Upper Intermediate Courses

Chinese HSK Level 4 – Discussions & Debates (path to Independent Speaker)

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About the course

student success

entry test

Designed for students with HSK 3 equivalent skill / 600+ vocabularies
Relevant and interesting topics for discussions & debates
95% Mandarin speaking immersive method in class
£360 tuition for 10 lessons and 2 free make up lessons
Extra benefits: free E learning website, fresh cards and videos
Book a trial lesson now, let us place you in the right course

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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.

New Year Term 2025
Autumn Term 2024

New Year Term 2025

COURSE	TIME	DATE	VENUE	PRICE	BOOK
Upper Intermediate T1 Thursday #2413	Thursday 6:30-8:30pm	Oct 17, 2024 – Feb 13, 2025	Aldgate	£380 for 12 weeks	BOOK
Upper Intermediate T2 Wednesday #2502	Wednesday 6:30-8:00pm	Jan 22 – Apr 9, 2025	Aldgate	£380 for 12 weeks	BOOK
Upper Intermediate T2 Thursday #2503	Thursday 6:30-8:00pm	Feb 13 – May 1, 2025	Aldgate	£380 for 12 weeks	BOOK
Upper Intermediate T3 Monday #2501	Monday 6:30-8:00pm	Jan 20 – Apr 7, 2025	Aldgate	£380 for 12 weeks	BOOK

Autumn Term 2024

COURSE	TIME	DATE	VENUE	PRICE	BOOK HERE
Upper Intermediate 1.0 Wednesday #2408	Wednesday 6:30-8:30pm	Sep 18 – Dec 4, 2024	Aldgate	£380 for 12 weeks	BOOK
Upper Intermediate 1.0 Thursday #2413	Thursday 6:30-8:30pm	Oct 17, 2024 – Feb 13, 2025	Aldgate	£380 for 12 weeks	BOOK
Upper Intermediate 2.0 Wednesdays #2411	Wednesday 6:30-8:30pm	Sep 25 – Dec 11, 2024	Aldgate	£380 for 12 weeks	BOOK
Upper Intermediate 3.0 Monday #2410	Monday 6:30-8:30pm	Sep 23 – Dec 9, 2024	Aldgate	£380 for 12 weeks	BOOK
Upper Intermediate 3.0 Saturday Intensive #2409	Saturday 10:30-12:00pm, 1:00-2:30pm	Sep 7 – Oct 12, 2024	Aldgate	£380 for 6 weeks	BOOK
Upper Intermediate 4.0 Saturday Intensive #2412	Saturday 10:30am-12:00pm; 1:00-2:30pm	Nov 9 – Dec 14, 2024	Aldgate	£380 for 6 weeks	BOOK

Upper Intermediate Curriculum

Upper Intermediate Curriculum

ABOUT THE COURSE

Curriculum

The Upper Intermediate level has 4 courses of 12 lessons each. Our curriculum is set based on Chinese HSK Level 4. No more grammar learning in this level, except for corrections on the use of words for their subtle differences. This level is all about vocabularies. There are further 1200 very useful words to learn in the total of 48 lessons.

The topics covered in this course are normally relevant to current affairs, critical and sometimes even controversial, such as environmental protection, importance of friendship, internet shopping trend, work life balance etc. We have invited 20 native speakers to share their personal opinions on such topics, before we ask the students to express their own, and that’s how we engage students to effectively learn vocabularies on the topics.

Training modules

Upper Intermediate is the level you are being trained to become an independent speaker, ie you might make mistakes, but your message is clear; or you might not know certain words, but you can go around it to explain in a different way via using synonyms perhaps. The key skill we are targeting in this level is discussion and debates, which will require logical and analytical thinking from the students, and adequate words on the topic. It’s a step up from Intermediate’s storytelling skills, but it’s the level where you can say you are getting comfortably fluently. The key modules are Vocab Workshop 词, Sentence Workshop 句, Debate Club 辩，Conversation Flow 谈, Drama Club 看 and Reading Club 读. Chinese Characters 字 are also taught in this course.

Learning content

For learning material, we use HSK Standard Course Book Level 4 to set the curriculum and for reading, while all other tutorial presentations, learning assessment games, fluency practice worksheet and immersive videos are all originally developed by PM academic team, and are exclusive to our students.

