With 4 lessons per week, spread over two classes, the Part-Time 4 course is ideal for learners who want to progress steadily — especially in speaking — while keeping their schedule flexible.
Best suited for learners who:
– want to build strong communication skills in Mandarin;
– prefer steady progress with a moderate time investment;
– value in-class interaction and structured guidance
Katrina (United States) (verified owner) –
I spent a lot of time visiting different language schools and taking a test lesson before making my decision. I admit that from looking at schools online, they all seemed the same and I felt like doing a test lesson was maybe a waste of time. But I was very wrong. I was surprised and amazed how different the 4 schools in Suzhou were structured, priced, and how they taught. I was so glad I took trial lessons. In the end, while Silk Mandarin was a little more expensive than other schools, the quality of their teachers, engagement of their staff, and offerings of cultural experiences outside of the classroom really won me over. I am 3 months into lessons now, and I am still so glad that I picked Silk Mandarin for my language school. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for a language program.”
Sarah Ford (France) (verified owner) –
I’m very happy with my experience, it was easier than i thought to learn my first chinese characters. I went through an online class for 10 lessons, the teachers are here to explain details about characters that make them fun to learn and easier to remember. My teacher was Sisi!
Also the school helped me a LOT with getting my visa and with the problems i had while applying for it. I’ve been in contact with a total of 5 different teachers/managers, and all of them were lovely and very polite. I can’t wait to go on with my course in Shanghai!
Olivier Mauray (Hong Kong) (verified owner) –
Silk Mandearin is conveniently located in a modern tower in the Jing’an district of Shanghai. You can find many options in the area to have lunch after class and a Atarbucks coffee shop to boost you before class! At Silk mandarin, the group sizes are always her small (6 student -or less), which is ideal to make progress, partipcate and ask questions to the teachers. Each Tewachwer has his/her own personality and specific way of teaching of courses, but they’re all friendly, hard workers, and dedicated to their student. A Good mix of grammar, vocabulary and conversational skills.”
Jacques Van Luijk (Luxembourg) (verified owner) –
Arriving in Shanghai in September 2023 | knew I wanted to learn mandarin, not only in order to facilitate communication in daily life, but also to gain access to Chinese culture in general, this as a sign of respect to the people of this country. For a certain number of reasons regular courses on one of the local universities did not work for me. By coincidence I found the address of SILK MANDARIN online and in some printed expat guide. After the initial contact it took only more or less one day to get in touch with all the relevant people at Silk in order to enrol for HSK1, very fast and very professional. The atmosphere is very friendly, the whole team does its best to make you feel at ease and being part of their “family”. Teachers (at least those I know) are doing a really good job, questions are answered almost anytime of the day in almost no time, they are cool, competent and friendly but they are also demanding and insisting in order to get students out of their comfort zone, the only way to succeed with such a different language for westerners. Being in a blended learning course with pre-recorded elements I appreciate the good quality of the videos and the perfect intonations and pace of Jasmine, this is very important when learning a tone based language. I hope my mandarin journey will continue successfully over the next months and years.”
Julia Puschmann (Germany) (verified owner) –
Attending Silk Mandarin in Shanghai has been a transformative experience for my Chinese language learning journey. Prior to enrolling, I relied on various Chinese learning apps, which were helpful but couldn’t compare to the immersive and interactive environment provided by live teachers at Silk Mandarin. The instructors are incredibly attentive, meticulously listening to and correcting my pronunciation, which has significantly improved my speaking skills.
The workload is manageable, but to truly benefit from the program, I found that investing 30 to 60 minutes per day for practice is essential. This daily commitment has allowed me to fully immerse myself in the language and make steady progress.
Completing the HSK1 course at Silk Mandarin was a pivotal moment for me. Without the structured guidance and support from the school, I wouldn’t have reached my current proficiency level. The curriculum is well-designed, and the teachers are both knowledgeable and encouraging, making the learning process both effective and enjoyable.
I highly recommend Silk Mandarin to anyone serious about learning Chinese. The combination of expert instruction, a supportive learning environment, and the necessary daily practice has made all the difference in my language acquisition.”
Julia Zhang (Australia) (verified owner) –
“Silk Mandarin has been an outstanding institution for improving my Mandarin skills. When I first reached out in March, a friendly consultant contacted me to discuss my specific needs and language learning goals, ensuring they could recommend the best course and approach for me. My Mandarin background is somewhat complex — while my listening skills were relatively advanced, my reading and writing were basic. After taking a competency test, they tailored my learning experience, allowing me to fast-track into a more advanced class after a couple of private sessions.
I’m currently enrolled in the HSK 3 blended learning course, and my teacher, QiYing, has been fantastic. The course provides pre- and post-learning materials, helping you familiarise yourself with the content before each lesson. The online learning platform is user-friendly, allowing easy interaction and application of what you’ve learned. QiYing has also been very proactive outside of lessons, making communication seamless. Additionally, Silk Mandarin is flexible and accommodating if your learning priorities change.
I highly recommend Silk Mandarin to anyone looking to dedicate time and effort to improving their Mandarin. The value is exceptional, especially considering how involved the team is in ensuring a great learning experience. I’ve seen noticeable improvements over the past few months.”