With the rise of China to an economic superpower, the need to understand and communicate in Chinese has increased tremendously. Whether it is for business or leisure, the language has gained prominence throughout the world. This has led to the setting up of many schools all over the world that are dedicated to teaching Mandarin, the standard and official form of Chinese. 

These schools are structured with the student in mind. There are different kinds of students whose unique needs and circumstances necessitate the modification of the Mandarin language courses to suit their goals. The categories of students include: 

Expatriates going to work in China 

Young expatriate’s children 

Travelers going to China for leisure 

International students going to China for studies

Language students who select Chinese as their international language 

Enthusiasts in Chinese culture

Business people dealing with Chinese companies

Class size

Most of Chinese language schools maintain small class sizes, ranging from individual students to classes of about 20 students. The aim is to provide personalized instruction so that every student is given sufficient attention by the language instructors. 

Course levels

Depending on the student’s background and purpose, there are many levels to suit each student. They range from the basic beginner’s course to advanced university-level courses. Those encountering Chinese for the first time start at the lowest and most basic level, after which they can progress to more advanced levels.  

Instructional materials

Over time, very effective materials have been developed to help the students to gain command of the Chinese language as quickly as possible. Print, audio, and audio-visual instructional materials are widely used. The schools also provide other supporting facilities such as the internet, LAN, libraries and public computer stations for better and quicker learning. 

Physical facilities 

The Chinese language schools provide many physical facilities to make student life as convenient as possible. From air-conditioned and naturally lit classrooms to spacious student lounges and student -cafeterias with free-to-use refrigerators and microwave ovens, the physical needs of the students are well catered for. Special attention is paid to students who have unique needs such as the handicapped. For example, access to classrooms and apartments is user-friendly for students and staff on wheelchairs. 

Course modes

Yi Manadarin Langauge School given the diverse needs and circumstances of the students, Chinese language schools deliver their courses through many different modes. For example, there are intensive, full-time classes for those who have set aside a specific short duration for the course. There is also the more relaxed part-time mode for those who may have limited time, such as the expatriates who work in the day and study in the evening or weekends. 

There is no doubt that the Chinese language will continue to be very important in world communication. The Chinese language schools have evolved over time to deliver the much-needed fluency in Mandarin efficiently and effectively. They have contributed immensely to making the Chinese language the popular international language that it is today.