Blended learning · focus on in-class speaking practice
Speaking practice in class
Intensive speaking practice with regular teacher feedback
What to expect
A focused morning programme combining structured language development with intensive speaking practice in class. Lessons include pair work, guided speaking activities and regular review, while afternoons remain free for work, study or personal activities.
Who is this course for
Learners who want strong and steady progress while keeping their afternoons free
Participants
International student mix
Levels
HSK 1–6
7 reviews from
Thomas Hortlik (Germany) (verified owner)–
Rated 5 out of 5
“Good Mandarin school in Shanghai
I became aware of Silk Mandarin through the beautiful website and the personal contact was very encouraging. I was at school from April 15th to 26th. CoCo is really a very enthusiastic woman and offers every possible support. The lessons were based on the textbook, but always went beyond; The teacher always patiently answered all questions and problems, even if I was slow to understand something. The exchange about culture and its similarities and differences was also great. We particularly like the very good online teaching material, which is ideal for both preparation and follow-up. The videos using the so-called slow motion technique certainly make problems that we foreigners have when we subconsciously use our language structure in Chinese (and are therefore incorrect) very understandable and avoidable.”
Terra Layton (United States) (verified owner)–
Rated 5 out of 5
“My family has spent a month in Shanghai participating in various Mandarin language programs at Silk Mandarin, including tutoring, group lessons, and summer camp for kids. We chose Silk Mandarin because the programs were immersive and comprehensive, and the staff was attentive and eager to help find ways to reach all of our unique language learning goals. We all had different goals and interests, and they were eager to find ways to tailor our experience to our individual needs.
We found the staff, especially Amy, to be very friendly, warm, and willing to go above and beyond to assist us in the classroom and even help sort out logistical outside of the classroom. We had constant and thorough communication prior to coming to Shanghai and so we were known and welcomed by name on arrival, and the staff has all been just as kind and knowledgeable as day one.
Personally, I had some Mandarin background, but it was many, MANY years ago and very out of practice. I felt particularly difficult to place skill level-wise, but my teacher, Jane, has done an incredible job helping review familiar but foggy subjects and patiently covering grammar rules I never properly learned. I feel I have learned more practical and useful Mandarin skills during my few weeks at Silk Mandarin than I collected in several months of private tutoring years ago. Thank you so much for renewing my interest, motivation, and confidence in learning a language I thought I had lost long ago!
Galen Julianto(Indonesia) (verified owner)–
Rated 5 out of 5
“Helpful tutors and staff. Insightful course suitable for beginner or intermediate level students. Really helpful when it comes to solving or helping problems outside academic work. Superb clarity of teaching to improve your Mandarin proficiency. Located in city center very convenient to go by public transport. Easily to find foods nearby with walkable environment. Once every month Silk Mandarin held events for students and staff to join. Worth the time and money well spent for studying Mandarin.”
Melina Jamieson (Australia) (verified owner)–
Rated 5 out of 5
“My experience with Silk Mandarin was excellent from the start.
I started speaking to Amy first and she really took the time to understand my goals, assess my skill level, and patiently answered all my questions.
I took the intensive HSK3 course with Jane, an experienced teacher who structured the lessons well and was able to explain complicated grammar structures in a way that was easy to understand (also, her English was great which helped). The best part about the classes was all the practical speaking and listening exercises which I think is what really propelled my learning and confidence in the language.
Jane knows the HSK curriculum so well – it really helped that she could pick the right level of words and grammar to incorporate into conversations and give us the best opportunities to practice.
The teachers and staff created a fun and engaging learning environment. Breaks were great for practicing what we had learned with other students and teachers, and we often went out for lunch together after class, which allowed us to experience more local culture and food.”
Bernard Haas (Ghana) (verified owner)–
Rated 5 out of 5
“I took both HSK 2 and HSK 3 with Jane at Silk Mandarin.
Jane老师 was not only incredibly knowledgeable (always had an answer to any grammar question, and her English is impeccable which helped with explanations of concepts and accurate translations).
Upon starting HSK3 I didn’t believe Jane when she said l’d know hundreds of Characters in about 2 months time, but here I am, I just finished my HSK3 exam. Thank you @Jane老师 and @SilkMandarin!
What sold me on SilkMandarin vs other schools I’ve been to, is that Silk doesn’t waste your time. You get perfectly structured preparation and review materials so that you can focus on PRACTICAL APPLICATION during class rather than reading a textbook. This is what sets Silk apart from many other schools and/or studying with online HSK videos.
Jane老师 created such a productive and fun classroom environment that made class so enjoyable and always something to look forward to despite having a full work schedule. Sometimes I doubted my abilities to make it through the challenging parts, and if ai had studied alone I’m almost certain I would’ve given up. But Jane老师 helped me succeed by being compassionate, motivating and encouraging. Having such a skilled teacher is absolutely priceless!