STUDENT SUCCESS

Denise’s StoryPractical Mandarin2020-05-12T20:12:50+01:00

The Whole PM ExperienceVivien Mo2020-05-12T19:48:41+01:00

Upper Intermediate Image 1Practical Mandarin2020-05-12T15:53:57+01:00

Practical Mandarin group class, learn Mandarin London

Tote Bag Image 2Practical Mandarin2020-05-12T18:06:56+01:00

a teacher and a student with Practical Mandarin's tote bag

Bubble teaPractical Mandarin2022-06-13T10:52:57+01:00

Upper Intermediate listening videoPractical Mandarin2020-05-12T20:24:50+01:00

Upper Intermediate Fluency VideoPractical Mandarin2020-05-13T13:02:42+01:00

Follow us on Instagram for more!

Denise’s StoryPractical Mandarin2020-05-12T20:12:50+01:00
The Whole PM ExperienceVivien Mo2020-05-12T19:48:41+01:00
Upper Intermediate Image 1Practical Mandarin2020-05-12T15:53:57+01:00
Tote Bag Image 2Practical Mandarin2020-05-12T18:06:56+01:00
Bubble teaPractical Mandarin2022-06-13T10:52:57+01:00
Upper Intermediate listening videoPractical Mandarin2020-05-12T20:24:50+01:00
Upper Intermediate Fluency VideoPractical Mandarin2020-05-13T13:02:42+01:00

Follow us on Instagram for more!

Practical Mandarin

4.9

Based on 274 reviews

Practical Mandarin

4.9

fabio C.

21:51 28 May 24

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.

Jean charles S.

15:13 28 May 24

Lovely to study with Eva in small groups following an easy course structure and format.

Ross W.

07:41 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 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Lewis F.

22:24 21 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.

Alex R.

19:45 09 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.

Matthew W.

13:56 17 Apr 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！

Stefan H.

22:27 18 Feb 24

I'm doing the Mandarin beginner lessons, just finished beginner 1.0. I enjoy the classes and the materials seem great!

Anna H.

16:45 07 Jan 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!

Lorenzo B.

14:46 05 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.

Thomas C.

21:09 03 Jan 24

Good Mandarin classes! Small class sizes, friendly and knowledgeable teachers. Highly recommend!

monikaskirewska

20:15 01 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!

Robert E.

13:41 29 Dec 23

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 😇

Annemiek P.

20:32 24 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

Cora

14:36 16 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!

Ciaran W.

12:16 15 Nov 23

Wonderful learning experience. The teaching has been second to none and the administration alongside has also been really efficient.

Ivan L

12:25 13 Nov 23

A good place for beginners to start the journey of learning Mandarin! Interactive classes, attentive teachers and quick progression.

Christelle

16:08 01 Oct 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!

Tim -

19:26 19 Sep 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.

Megan C.

14:56 18 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

Sadaat C.

11:50 18 Sep 23

Fun, immersive and very effective learning environment and approach in small size group classes

Ilyas

13:56 13 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 :((

Kaykay Y

22:11 11 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!

Gavin D.

16:15 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

Nick

10:53 10 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!

Prashant L.

15:07 05 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!

Claire F.

15:20 26 Apr 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.

Lukas F.

13:22 14 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!

Brad T.

21:19 05 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.

Flo R.

17:52 29 Mar 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.

Anna O

15:01 21 Feb 23

I am really enjoying my Mandarin learning here!

Andreas P.

13:00 22 Dec 22

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.

Astrid G.

15:00 31 Oct 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!

Elliot N.

14:56 14 Sep 22

Having an amazing time getting started with my Mandarin journey hereGreat location, great resources and most importantly great teachers!

Aaron T

10:16 09 Sep 22

Our teacher Rui (Ray) was fantastic, class sizes are small too. Just booked my second block of classes, would definitely recommend 🙂

Veronica B

11:23 12 Jul 22

Great teaching method. Small groups. Learning while having a fun experience.

Helena A. V.

21:52 11 Jun 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.

Emily A.

14:48 19 Apr 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.

Bon S.

13:22 21 Mar 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 😁

Quang Tung L.

00:15 06 Jan 22

Wanted to find a Chinese class after work and this was an ideal option!

Sonali G.

12:09 13 Dec 21

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!

Angela T.

22:07 02 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!

James T.

17:46 30 Nov 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!

Daniel D.

13:35 28 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.

Alexander C.

22:07 22 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.

Rebecca S.

21:41 19 Oct 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.

Vana K.

16:10 10 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!

Aufar

16:08 05 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!

