Debbie Online Chinese tutoring is a great option for children. However, parents should know how much screen time their child consumes and monitor class quality.
italki offers both professional and community instructors. Experienced tutors have teaching credentials and offer curriculums that help students learn. Community tutors may not have these credentials, but they are less expensive.
Convenience
When you take online classes, you don’t have to deal with the added hassle of dropping off and picking up children from school. Instead, you can have them at home where they are most comfortable and can focus entirely on the class without distraction.
Finding an online Chinese tutor who is dedicated to teaching and can communicate well is important. Often, experienced teachers can be life-savers for navigating tricky topics like grammar rules or vocabulary. Still, it’s also worth considering less-experienced tutors who might be just as knowledgeable and offer a more affordable rate.
If you are looking for an online tutor who can teach a variety of Chinese dialects, ensure that it features over 1,100 tutors that offer Mandarin, Cantonese, Hakka, Hokkien, Shanghainese and Taiwanese lessons. The one-on-one lessons are taught over video chat and can be recorded, making it easy to review classes later. The platform also offers a curriculum that makes tracking progress in the language easier. In addition, it allows parents to observe and attend children’s online classes to monitor lesson quality.
Flexibility
Whether you’re working full-time, juggling school and family life or want to learn Chinese for fun, online tutoring can be very flexible. You can meet with a tutor when convenient and set up sessions as often or as little as you want.
Another great thing about online learning is that it allows you to choose a tutor who fits your goals and learning style. For example, finding a tutor specializing in business Chinese might be better if you’re looking to study Mandarin for business purposes. You can also decide if you want to work with a native or bilingual tutor or even an experienced tutor who has taught Chinese for a long time.
A professional tutor is worth considering for those serious about their Mandarin lessons.
Variety
There are many ways to learn Chinese online, depending on your goals and interests. Some people prefer to work with an experienced native tutor, while others prefer a more casual approach, such as a language exchange partner or a Chinese podcast.
Another option is to try a tutoring platform like italki, where you can find many different tutors worldwide. You can search for tutors based on their experience, availability, price, etc. Then, you can choose the one that best fits your needs.
Some platforms even offer a range of activities for kids, such as a Chinese story time, games and songs, or a one-stop shop like Dinolingo, which offers Chinese songs, videos, stories, worksheets, and flashcards to children (especially those who love dinosaurs). While these types of tools don’t necessarily have the same academic value as live or virtual Chinese tutoring sessions, they can expose your child to the language in a way that may be more relatable to them.
Personalized Learning
While free online Chinese resources like study guides and pre-recorded videos can be helpful, most learners need live assistance to become fluent in the language. Many tutoring services offer a range of options to meet different learners’ needs, from free trial sessions and low hourly rates to full-service packages that include textbooks and other learning materials.
For example, a Chinese tutor online offers one-on-one lessons hosted on Skype or in its app for learners at all proficiency levels. It uses an algorithm to customize a lesson plan based on the student’s Chinese test level and learning goals. In addition, its tutors are certified teachers who use immersion teaching methods to help students improve their Mandarin skills quickly.
Some of the best Chinese tutors online have also been students, making them more likely to empathize with their learners. If a student has questions about a particular grammar point or vocabulary item, an online tutor can easily provide additional guidance through video chat, making the process more personalized than in-person classes.
Communication Skills
Online tutors offer communication that is only sometimes possible with in-person teachers. They are often more responsive to emails and texts, making them a great option for students who are shy or introverted.
Tutors also offer more flexibility in their teaching methods. They can use different learning resources and adapt their classes to your needs. For example, if you’re a beginner, it’s usually a good idea to go with a native speaker who can help you navigate the more complex aspects of Chinese, like grammar rules or vocabulary. However, once you have a solid foundation, switch to a more relaxed teacher focusing on conversational skills.
When selecting a tutor, check out their website or app for more information about their background and experience. Also, look at their prices and whether they offer a trial lesson. It’s a good way to see if you and the tutor are a good match on a purely human level before committing to a full-hour lesson.