And the icing on the cake: Besides the classes there is also optional group outings and activities. We played Mahjong, ate Hotpot and shared many fun coffee breaks together. Jane #If and other teachers would always be there to assist with real-life application of the language.
Thank you @Jane老师 and @SilkMandarin for bringing me to HSK 3 level in such a short time and which so many meaningful and memorable moments on the way. 100% worth it, 100% recommended.
What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
I almost gave up when I understood how many Chinese Characters I’d have to master to achieve
HSK3 level. But my teacher, Jane, believed in me more than I did at that low moment, and I succeeded in the end and actually loved the process!”
Cooper Jamieson (New Zealand) (verified owner)–
Rated 5 out of 5
“Before studying at silk mandarin I was experiencing many difficulties regarding my sentence structure and my listening and speaking ability. My sentences were disorganised and misunderstood by others.
I was able to read some basic texts, but unable to comprehend their meaning in real time.
Before my departure to Shanghai, I was frantically polling anyone I knew that had ties to China about in-person language schools. However, all the recommendations were either online-based or located outside of Shanghai. While reading online forums, the name ‘Silk Mandarin’ kept appearing. I emailed multiple Shanghai-based schools, but found that Silk Mandarin was by far the most responsive. After a quick online assessment of my current ability, they provided detailed study options.
The intensive HSK3 course really accelerated my learning journey. I found that every lesson logically built upon the previous one, and it teaches Mandarin in a modern and practical way, unlike many outdated textbooks.
They use many unique teaching methods and provide you with an established mandarin-speaking community that I otherwise may not have had in my short stay in Shanghai. Silk Mandarin organised my routine into intense-three hour classes in the morning, establishing a solid allocation of my day in which to routinely learn and practise mandarin. The small class sizes make it impossible to hide, encouraging all students to interact evenly with the content. I was especially impressed by the capability of my teacher, Jane Wu. She is patient, easy going, and shows genuine interest in your background. This creates many opportunities to practise speaking mandarin in a more natural way.
Creating a great environment to learn Mandarin.
I’ll be the first to admit that I still have a long way to go on the road to fluency, but Silk Mandarin has helped to form a solid foundation which I can I build on.
I would be quick to recommend Silk Mandarin to any aspiring students.
Read Less ^
What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
We went out to eat hot pot as a school. I tried pigs brain for the first time.”
Jennifer Tilberts (United States) (verified owner)–
Rated 5 out of 5
“I studied HSK2 and 3 with Silk Mandarin online from the US, then came to Shanghai in person for
HSK4. I am currently taking HSK5 with them in Shanghai. They are a really great school, and my language skills have improved tremendously. I studied Mandarin previously at an American university and found that Silk’s methods of teaching grammar are far better. The teachers are all really nice and encouraging. This is so helpful for a language course, as I can practice speaking without being afraid to make mistakes. The school also prepares students really well for taking the official HSK exams; I just passed HSK4 on my first try.
In addition, the experience abroad itself has been amazing. Silk set up housing for me, helped me get a Chinese visa and even picked me up at the airport. They’ve offered many fun cultural opportunities to meet with students from other language classes, including mahjong lessons, karaoke, and trips to hotpot restaurants.”
Room 201, Building 3, DoBe · Yulangqiao Bang, Gusu District, Suzhou
Cookie Consent
We use cookies to improve your experience on our site. By using our site, you consent to cookies.
This website uses cookies
Websites store cookies to enhance functionality and personalise your experience. You can manage your preferences, but blocking some cookies may impact site performance and services.
Essential cookies enable basic functions and are necessary for the proper function of the website.
Name
Description
Duration
Cookie Preferences
This cookie is used to store the user's cookie consent preferences.
30 days
Statistics cookies collect information anonymously. This information helps us understand how visitors use our website.
Google Analytics is a powerful tool that tracks and analyzes website traffic for informed marketing decisions.
Contains information related to marketing campaigns of the user. These are shared with Google AdWords / Google Ads when the Google Ads and Google Analytics accounts are linked together.
90 days
__utma
ID used to identify users and sessions
2 years after last activity
__utmt
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests
10 minutes
__utmb
Used to distinguish new sessions and visits. This cookie is set when the GA.js javascript library is loaded and there is no existing __utmb cookie. The cookie is updated every time data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
30 minutes after last activity
__utmc
Used only with old Urchin versions of Google Analytics and not with GA.js. Was used to distinguish between new sessions and visits at the end of a session.
