Entry Beginner Courses
Most popular Mandarin Chinese courses for beginners in London.
Designed for students with zero or little Mandarin learning
Small group class of 4-10 students, fun and friendly
Choose weekday evenings, weekends or daytime
Choose regular once a week or intensive two lessons a week
Two central London venues or online classroom
Extra benefits: free review podcasts after each lesson, two free make up lessons, free phone app flashcards
We are part of Dear Asia London, same team bigger school. You might be re-directed to book courses and events on the Dear Asia website.
| COURSE | TIME | DATE | VENUE | PRICE | BOOK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Beginner Monday (5+5) Nov #2421 | Monday 6:30-8:00pm | Nov 18, 2024 – Feb 03, 2025 | Aldgate | £280 for 10 weeks | |
| Entry Beginner Wednesday Jan #2501 | Wednesday 6:30-8:00pm | Jan 15 – Mar 19, 2025 | Aldgate | £280 for 10 weeks | |
| Entry Beginner Saturday Intensive Jan #2503 | Saturday 11:00am-12:30pm; 1:30-3:00pm | Jan 25 – Feb 22, 2025 | Aldgate | £280 for 5 weeks | |
| Entry Beginner Thursday Jan #2502 | Thursday 6:30-8:00pm | Jan 30 – Apr 3, 2025 | Aldgate | £280 for 10 weeks | |
| Entry Beginner Saturday Intensive Feb #2505 | Saturday 11:00am-12:30pm; 1:30-3:00pm | Feb 15 – Mar 15, 2025 | Aldgate | £280 for 5 weeks | |
| Entry Beginner Monday Feb #2504 | Monday 6:30-8:00pm | Feb 17 – Apr 28, 2025 | Aldgate | £280 for 10 weeks | |
| Entry Beginner Tuesday Mar #2506 | Tuesday 6:30-8:00pm | Mar 11 – May 13, 2025 | Aldgate | £280 for 10 weeks | |
| Entry Beginner Saturday Intensive Mar #2507 | Saturday 11:00am-12:30pm; 1:30-3:00pm | Mar 15 – Apr 12, 2025 | Aldgate | £280 for 5 weeks |
| COURSE | TIME | DATE | VENUE | PRICE | BOOK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry Beginner Tuesday Sep #2417 | Tuesday 6:30-8:30pm | Sep 24 – Nov 26, 2024 | Aldgate | £280 for 10 weeks | |
| Entry Beginner Saturday Intensive Sep #2418 | Saturdays 11:00am-12:30pm; 1:30-3:00pm | Sep 28 – Oct 26, 2024 | Aldgate | £280 for 5 weeks | |
| Entry Beginner Thursday Oct #2419 | Thursday 6:30-8:00pm | Oct 03 – Dec 05, 2024 | Aldgate | £280 for 10 weeks | |
| Entry Beginner Tuesday Oct #2420 | Tuesday 6:30-8:00pm | Oct 15 – Dec 17, 2024 | Aldgate | £280 for 10 weeks | |
| Entry Beginner Monday (5+5) Nov #2421 | Monday 6:30-8:00pm | Nov 18, 2024 – Feb 03, 2025 | Aldgate | £280 for 10 weeks |
ABOUT THE COURSE
Designed for
This Mandarin course is designed for beginners with zero or little learning experience in Mandarin Chinese, who would like to take up learning this new language in their spare time, ie weekday evenings or weekends, and who would like to understand and experience Chinese history and culture for more connections and inspirations.
Designed with
This course is designed with a focus to help students achieve perfect pronunciation and confident self introduction in the early stage of learning. The right balance of tutorials, assessment games and conversational practising in our classes will offer students a manageable and enjoyable learning process. Students are also encouraged to join our monthly cultural events to experience different aspect of Chinese culture. We are very confident that this beginner learning experience of 0 to 1 is the most rewarding for a lot of people.
Designed and taught by
This course is designed by PM academic team, the original course since 2009 has been modified and improved over time and practise, it’s now a tested and trusted training course for beginners. This course will also only be taught by PM teachers, who are all native speakers with a master to PHD degree in education or linguistics.
WHAT’S IN OUR CLASS
WHAT’S IN OUR CLASS
WHAT STUDENTS SAY
I’ve joined this courses almost 1 year ago and I found it super. Teacher Eva is very patient on teaching us mandarin. Can’t wait for the next course starts. Highly recommend it.
fabio C.
21:51 28 May 24
Lovely to study with Eva in small groups following an easy course structure and format.
Jean charles S.
15:13 28 May 24
I’ve just completed my first course and have been using my new language skills in China. The class sizes are perfect and the venue also very pleasant and easily accessed. My teacher, Sia, is very personable and patient. I can honestly say I look forward to my lessons and to starting my next course. Great job Practical Mandarin ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ross W.
