster and more effectively with a teacher.
Learning with a Tutor
The best way to learn Mandarin with pinpoint precision? With a private tutor!
Recruiting a tutor to help you learn Mandarin is a great way to ensure that you can learn accurately and quickly. A tutor’s job is to cater to your learning strengths so you can excel.
If you’re making mistakes, not understanding a concept, or otherwise having trouble, their job is to help you overcome that challenge.
Whether you need a tutor to help you with your school, college, or university course, or are simply using a tutor to learn Mandarin for your own reasons, you’re making a good choice.
You can find an affordable tutor who meets your educational requirements and schedule right here on Superprof.
So, are you ready to start learning Mandarin Chinese? Try one or more of these methods for learning today and begin your language journey!
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