End of session (browser)
__utmz
Contains information about the traffic source or campaign that directed user to the website. The cookie is set when the GA.js javascript is loaded and updated when data is sent to the Google Anaytics server
6 months after last activity
__utmv
Contains custom information set by the web developer via the _setCustomVar method in Google Analytics. This cookie is updated every time new data is sent to the Google Analytics server.
2 years after last activity
__utmx
Used to determine whether a user is included in an A / B or Multivariate test.
18 months
_ga
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gali
Used by Google Analytics to determine which links on a page are being clicked
30 seconds
_ga_
ID used to identify users
2 years
_gid
ID used to identify users for 24 hours after last activity
24 hours
_gat
Used to monitor number of Google Analytics server requests when using Google Tag Manager
1 minute
Clarity is a web analytics service that tracks and reports website traffic.
Persists the Clarity User ID and preferences, unique to that site is attributed to the same user ID.
12 months
ANONCHK
Indicates whether MUID is transferred to ANID, a cookie used for advertising. Clarity doesn't use ANID and so this is always set to 0.
Session
CLID
Identifies the first-time Clarity saw this user on any site using Clarity.
12 months
_clsk
Connects multiple page views by a user into a single Clarity session recording.
12 months
SourceBuster is used by WooCommerce for order attribution based on user source.
Name
Description
Duration
sbjs_session
The number of page views in this session and the current page path
30 minutes
sbjs_udata
Information about the visitor’s user agent, such as IP, the browser, and the device type
session
sbjs_first
Traffic origin information for the visitor’s first visit to your store (only applicable if the visitor returns before the session expires)
session
sbjs_current
Traffic origin information for the visitor’s current visit to your store
session
sbjs_first_add
Timestamp, referring URL, and entry page for your visitor’s first visit to your store (only applicable if the visitor returns before the session expires)
session
sbjs_current_add
Timestamp, referring URL, and entry page for your visitor’s current visit to your store
session
sbjs_migrations
Technical data to help with migrations between different versions of the tracking feature
Thomas Hortlik (Germany) (verified owner) –
“Good Mandarin school in Shanghai
I became aware of Silk Mandarin through the beautiful website and the personal contact was very encouraging. I was at school from April 15th to 26th. CoCo is really a very enthusiastic woman and offers every possible support. The lessons were based on the textbook, but always went beyond; The teacher always patiently answered all questions and problems, even if I was slow to understand something. The exchange about culture and its similarities and differences was also great. We particularly like the very good online teaching material, which is ideal for both preparation and follow-up. The videos using the so-called slow motion technique certainly make problems that we foreigners have when we subconsciously use our language structure in Chinese (and are therefore incorrect) very understandable and avoidable.”
Terra Layton (United States) (verified owner) –
“My family has spent a month in Shanghai participating in various Mandarin language programs at Silk Mandarin, including tutoring, group lessons, and summer camp for kids. We chose Silk Mandarin because the programs were immersive and comprehensive, and the staff was attentive and eager to help find ways to reach all of our unique language learning goals. We all had different goals and interests, and they were eager to find ways to tailor our experience to our individual needs.
We found the staff, especially Amy, to be very friendly, warm, and willing to go above and beyond to assist us in the classroom and even help sort out logistical outside of the classroom. We had constant and thorough communication prior to coming to Shanghai and so we were known and welcomed by name on arrival, and the staff has all been just as kind and knowledgeable as day one.
Personally, I had some Mandarin background, but it was many, MANY years ago and very out of practice. I felt particularly difficult to place skill level-wise, but my teacher, Jane, has done an incredible job helping review familiar but foggy subjects and patiently covering grammar rules I never properly learned. I feel I have learned more practical and useful Mandarin skills during my few weeks at Silk Mandarin than I collected in several months of private tutoring years ago. Thank you so much for renewing my interest, motivation, and confidence in learning a language I thought I had lost long ago!
Galen Julianto(Indonesia) (verified owner) –
“Helpful tutors and staff. Insightful course suitable for beginner or intermediate level students. Really helpful when it comes to solving or helping problems outside academic work. Superb clarity of teaching to improve your Mandarin proficiency. Located in city center very convenient to go by public transport. Easily to find foods nearby with walkable environment. Once every month Silk Mandarin held events for students and staff to join. Worth the time and money well spent for studying Mandarin.”
Melina Jamieson (Australia) (verified owner) –
“My experience with Silk Mandarin was excellent from the start.
I started speaking to Amy first and she really took the time to understand my goals, assess my skill level, and patiently answered all my questions.
I took the intensive HSK3 course with Jane, an experienced teacher who structured the lessons well and was able to explain complicated grammar structures in a way that was easy to understand (also, her English was great which helped). The best part about the classes was all the practical speaking and listening exercises which I think is what really propelled my learning and confidence in the language.