07:41 28 May 24
I have now been attending evening classes with Practical Mandarin for around 14 months, and have been high impressed with each of my teacher's enthusiasm and dedication to teach their students. The classes are located in a modern, spacious, and conveniently located building just by Aldgate East station, and class sizes are small enough to get everyone involved but large enough to feel like you are learning as a group and to motivate one another.
Lewis F.
22:24 21 May 24
I have been learning at Practical Mandarin for several years now. The classes are good value for money, with responsive and supportive teachers and a convivial atmosphere. At higher levels there is also the opportunity to shape the direction of the classes in a way that suits your needs, something that's not always common in other providers but is good for the adult professional learner.
Alex R.
19:45 09 May 24
我在这里学中文学了八个月，觉得非常好的中文课。Louise老师也好有耐心的老师！
Matthew W.
13:56 17 Apr 24
I'm doing the Mandarin beginner lessons, just finished beginner 1.0. I enjoy the classes and the materials seem great!
Stefan H.
22:27 18 Feb 24
I could not be happier with my experience learning Chinese with Practical Mandarin! The teachers are very friendly and professional, and the whole team is very helpful and responding very quickly to any queries! I am signing up for the third term and cannot wait to start the lessons! Highly recommend Practical Mandarin if you want to start learning or need to brush up your Chinese!
Anna H.
16:45 07 Jan 24
Loved the classes, the teachers and the methods and materials used, very engaging and supportive. Classes are well structured with plenty of practice and exercises for all students in the class with classes kept small (c. 8 people) for max engagement in each session. I feel I have made good progress already at level 1 and looking forward to continuing in the future. My classmates were really great too and we helped each other throughout the course making it a really fun experience.
Lor
14:46 05 Jan 24
Good Mandarin classes! Small class sizes, friendly and knowledgeable teachers. Highly recommend!
Thomas C.
21:09 03 Jan 24
Great school to learn Mandarin. The classes are very interactive, the book are great and the teachers are very enthusiastic and competent. The school provides books and additional teaching materials such as podcasts, and Hanzi and Pinyin coursebooks. I truly recommend it to everyone!
monikaskirewska
20:15 01 Jan 24
Practical Mandarin is a fantastic learning centre.I have always struggled learning languages (e.g. French/German at high school) but Practical Mandarin has made learning Mandarin enjoyable and productive.The resources they provide (e.g. the textbooks and review podcasts) are amazing and the teachers are really well-qualified and patient.The class sizes are small - offering great value for money - and you really bond with the people you are studying with.Practical Mandarin 很最好 😇
Robert E.
13:41 29 Dec 23
Great language school to start learning mandarin! I have learnt a lot in my first course. The classes are well set up as well fun and engaging
Annemiek P.
20:32 24 Dec 23
I’ve taken the first course for Mandarin and absolutely loved it! The teachers are all so nice and knowledgeable, groups are small which makes the learning personalised, and the whole of PM is very accomodating if we miss lessons, we can follow online instead. I’m looking forward to the second course!
Cora
14:36 16 Dec 23
Wonderful learning experience. The teaching has been second to none and the administration alongside has also been really efficient.
Ciaran W.
12:16 15 Nov 23
A good place for beginners to start the journey of learning Mandarin! Interactive classes, attentive teachers and quick progression.
Ivan L
12:25 13 Nov 23
I’m doing my third semester at this school. Love the classes, it’s very pedagogical and interactive. All in all it makes the process of learning very interesting and fun!
Christelle
16:08 01 Oct 23
Just finished my third Mandarin course and would definitely recommend studying here. The classes are generally well organised and fun. I’m surprised how much we’ve all learnt over the past 6 months. Our teacher Jinfan is wonderful, she puts a lot of effort into making each class engaging, answering our questions etc. However, I do feel like the class sizes could be a little smaller - our class has ~10 people but I think limiting to 6-8 would be more optimal.
Tim -
19:26 19 Sep 23
I have been learning Chinese at Practical Mandarin for 2 years now. I really enjoy the classes - not only have I learnt a lot (both language and culture!) but I also enjoy socialising with other such interesting and friendly students/teachers. I studied online during the pandemic which was also great, but I prefer the in-person classes as the atmosphere and sense of fun is great! Would recommend to everyone wanting to learn Chinese
Megan C.
14:56 18 Sep 23
Fun, immersive and very effective learning environment and approach in small size group classes
Sadaat C.
