FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions


When should my child start learning Mandarin?

You should start as soon as possible.  Research shows that critical period of human language acquisition and development is between the ages of zero to five. The earlier they start to be exposed to a language, the more native-like they will be speaking that language. In addition, learning language and early year literacy development contribute to human intellectual development as a whole. We accept students as young as 12 months.

What is the student make up?

Our students come from all over the city and from very diverse backgrounds.  There are native speakers, non-native speakers, children adopted from China, and grade school students to teenagers from multi-cultural background with no formal connection to China, but are all passionate about learning the language and culture.

Who are your teachers?

Our staff include experienced, native-speaking Chinese teachers, many of who are graduates of Universities in the U.S. and China.  Staff development workshops led by teaching professionals, are conducted on a regular basis.  Our staff is connected to the most current learning techniques with our relationships with teaching universities in China, Taiwan and across the country.

Do you offer private lessons?

Private lessons are offered.  Please check with the office for available days and times.  Privates and Tutoring classes require a 48 hour confirmed cancellation otherwise, the full class fee will be charged.

Can my child start in the middle of the year?

If your child is 5 and under, he/she is able to join mid-term if space is available.  We do not allow students 5 and up to join after the program has started.  Our spiral-up approach to teaching does not allow newcomers to transition in smoothly.  In this situation, we suggest you to take private lessons to catch up and to then join in the next registration period.

How can I find a tutor?

We are able to source a tutor for your child's learning needs from our pool of teachers.  These times can be used to review lessons, do homework or to practice speaking and listening skills.  Please call the office for available days and times.   All tutoring session cancellations need to be made 48 hours ahead of the scheduled time to avoid charges.

Do you have classes for teenagers?

If your child is 18, he/she may qualify for the Adult program.  If he/she is older than 12, but younger than 18, he or she may want to consider private tutoring or join an Accelerated Beginners class.

Do you have adult classes?

We offer adult classes through out the week during the day.

Do you offer corporate programs?

We offer language programs on your company's premises.  Please contact the office for more detailed information.

Can I bring a sibling?

While the sibling is not able to join the class, they can wait with you assuming a caretaker or parent will be supervising him/her in the lounge area.  We welcome him/her to play quietly.  Should there be any disruptions to the class, the sibling should leave the school and come back during pick up.


Do you teach simplified or traditional Chinese?

We teach simplified Chinese and Standard Mandarin based on the language system of Mainland China.

 
We do not have a Chinese-speaking household; how will we be able to support our children with their studies?

In addition to home work given in class and on-line support provided by www.ChinaKidsUSA.com Students Corner, we can also provide you with additional tools to create a fuller immersion environment in your home.  The more exposure to the language, the more fluent the learner will become.    In addition to the weekly lessons, there is homework, reading assignments, special projects and on-line interactive exercises.  We are also able to help you source Chinese music, Mandarin DVD's and other video learning technologies in order to give each student the best opportunities to reinforce new material.

Do teachers speak more Mandarin or English in class?

All our classes are taught in Mandarin.  The unique approach we take in teaching Mandarin includes body language, facial expression, visuals, flashcards and computers.  Without much English/Chinese translation, we ensure a smooth teacher/student communication and interaction in the classroom 

May I observe a class?

Depending on the type of class, observations are allowed.  For the 3-and-under observations and participation are allowed and encouraged.  For the older student classes, observation times are limited in order to minimize disruptions and preserve a conductive learning environment.

How do you teach Chinese Phonetics?

We use the Pinyin system that does have some similarity with English phonics, however it also has its own distinguished sounds and tones.  We use many effective teaching strategies to help students differentiate them.  By comparing them, many students can use their knowledge of English to help learn Pinyin.  Our on-line Students Corner had many tools to help students master the unique sounds and tones of the language.

What is the class size?

To keep class size small, enrollment will be limited. We try to keep each class ages 5 and under to no more than 8 students.  For ages 5+, class sizes may be larger, but we never have more than 12 in a class. In all of the larger classes (8+ students), there are at least one teacher and teaching assistant.

Can I sit in the class with my child?

We want your child to feel as comfortable as possible.  For ages 3 and under we strongly encourage parents/caretakers to participate and learn with the child.  For students 3+ , we provide a parent lounge area with wireless Internet access so that your child can feel safe that you are near by. 

Can I just sign up for speaking classes without reading and writing instruction?

Our belief is that language is all about communication.  To handle communication more effectively today, we cannot separate listening and speaking, reading and writing.  Our program is geared towards literacy and from our experience, to fully advance in the language, one needs to know how to read and write in addition to speaking and audio comprehension.


How does the Academic Year program differ from the Summer Program?

Our academic program focuses on functional milestones at each level progressing the student towards fluency at each individual's pace.  Once specific skills are mastered, the child will advance to the next level, building upon the foundation that has been set.

The summer program is centered on outdoor activities and the dialog/vocabulary that follows them.  Interaction and dialog is strongly encouraged.  Group activities are designed to engage campers to use the language they have acquired.  Kids will also incorporate what they've learned through hands-on projects/activities, cultural contexts (e.g., Chinese Dancing, Martial Arts), etc. The academic curriculum is folded in and reviewed during the summer in terms of stories (character recognition) and songs as well as beginning sentence patterns to lay a strong foundation for more structured learning in the fall.