Jane knows the HSK curriculum so well – it really helped that she could pick the right level of words and grammar to incorporate into conversations and give us the best opportunities to practice.
The teachers and staff created a fun and engaging learning environment. Breaks were great for practicing what we had learned with other students and teachers, and we often went out for lunch together after class, which allowed us to experience more local culture and food.”
Bernard Haas (Ghana) (verified owner) –
“I took both HSK 2 and HSK 3 with Jane at Silk Mandarin.
Jane老师 was not only incredibly knowledgeable (always had an answer to any grammar question, and her English is impeccable which helped with explanations of concepts and accurate translations).
Upon starting HSK3 I didn’t believe Jane when she said l’d know hundreds of Characters in about 2 months time, but here I am, I just finished my HSK3 exam. Thank you @Jane老师 and @SilkMandarin!
What sold me on SilkMandarin vs other schools I’ve been to, is that Silk doesn’t waste your time. You get perfectly structured preparation and review materials so that you can focus on PRACTICAL APPLICATION during class rather than reading a textbook. This is what sets Silk apart from many other schools and/or studying with online HSK videos.
Jane老师 created such a productive and fun classroom environment that made class so enjoyable and always something to look forward to despite having a full work schedule. Sometimes I doubted my abilities to make it through the challenging parts, and if ai had studied alone I’m almost certain I would’ve given up. But Jane老师 helped me succeed by being compassionate, motivating and encouraging. Having such a skilled teacher is absolutely priceless!
And the icing on the cake: Besides the classes there is also optional group outings and activities. We played Mahjong, ate Hotpot and shared many fun coffee breaks together. Jane #If and other teachers would always be there to assist with real-life application of the language.
Thank you @Jane老师 and @SilkMandarin for bringing me to HSK 3 level in such a short time and which so many meaningful and memorable moments on the way. 100% worth it, 100% recommended.
What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
I almost gave up when I understood how many Chinese Characters I’d have to master to achieve
HSK3 level. But my teacher, Jane, believed in me more than I did at that low moment, and I succeeded in the end and actually loved the process!”
Cooper Jamieson (New Zealand) (verified owner) –
“Before studying at silk mandarin I was experiencing many difficulties regarding my sentence structure and my listening and speaking ability. My sentences were disorganised and misunderstood by others.
I was able to read some basic texts, but unable to comprehend their meaning in real time.
Before my departure to Shanghai, I was frantically polling anyone I knew that had ties to China about in-person language schools. However, all the recommendations were either online-based or located outside of Shanghai. While reading online forums, the name ‘Silk Mandarin’ kept appearing. I emailed multiple Shanghai-based schools, but found that Silk Mandarin was by far the most responsive. After a quick online assessment of my current ability, they provided detailed study options.
The intensive HSK3 course really accelerated my learning journey. I found that every lesson logically built upon the previous one, and it teaches Mandarin in a modern and practical way, unlike many outdated textbooks.
They use many unique teaching methods and provide you with an established mandarin-speaking community that I otherwise may not have had in my short stay in Shanghai. Silk Mandarin organised my routine into intense-three hour classes in the morning, establishing a solid allocation of my day in which to routinely learn and practise mandarin. The small class sizes make it impossible to hide, encouraging all students to interact evenly with the content. I was especially impressed by the capability of my teacher, Jane Wu. She is patient, easy going, and shows genuine interest in your background. This creates many opportunities to practise speaking mandarin in a more natural way.
Creating a great environment to learn Mandarin.
I’ll be the first to admit that I still have a long way to go on the road to fluency, but Silk Mandarin has helped to form a solid foundation which I can I build on.
I would be quick to recommend Silk Mandarin to any aspiring students.
Read Less ^
What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
We went out to eat hot pot as a school. I tried pigs brain for the first time.”
Jennifer Tilberts (United States) (verified owner) –
“I studied HSK2 and 3 with Silk Mandarin online from the US, then came to Shanghai in person for
HSK4. I am currently taking HSK5 with them in Shanghai. They are a really great school, and my language skills have improved tremendously. I studied Mandarin previously at an American university and found that Silk’s methods of teaching grammar are far better. The teachers are all really nice and encouraging. This is so helpful for a language course, as I can practice speaking without being afraid to make mistakes. The school also prepares students really well for taking the official HSK exams; I just passed HSK4 on my first try.
In addition, the experience abroad itself has been amazing. Silk set up housing for me, helped me get a Chinese visa and even picked me up at the airport. They’ve offered many fun cultural opportunities to meet with students from other language classes, including mahjong lessons, karaoke, and trips to hotpot restaurants.”