11:50 18 Sep 23
Just finished Beginner 3.0 course. Jinfang 老师 is very nice and creates a pleasant learning environment in class. On top of the class, Jinfang is always happy to answer any questions in our class group chat.Looking forward to Elementary 1.0. Just wish there was no 2 week break between courses :((
Ilyas
13:56 13 Sep 23
I started learning mandarin as a complete beginner in January and I love coming to the classes every week. Jinfang is a great teacher and my classmates are all so lovely too!
Kaykay Y
22:11 11 Sep 23
Loving the HSK5 classes, Jiaqi is a great teacher. Lots of fun activities and my chinese improved a lot. I like that the teachers rarely use english as there really is no need at this level
Gavin D.
16:15 11 Sep 23
I've been studying here for 2 classes now and have improved my Chinese so much! The teachers are great and the content is really relevant and fun. I'll be continuing on with PM!
Nick
10:53 10 Sep 23
Loved the entry beginner 1.0 sessions with Joy. Classes are very interactive and the quizzes at the end of class really help. Looking forward to the next ones!
Prashant L.
15:07 05 Sep 23
I started learning Mandarin as an absolute beginner with this school back in 2021 and have been with them ever since. The lessons are paced well and by organising events and socials they have created a close knit community of Mandarin learners. I highly recommend.
Claire F.
15:20 26 Apr 23
Great experience. I've been to many different language schools, but the courses here are the best I've had so far. Very engaging lessons with motivated teachers!
Lukas F.
13:22 14 Apr 23
My lessons at Practical Mandarin have quickly become one of my favourite times of the week. The lessons are engaging, fun, and teach useful materials. I would highly recommend this organisation.
Brad T.
21:19 05 Apr 23
真棒！immersive, fun and great teachers. The group classes are engaging and my chinese level has improved a lot since joining the intermediate classes. The group classes are also good value for money.
Flo R.
17:52 29 Mar 23
I am really enjoying my Mandarin learning here!
Anna O
15:01 21 Feb 23
I have started my Practical Mandarin beginner entry course in November 2022 after searching Mandarin schools through the web. I have seen the amazing reviews that PM had and decided to give it a try. I can now say that I loved my learning experience in PM and the way Mandarin is taught; it made me love Mandarin even more. There are no words to express how lucky I feel that I have found PM and I recommend it to those who want to learn and speak Mandarin.
Andreas P.
13:00 22 Dec 22
Great academy, good environment, teacher Kuhsiang is wonderful and the place is very nice and comfortable, materials are good and easy to follow, just started entry beginner and looking forward for the next levels!
Astrid G.
15:00 31 Oct 22
Having an amazing time getting started with my Mandarin journey hereGreat location, great resources and most importantly great teachers!
Elliot N.
14:56 14 Sep 22
Our teacher Rui (Ray) was fantastic, class sizes are small too. Just booked my second block of classes, would definitely recommend 🙂
Aaron T
10:16 09 Sep 22
Great teaching method. Small groups. Learning while having a fun experience.
Veronica B
11:23 12 Jul 22
I've had a great time these last months on my beginner modules at PM. The materials are easy to use, learning is fun and you can see the progression throughout the weeks.Mostly focused on talking practical Mandarin and updated with the current use of it in the population.
Helena A. V.
21:52 11 Jun 22
Have had a wonderful experience of learning Mandarin with Practical Mandarin. The teachers are fabulous, especially Vivian - making the classes engaging and tailoring them to the ability levels of the class.
Emily A.
14:48 19 Apr 22
Beginner 3.0 done and dusted, enjoyed the course a lot (even the homework!). The teachers are all wonderfully friendly and engaging people, they really help make learning a language seem somehow like less work than it is. Big shout out to my teachers over the last few months - Xinrong and Yunzheng 谢谢老师们😃!I'd definitely recommend it to everyone whether learning for business or pleasure. I'm just about to book the first course of the next level - Elementary 1.0 here I come 😁
Bon S.
13:22 21 Mar 22
Wanted to find a Chinese class after work and this was an ideal option!
Quang Tung L.
00:15 06 Jan 22
I have thoroughly enjoyed learning at PM London - the group classes are well priced and you get dedicated attention from an experienced teacher. I appreciate the extra PM bespoke materials and the motivation to learn the hsk syllabus. I am very grateful to Lily 老师 for being an excellent and supportive teacher and look forward to continuing my studies and sitting my HSK exam!
Sonali G.
12:09 13 Dec 21
I loved learning at Practical Mandarin. The staff were friendly and helpful with everything from enrolling to giving directions. The classes were well organised and I felt really comfortable practising. I was also very impressed with the learning materials.More importantly, Marcus 老师 was supportive and was an amazing teacher. After only three classes my mandarin has improved enough so I can speak complete sentences and answer basic questions. There were also games and such to make the class interactive and fun.I really recommend these courses to everyone!
Angela T.
