Private Chinese courses are often offered by many educational centres, especially for working professionals. The popularity of this class’ type is due to the rising demand of Mandarin courses for adults with tight schedules. Many of these learning centres offer both online and offline sessions to accommodate better for each individual. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of private Chinese courses that you may want to consider before enrolling into one. 

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Advantages of Private Classes

One of the most beneficial advantages from Chinese private classes is the flexibility to adjust to your own schedule. This feature is often sought among working professionals since they are often committing to a strict working schedule. Therefore, the ability to adjust their class’ timetable can help provide a better learning experience that doesn’t go against their existing responsibilities. 

Furthermore, the popularity of Chinese private classes among working professionals is influenced by the ability of tailoring these courses depending on their needs. This characteristic is another important factor, especially for professionals since most of them have different jobs and demands. For example, a professional working in the financial industry may not benefit from learning business Mandarin terms related to the hospitality industry. Therefore, tailoring classes depending on their jobs can help them achieve effective results by learning only the necessary aspect of business Mandarin. 

Disadvantages of Private Classes 

While private classes can help you achieve tailored results depending on your need, having 1 on 1 sessions may come rather expensive compared to group classes. This price is often higher due to how much flexibility people can get from attending private Chinese courses. 

Another disadvantage that working professionals may feel upon enrolling in private Chinese courses is the lack of peer interaction. Unlike group classes that can help you meet peers with similar motivations, this type of course will only consist of one student and their respective Chinese trainer. Therefore, this type of class may not be suitable for those who wish to get connected with similar peers from different backgrounds. 

Another popular option that you can try is enrolling yourself in group class Chinese courses. This type of Chinese course is getting more demand due to its ability to accommodate a place for peers to get connected. Typically, the number of students for each class may vary from one tuition centre to another. If you’re considering registering for a group class Chinese course, here are some pros and cons that you may want to consider beforehand.

Advantages of Group Class 

The clear advantage of attending Chinese courses with group class options is the connection you can cultivate during your learning period. As discussed before, group classes can help you meet with peers with a similar Mandarin level with you. These connections will not only help you motivate each other to learn Mandarin, but can also result in long-term collaboration opportunities, especially if you’re looking to expand your network. Furthermore, the existence of this community can help you find peers for practice purposes, which are often more effective in building confidence to speak Chinese on a day-to-day basis. 

Disadvantages of Group Class

Although Chinese courses with group options can help you cultivate meaningful relationships with your peers, not everyone finds this type of course suitable for accommodating their needs. The major downside that you may experience upon choosing this class format is the inability to customize your courses depending on your preferred materials. This may cause great inconvenience especially for busy professionals as they may not be able to adjust the schedule depending on their availability. 

Discovering the right Chinese course is a long journey that may require time and thorough consideration. Aside from understanding the pros and cons of each class’ type, there are several other aspects that may influence your decision. Here are some practical tips on how to find the right Chinese course type to help you learn Mandarin effectively. 

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Understand Your Learning Style

The first thing that you need to understand is about your learning style and preference. For example, you can begin asking yourself about your goal from learning Mandarin and which kind of environment you prefer. If you’re aiming for a tailored learning experience with minimal distractions, you might choose private Chinese courses. On the other hand, if you learn better by interacting with others, you may consider enrolling yourself in group class instead. 

Conduct Research

After understanding your aim and learning preferences, you may start looking for several best Chinese learning institutions in your area. During this process, it is recommended to find their curriculum and class structures. If the information is not enough, you may also try contacting the related institution to ask more about your concern. If you’re unsure of what to search for, here are a few common features that you may need to consider.

1. Class type (online/offline and private/group class)
2. Course curriculum/learning objectives
3. Trainers’ profiles.
4. Class duration and schedule.
5. Past testimonies. 

Attend Trial Class 

Although not every tuition centre provides this option, it is best to inquire regarding trial classes for your Chinese courses. These classes are often very effective to help people understand their current Mandarin level and take a look at how class will be conducted during official sessions. Joining these trial sessions can minimize the possibility of taking an unfitting class that may hinder your experience.