Anne H.

13:58 04 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.

Samuel L

13:21 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.

Zuzanna G.

09:40 04 Sep 21

Loving the course, and the school is accommodating and easy to communicate with!

Christian L.

20:22 02 Sep 21

Great teacher, really enjoyed my Mandarin lessons here. Would 100% recommend.

Dylan E.

20:31 01 Sep 21

High quality teaching, with well-prepared lessons and enthusiastic teachers. The small group sizes enable plenty of speaking practice within the classes.

L B

11:59 23 Aug 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.

Anne-Marie T.

09:03 17 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!

Gonzalo M.

13:50 13 Aug 21

Great Mandarin classes. Small and tailored classes. Very good teachers. Convenient times.

Chris R.

11:51 08 Aug 21

Brilliant course. Great learning experience. Fantastic classmates. Excellent teacher Yujie laoshi. 👏

Emily

19:51 02 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.

Emma S.

21:50 26 Jul 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！

Dave H.

18:54 04 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.

C B

21:19 13 Jun 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.

Sam C.

11:06 01 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.

Roland S.

17:42 19 May 21

Really enjoying my lessons. The guidance is great, and the classes are friendly environments to learn Chinese.

Jan S.

19:58 03 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!

Daniel M.

16:26 13 Apr 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.

Adonis Z.

11:16 12 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.

Andy Z

18:51 07 Mar 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!

Adrian M.

11:20 28 Feb 21

Practical Mandarin, Practical Magic. 惊人 !!

Paul G.

21:50 14 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..

Jeff X.

18:23 14 Feb 21

Excellent online teaching by Lily. Very fun and enjoyable experience!

Seli G

14:23 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.

Peter O.

12:28 12 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！

Magnus C

13:16 08 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.

Victor K.

12:37 02 Feb 21

Thanks so much Emily and PM. Perfect for entry beginners and I will surely continue with PM for future levels. Xie Xie !

Ed B

12:15 20 Jan 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!

Mike B.

09:39 15 Dec 20

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!

Jill C.

23:38 30 Nov 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!

Adam W.

18:46 29 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!

Katie C.

12:54 15 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.

Jonathan T.

12:40 07 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.

16:31 21 Oct 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!

Roxanna K.

19:23 19 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.

Teri A.

14:38 11 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 👍🏼

Matthew V.

14:04 17 Sep 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.

Ando

13:23 03 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.

Christopher M.

22:13 02 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

Luna C.

21:53 22 Aug 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!

Thea P.

12:19 21 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.

Imran N.

12:55 19 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.

Andrea C.

14:48 03 Jul 19

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!

Ed N.

12:18 19 Jun 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.

Matt D.

09:46 18 May 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.

Davide M.

18:00 17 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

Ben

16:08 17 May 19

Excellent beginner class, our teacher Effie Chen was very patient and easy to understand 🙂

Jewel K.

12:43 27 Mar 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!

Adrian B.

23:43 22 Feb 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.

Virgi V.

10:52 12 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👌👍

Sandor L.

23:23 21 Nov 18

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.

Alejandro F.

10:43 23 May 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.

Bill W.

23:24 04 Dec 17

I've really enjoyed my 10-week Beginners Mandarin course. Michelle, our teacher has been cheerful and encouraging throughout.

Nirmal S.

22:10 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!

Stephanie C

07:45 23 Aug 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!

Henry L.

05:56 22 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.

Lao D.

11:50 08 Jul 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!

Ruchita N.

09:43 07 Jun 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

Andy B.

08:39 03 May 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.

Natalie P.

18:00 19 Apr 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.

Corner S.

11:38 06 Feb 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!

Matt K.

11:22 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.

Piotr Ł.

22:47 05 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 !

Jo W.

10:19 08 Dec 16

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

Sonny M.

22:01 01 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!

Kyriacos E.

12:06 26 Nov 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!

Jean-Pierre C

17:45 13 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.

Alex I.

09:39 08 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.

Andrew M

20:18 06 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!

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Upper Intermediate Courses

Chinese HSK Level 4 – Discussions & Debates (path to Independent Speaker)

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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.

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Upper Intermediate Curriculum

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SIMPLE ENTRY TEST

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TEST 1

TEST 2

TRANSLATION

SKILLS

TEST 1

Upper Intermediate 1.0 Entry Test

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TEST 2

Upper Intermediate 3.0 Entry Test

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TRANSLATION