22:07 02 Dec 21
I studied the Beginner Course 1 with Marcus 老师 and have already signed up to Course 2.For me, the lessons are a perfect blend of grammar, pronunciation and application through puzzles, games and role play. It’s great that there is also often some communal social events taking place before lessons such as mooncake, tea or Chinese wine tasting. This provides a good way to apply some of learning.The course materials are excellent and when coupled with the companion podcasts, the lessons are sticking!Having tried multiple apps etc, in person lessons for me are far better. I’m glad to have discovered Practical Mandarin for this. 谢谢 Practical Mandarin!
James T.
17:46 30 Nov 21
I have joined online class based on the reviews I've read, and after completing Beginners 2.0 I can confirm all the positive reviews are correct. Practical Mandarin provides quality teaching materials and an outstanding teacher, who makes Chinese class enjoyable learning experience. After the 10 lessons I already feel I have improved a lot. I'm taking the next course as well.
Daniel D.
13:35 28 Nov 21
PM was recommended to me via another online teaching platform. I've enjoyed the interactive online experience, the set homework and the quality podcasts which are a real aid. Our teacher fully engages with the group and ensures we engage with each other, providing support, fun and a positive learning environment. During the 2hr lesson I don't clock watch, which I consider is an excellent sign.
Alexander C.
22:07 22 Nov 21
I have had a brilliant experience learning with PM since the start of 2021. Would thoroughly recommend to anyone looking to learn mandarin in London.
Rebecca S.
21:41 19 Oct 21
There is a lot of speaking practice during class which is very valuable, the tutors are very patient and super nice, I am very happy and excited to continue to the next level!
Vana K.
16:10 10 Oct 21
I set a goal to learn Mandarin in 2021. I've done the first 3 levels and plan on doing the 4th. Classes are well paced, and the teacher is very patient and well experienced in teaching mandarin. The textbook and podcasts and other materials you get as part of the class allow you to learn outside of class. In person classes are also a great way to practice with other students.All in all, a really good way to learn Mandarin in London!
Aufar
16:08 05 Oct 21
Classes with chatting, games, pronunciation practice, new words - the time flies by! I love seeing my vocabulary grow, and it fits perfectly in my busy work schedule.
Anne H.
13:58 04 Oct 21
Entering Practical Mandarin's most beginner course even with some experience under my belt, I have learnt quite a lot. The activities in the lessons can become quite competitive sometimes which encourages me to try to push myself further, and coupled with the events, it just turns into something that is well worth the money. I would highly recommend this to anyone serious about learning Mandarin.
Samuel L
13:21 04 Oct 21
Loving the course, and the school is accommodating and easy to communicate with!
Zuzanna G.
09:40 04 Sep 21
Great teacher, really enjoyed my Mandarin lessons here. Would 100% recommend.
Christian L.
20:22 02 Sep 21
High quality teaching, with well-prepared lessons and enthusiastic teachers. The small group sizes enable plenty of speaking practice within the classes.
Dylan E.
20:31 01 Sep 21
Practical Mandarin make learning in Chinese so much fun. They use a story telling method to introduce new vocab and grammar. The teachers are knowledgeable, friendly and approachable. I passed my HSK2 exam with them and hoping to do the next levels with their help.
L B
11:59 23 Aug 21
Thoroughly engaging remote teaching, course structure & small class size. Highly recommended as it makes for such effective learning. Always looking forward to each lesson!
Anne-Marie T.
09:03 17 Aug 21
Great Mandarin classes. Small and tailored classes. Very good teachers. Convenient times.
Gonzalo M.
13:50 13 Aug 21
Brilliant course. Great learning experience. Fantastic classmates. Excellent teacher Yujie laoshi. 👏
Chris R.
11:51 08 Aug 21
Attended the online classes as they are more convenient for me and really enjoyed the use of the interactive games and teaching style. Excited to continue learning with pm.
Emily
19:51 02 Aug 21
I've taken 3 classes now, one in person, 2 remotely - with Michelle, Marcus and Lily 老师. I've thoroughly enjoyed all three different classes, the atmosphere, the learning pace, and the teacher's knowledge. I would definetly recommend this place to anyone looking to learn mandarin in a friendly and welcoming environment. 谢谢大家！
Emma S.
21:50 26 Jul 21
PM's method is very interactive and helps make complex material understandable. Our teacher Mei has been excellent and always makes herself available to answer any questions we have. I would wholeheartedly recommend PM to anyone looking to learn Mandarin.
Dave H.
18:54 04 Jul 21
Practical Mandarin is an excellent school. It is very professionally organised. The teachers are expert, capable and friendly. I am extremely grateful for the kindness and support of my wonderful teacher Lily. She has helped me a lot with my Chinese, and I enjoy our lessons very much. I would recommend the 1 to 1 online lessons. They are very good.
C B
21:19 13 Jun 21
Great Chinese course, Marcus is a really lovely teacher and very very helpful. My Chinese has gone from zero to functioning in one year, and I would recommend Practical Mandarin to anyone.
Sam C.
11:06 01 Jun 21
Really enjoying my lessons. The guidance is great, and the classes are friendly environments to learn Chinese.
Roland S.
17:42 19 May 21
I always preffered to study Mandarin on my own but because I wanted to practice the language in a group context I decided to try PM. It has definitely exceeded my expectations! The teacher was very knowledgeable and with a good sense of humour which made the course even more interesting:) I'm looking forward to the next semester in person!
Jan S.
19:58 03 May 21
I have studied at PM London for 2 semesters now and my Chinese has improved considerably. The teachers are patient and provide great course material and extra learning e.g. films and youtube videos to supplement our classes, they also provide fun activities to meet other learners. I am really looking forward to my next semester when we can meet in person, however the online learning provision has also been of great quality during the pandemic. I would highly recommend PM London for learners of all levels.
Daniel M.
16:26 13 Apr 21
Even while studying online, Practical Mandarin found the way to provide an engaging and insightful course that feels like you are in class. So happy to be part of this, 3rd year and counting.
Adonis Z.
11:16 12 Apr 21
Great classes which are highly interactive and fun. The teachers are great - knowledgeable, patient and willing to spend the extra time to answer all of your questions. My Mandarin has improved as a result. I highly recommend learning with PM!
Andy Z
18:51 07 Mar 21
Practical Mandarin, Practical Magic. 惊人 !!
Adrian M.
11:20 28 Feb 21
Attended the Saturday, advanced beginners course. The lessons were excellent quality and a good mix of tasks, including online competitive games. Teacher Lily was really enthusiastic and made sure everyone got involved; with her support I feel I made good progress during the term..
Paul G.
21:50 14 Feb 21
Excellent online teaching by Lily. Very fun and enjoyable experience!
Jeff X.
18:23 14 Feb 21
Course was well adapted for online learning. The course was very interactive with plenty of resources available to students to help further their learning.Lily was very helpful and was good at breaking down difficult concepts into easily digestible chunks for the advanced beginners class.
Seli G
14:23 14 Feb 21
Have just finished my intermediate Term 2 with PM, and have been learning with them for almost two years now. Excellent teachers and first class resources - lessons are fun, welcoming and spot on. Makes learning Chinese Easy. PM非常好！
Peter O.
12:28 12 Feb 21
I have just finished the entry level beginners course and found it fantastic. Our teacher rose above the pandemic's challenges, creating an excellent online learning experience. The 'trickier' aspects of the language to an English speaker such as the tone system and pronunciations were very well taught - you'll leave the lessons with a real sense of accomplishment. Moreover the atmosphere was fun and friendly - having a go (even if we made mistakes) was encouraged and welcomed to no end. Real practical language examples are given as well such as useful common colloquial expressions.
Magnus C
13:16 08 Feb 21
Thanks so much Emily and PM. Perfect for entry beginners and I will surely continue with PM for future levels. Xie Xie !
Victor K.
12:37 02 Feb 21
Always enjoy the lessons and format at Practical Mandarin. The lessons led by Alice 老师 are fun and interactive and thankfully a lot of the knowledge sticks!
Ed B
12:15 20 Jan 21
Greatly enjoy the classes at Practical Mandarin, highly recommended for anyone interested in improving their Chinese skill. Tried one previous school, much prefer this one!
Mike B.
09:39 15 Dec 20
Really engaging interactive teaching with loads of opportunity and encouragement to practice speaking. Have tried lessons at 2 other places, PM knocks the socks off them! I tried PM based on the reviews I’d seen and due to lock down the last place I was studying couldn’t offer online lessons. Have finished 30 weeks of on line classes and to be honest, whilst initially sceptical about if they would be effective, just the first trial lesson convinced me , and I haven’t looked back since. The extra bonus is that they also run extracurricular cultural and social events, a great way to practice even more Chinese!
Jill C.
23:38 30 Nov 20
I've had three different instructors over the past few years, and all have been excellent. I highly recommend giving it a shot!
Adam W.
18:46 29 Nov 20
Even though the teaching has moved online I was able to stay focused and engaged! I really felt like I learnt something with Marcus every lesson, I can't wait for the next term.
Katie S.
12:54 15 Nov 20
I've done the first few fluency courses with Practical Mandarin over the past 9 months and I've found the experience to be excellent. I've been meaning to learn mandarin for a while and PM seemed like a good choice for a complete novice. Their breakdowns of the courses mean that each week I feel like I'm learning something new and actually useful for real life situations. The lessons are enjoyable with small class sizes meaning there's plenty of time to practice speaking. The use of technology in lessons also increases interaction.Thanks to PM I'm looking forward to taking HSK2 shortly and will definitely continue for higher levels.
Jonathan T.
12:40 07 Nov 20
Methodological approach which helps you really memorize everything that is taught. Plus the additional online material. Also the best part for me is the focus on pronunciation. The PM team really explain the pinyin system well.他们很聪明!谢谢你们!
R.
16:31 21 Oct 20
Completed my first course with Practical Mandarin this month and I'm moving straight into booking for the next term! My teacher, Michelle, has been excellent; interesting lessons at the right pace for the class, ready to answer questions and always explaining really well.
Roxanna K.
19:23 19 Oct 20
Extremely well structured course. Our teacher is very good and patient with all the students. It’s an engaging and fun experience. Highly recommend Practical Mandarin Monument 👍🏼
Teri A.
14:38 11 Oct 20
I've very much enjoyed my learning experience with PM. I've reached Level 1 Advanced Beginner and already feel more confident in speaking the language. My instructor Marcus was extremely friendly, helpful, and explained everything in a very clear manner. Being asked to speak/write our own sentences was very helpful in consolidating and remembering what we'd just been taught - being able to do this was much more effective than passive listening would have been. I also enjoyed the mini vocab games that we would do in the lessons because they were not only enjoyable but very helpful with further consolidation of words/phrases. I would recommend Practical Mandarin to anyone wishing to learn and look forward to the next level.
Matthew V.
14:04 17 Sep 20
I've been using Practical Mandarin from complete beginner all the way through to the end of HSK3 (nearly 2 years!!) and I'll be coming back for HSK4. Highly recommended.
Ando
13:23 03 Sep 20
Practical Mandarin are excellent at bringing the course syllabus to life and have a strong focus on speaking and using language in context. Combined with friendly Teachers and a range of extra-curricular events they are a great choice if you're looking to learn Mandarin in London
Christopher M.
22:13 02 Sep 20
Just finished the beginner entry course. Ken has been a fantastic teacher, enthusiastic and patient. The course was very fun - despite done via Zoon - I definitely learnt a lot!
Luna C.
21:53 22 Aug 20
PM is well structured to help you really move forward with mastering Chinese. Keng was a superb teacher who would really explain the reasons behind certain language rules, and patterns. He made the lessons enjoyable and fun. After trying to learn off of apps for a year this helped me make so much more progress and I will definitely be continuing.
Thea P.
12:19 21 Aug 20
Just finished up the beginner 10 week course. Even thought it was over zoom, Keng was fantastic and made the lessons extremely enjoyable. Learnt a lot and looking forward to the next stage.
Imran N.
12:55 19 Aug 20
Advanced Beginner Course @PM is over and the result is satisfying. This is possible only thanks to the superb teaching skills of our laoshi Yujie and Effie!
Andrea C.
14:48 03 Jul 19
Just completed the Entry Beginner Course, which was great value for money. Jennifer Laoshi was an excellent, patient and enthusiastic teacher. It is a relatively fast pace, but perfectly easy to keep up if you put in an hour or two revision a week. Group sizes vary from 4-8 throughout the course (since some people turn up some weeks and not others). Went to China near the end of the course, and PM offered 2 free catch up lessons so I didn't fall behind. I was very surprised how far my limited Mandarin got me in China! Thanks Practical Mandarin and Jennifer!Would highly recommend - I, for one, am signing up for the Advanced Beginner Course starting in July.
Ed N.
12:18 19 Jun 19
I've really enjoyed the 10 week beginner course at Practical Mandarin. Our teacher Effie was excellent, and the classes were well lead. It was amazing how much stuff was covered in a short space of time. Would highly recommend to others who are wanting to start learning Mandarin.
Matt D.
09:46 18 May 19
i absolutely recommend this experience to everyone who's interested in learning mandarin chinese, i was able to follow and understand every lesson even if i'm not 100% fluent in english. Thank you Effie and PM
Davide M.
18:00 17 May 19
Excellent beginner class, our teacher Effie Chen was very patient and easy to understand 🙂
Ben
16:08 17 May 19
The 10 weeks spent learning entry beginners has been an excellent experience and a fun way of learning a very challenging language, I can’t praise my teacher Yujie enough! Brings positive energy and patience to every lesson without fail!
Jewel K.
12:43 27 Mar 19
I am taking the beginner intensive course, and I am really happy with my progress so far. The classes are challenging and fun , with many interactive exercises which help us practice and improve.
Adrian B.
23:43 22 Feb 19
I had such a lovely time at class! Yujie is a great teacher, I learnt a lot and had lots of fun! If you want to learn mandarin this is the place to go!!! 很好👌👍
Virgi V.
10:52 12 Feb 19
I'm doing my advanced beginner class with Practical Mandarin, it's a lot of fun and very educational as well. This course lasts 9 weeks, we are being taught once a week for two hours.PM can provide you with a study book and you get all the teachings after a class via email as well. They also use the quizlet app, it has all the materials you can learn in the class, so it's a great way to practice and study during the week.I found the class very enjoyable which helps to keep going. We start by going through what we have learnt last time. We do little competitions on language learning apps, do a lot of "role play" and dialogue. Beside learning the language we also learn about China and its historic and current culture.My teacher, Jennifer is a native speaker, she is always very attentive, cheerful and patient.
Sandor L.
23:23 21 Nov 18
I've taken the Beginner course with Michelle and I couldn't be happier with the results. The courses are well structured and I feel like I have learned a lot after 10 classes. I will certainly take the advanced beginner course with them too.
Alejandro F.
10:43 23 May 18
I've really enjoyed my 10-week Beginners Mandarin course. Michelle, our teacher has been cheerful and encouraging throughout.
Bill W.
23:24 04 Dec 17
I have just completed a 10-week beginner course. It's been absolutely brilliant with a mix of culture, language, basic character learning, introduction to pinyin and the tones this is a must for anyone wanting to start serious studying Mandarin. I have had a fantastic teacher, Christina, who has even provided us with additional homework after the course finished so that we could revise and challenge our knowledge. Looking forward to taking this to the next level in 2018!
Nirmal S.
22:10 04 Dec 17
The 10 weeks went super quick! Small class, efficient learning and Ren Min our teacher was very patient. I will definitely be enrolling onto the next course!
Stephanie C
07:45 23 Aug 17
Both myself and my girlfriend have enjoyed the course alot and it's been well worth it. Definitely recommend it to anyone who's thinking to learn mandarin.
Henry L.
05:56 22 Aug 17
I am about to finish the first beginner course and I can't wait for the next one. It is very entertaining and I wish I could do more hours with practical mandarin. Teacher is well trained, very approachable and gives great support to students. I can only say 谢谢, 老师!
Lao D.
11:50 08 Jul 17
I have now completed 2 terms at Practical Mandarin (Beginner and Advanced Beginner) and I've made tremendous progress. The teacher and curriculum are great, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this school
Ruchita N.
09:43 07 Jun 17
Really excellent mandarin classes, in small groups with easy to follow progression through the HSK curriculum. I've now completed the HSK2 level with PM, and looking forward to getting stuck into the HSK3 course starting this week. Vivian and the team at PM have also been really awesome in assisting with my application to study Mandarin in Taiwan for a three month sabbatical this winter, helping with my successful scholarship application through the Huayu programme.
Andy B.
08:39 03 May 17
I have done both Entry Beginner and Advanced Beginner Courses and am looking forward to starting Elementary Level. The classes are really fun and interactive and have given me lots of confidence in speaking. Mandarin is a difficult language to learn but these classes make it very enjoyable.
Natalie P.
18:00 19 Apr 17
I found the class highly enjoyable and the teacher Anne was very nice and helpful. Despite the fact it was 4 hours long on a Saturday I found it extremely engaging!
Corner S.
11:38 06 Feb 17
I took the Practical Mandarin 'Entry Beginner' course in January/February 2017. It's a great way of getting the basics of the language.
Matt K.
11:22 06 Feb 17
Have just started my adventure with Mandarin and don't regret having chosen this course. Money and time well spent, or should rather say invested !
Piotr Ł.
22:47 05 Feb 17
Practical Mandarin offers a really fun learning experience. I am not a natural linguist. The classes are small with no more than 8 students and the teacher always makes sure that we all speak and practice words and phrases. I took the Entry Beginner course and have really enjoyed it and am now enrolled on the Advanced Beginner course. I highly recommend this course. It will whet your appetite for more! Jo
Jo W.
10:19 08 Dec 16
I have just finished the Entry Beginner level at Practical Mandarin. Considering that I had no prior knowledge of Mandarin before starting my lessons, I feel that I now have a good basic vocabulary and a great grounding in the basic grammatical structures of the language. The whole experience was really enjoyable and I Iearnt much more than I thought I would in just 10 weeks - this was all thanks to Ginny's fun teaching style. Ginny was great at explaining difficult bits of grammar and also made every effort to help us learn the language through teaching us Chinese culture and customs. I would definitely recommend both Practical Mandarin as a provider and Ginny as a Mandarin teacher!
Sonny M.
22:01 01 Dec 16
I've dabbled a bit in learning Mandarin in the past using free apps, but I could never quite get to grips with the grammar and in speaking the language. After taking the Entry Beginner class at Practical Mandarin though, and with fantastic support from our teacher Ginny, I've found myself coming on leaps and bounds with my pronunciation and understanding of the language. The classes aren't boring in the slightest and focus on practical uses of the language, and the homework is suitably challenging and fun too. I've already signed up for my next term!
Kyriacos E.
12:06 26 Nov 16
I'm learning Chinese for the first time and in just over two months I've covered a lot of ground although learning a language so different from the languages I've learnt feels like going back to nursery school again. Practical Mandarin provides excellent courses. We learn in small groups. The learning materials are very diverse and effective. There is also wide range of exercises and Ginny is a great teacher: energetic, patient enthusiastic and fun. Like Andrew I look forward to the second term.
Jean-Pierre C
17:45 13 Nov 16
I have been a student at Practical Mandarin for two terms now and am about to sign up for my third. The school has an entrepreneurial feel, teachers are motivated and enthusiastic, and the materials are helpful. Infinitely better than courses offered by Universities that I previously tried (bored teachers, dated materials). Highly recommended.
Alex I.
09:39 08 Nov 16
Learning Mandarin at Practical Mandarin has been an enjoyable experience.Ginny's class has been really fun! I feel that I have made great progress in a short amount of time. I look forward to continuing to the next level!
Andrew M
20:18 06 Nov 16
COMMON F.A.Q.
Yes, the two types of courses have the same curriculum.
Regular course runs one lesson a week for 10 weeks, normally over weekday evenings or day time.
Intensive course runs two lessons a week for 5 weeks, normally on Saturdays, it will suit students who want to gain momentum and make faster progress.
Yes, we do. We are now running day time courses just online, normally between 4:30-6:30pm, suitable for people who have flexible working hours or from a different time zone.
Our weekday evening classes normally run between 6:30-8:30pm, suitable for most people to charge themselves after work, while our Saturdays classes normally run between 10am to 5pm, dependant on if the course is intensive 4 hours (with one hour lunch break) or regular 2 hours.
Monument – this is our main center and where our headoffice is. There are 5 modern and comfortable classrooms along with a lounge and kitchen area for tea or coffee for our students.
Charing X – this is our second center very close to China Town, it suits students working or living in the west side of London. There are 3 modern and comfortable classrooms along with a kitchen area for free drinks
I’m afraid we don’t accept pay-as-you-go. Students are required to subscribe to the whole course to achieve successful learning results.
The total price of this course is £330, of which £300 is the tuition, and £30 is the price of a textbook called “Discover China” for both Entry and Advanced Beginner course. If you already have the book, or would like to buy the book by yourself, you can exclude it from your purchase.
We know sometimes your schedule gets jammed up. So don’t worry, with any group classes that you missed you will be able to attend a FREE mark up lesson with a different group (subject to availability), for up to two make-up lessons per course.
Alternative options would be private make up lessons online or offline with your teacher, or home study with teaching material provided. What’s more, our E Learning platform is open for students with all learning material all in one place.
COMMON F.A.Q.
Yes, the two courses have the same curriculum.
Regular runs one lesson a week for 10 weeks, normally over weekday evenings or day time.
Intensive runs two lessons a week for 5 weeks, normally on Saturdays, it will suit students who want to gain momentum and make faster progress.
Yes, we do. We are now running day time courses just online, normally between 4:30-6:30pm, suitable for people who have flexible working hours or from a different time zone.
Our weekday evening classes normally run between 6:30-8:30pm, suitable for most people to charge themselves after work, while our Saturdays classes normally run between 10am to 5pm, dependant on if the course is intensive 4 hours (with one hour lunch break) or regular 2 hours.
Monument – this is our main center and where our headoffice is. There are 5 modern and comfortable classrooms along with a lounge and kitchen area for tea or coffee for our students.
Charing X – this is our second center very close to China Town, it suits students working or living in the west side of London. There are 3 modern and comfortable classrooms along with a kitchen area for free drinks
I’m afraid we don’t accept pay-as-you-go. Students are required to subscribe to the whole course to achieve successful learning results.
The total price of this course is £330, of which £300 is the tuition, and £30 is the price of a textbook called “Discover China” for both Entry and Advanced Beginner course. If you already have the book, or would like to buy the book by yourself, you can exclude it from your purchase.
We know sometimes your schedule gets jammed up. So don’t worry, with any group classes that you missed you will be able to attend a FREE mark up lesson with a different group (subject to availability), for up to two make-up lessons per course.
Alternative options would be private make up lessons online or offline with your teacher, or home study with teaching material provided. What’s more, our E Learning platform is open for students with all learning material all in one place.
Practical Mandarin
Based on 274 reviews
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