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Mandarin, the Chinese language is one of the most spoken languages in the world. Learning Mandarin can be helpful for business in China, accessing the consumer market, and even for employment purposes. According to the British Council report, it is the most in-demand language the UK needs for the future. Fortunately, there are plenty of online courses available that can help a beginner to learn the language. These courses are flexible and can be taken anytime, anywhere. Moreover, online courses are available at a reasonable rate, and some of them even offer certifications. Keep reading to know more about learning Chinese online: benefits, top 10 courses, and tips to learn the language.
| Best Resources to Learn Chinese Online | Value |
| Online Chinese courses: Learn Chinese Online | Best course for beginners and intermediate learners |
| Chinese for Beginners by Coursera | Best certification course |
| MandarinX: Mandarin Chinese Level 1, 2 &3 by EdX | Best certification courses |
| Learn Chinese Online by Duolingo | Gamification app |
| Mondly | Best for improving conversational skills |
| Skitter | Best for learning Chinese characters |
| Preply | Best for 1-1 lessons |
| BBC Chinese Online | Best free reputable resource |
| Anki | Spaced repetition learning |
| Learn Mandarin Chinese online by Busuu | Best for bite seized lessons |
This Blog Includes:
Benefits of Learning Chinese Online
China is the 2nd most populous country in the world. Hence, learning the Mandarin language can prove to be beneficial. Here we have provided some of the top benefits of learning Chinese online.
- China is a major economic player in the world. It is also one of the significant trading partners for many Asian countries. Hence, learning Chinese online can be beneficial for business purposes.
- Learning Mandarin can prove beneficial for communication with the Mainland Chinese, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Tibetian populations.
- Learn Chinese online: means learning a new language at a reasonable cost, and flexible timings
- Learning Chinese online can also bring excellent career opportunities. For example, working as a translator.
Click here to learn more about Mandarin Classes
10 Courses to Help You Learn Chinese Online
There are several courses available on the internet that can help a person to learn Chinese online. Some of these courses offer certifications, and others do not. Similarly, many of these courses are available for free, while others are completely paid. Here we have listed some of the top 10 courses that can help a person to learn Chinese online.
Online Chinese courses: Learn Chinese Online
The website Learn Chinese Online is a great resource for learning Mandarin. They provide structured and progressive online Chinese courses. The courses are interactive and offer immersion in Chinese culture, Moreover, the course helps a student prepare for the HSK examination. Note: The Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi is a Chinese proficiency test taken by non-native speakers.
| Level | Beginner, intermediate, and advanced |
| Duration | 50 hours- 100 hours (depending on the level) |
| Price | 39,00 €- 99,00 € (depending on course level) |
| Rating | NA |
Website: https://learn-chinese.online/?lang=en
Working while studying in China is a great idea. Here are some part-time jobs in China that you can check out.
Chinese for Beginners by Coursera
Coursera is an excellent resource when it comes to online learning. The app/website offers certifications for the courses available. Moreover, the course Chinese for Beginners is provided by Perking University. Note: Perking University ranks =11 in the QS World University Rankings 2024. Those who do not require the certification, can audit the course, and learn Chinese online for free.
| Level | Beginner |
| Duration | 26 hours |
| Price | Approx INR 4700 |
| Rating | 4.8 |
Website: https://www.coursera.org/learn/learn-chinese
MandarinX: Mandarin Chinese Level 1, 2 &3 by EdX
Edx is another great resource to learn Chinese. The Mandarin Chinese Levels 1,2, and 3 is available to beginners, intermediate, and advanced learners. Taking these courses would cover the basic reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills of the learner. The website offers certification after each course completion at a small fee. The courses are held by Estella Chen, an expert Chinese tutor.
| Level | Beginner |
| Duration | 6 weeks for each course |
| Price | INR ₹15,750 per course |
| Rating | NA |
Website: https://www.edx.org/learn/mandarin-chinese
Want to know the best language learning websites of 2024? Check out the blog: Top 10 Language Learning Websites of 2024: Discover, Learn, and Connect
Learn Chinese Online by Duolingo
Duolingo is an excellent language app that can be used to learn Chinese. The app offers gamification and personalization features. Bite-sized lessons are available in the Duolingo app. Learners can set a time when they want to learn. The app is perfect for learners seeking an immersive learning experience.
| Level | Beginner |
| Duration | Self-paced |
| Price | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 |
Website: https://www.duolingo.com/course/zh/en/Learn-Chinese
Mondly
Mondly is another gamification app that is perfect for anyone wanting to learn Chinese online. The app focuses on improving the conversational skills of the learners. According to Bloomberg “ the app is the closest thing to classroom education”. The lessons are bite-sized to fit into the busy schedule of the learner. Moreover, the audio provided is crystal clear from fluent speakers.
| Level | Beginner |
| Duration | Self-paced |
| Price | Free for 7 days. After that payment is needed |
| Rating | 4.7 |
Website: https://www.mondly.com/learn-chinese-online
Skitter
Skitter is one of the best websites to learn Chinese online. The website and app basically help a learner to use the Chinese characters correctly. Hence, it is perfect for beginners wanting to improve their writing skills. Skitter provides real-time grading and provides immediate feedback.
It is possible to learn from hundreds of textbooks.
| Level | Beginner |
| Duration | Self-paced |
| Price | Free for 7 days. After that payment is needed |
| Rating | 4.7 |
Website: https://skritter.com/
Preply
Preply is an excellent resource to learn Chinese online. The website is mainly for those who want to take 1-1 lessons from native tutors. A total of 2,969 Chinese tutors are available on the website. The questions regarding the lessons are answered within 2 hours.
| Level | Beginner |
| Duration | Self-paced |
| Price | INR 1,333- ₹2,332/ per 50 min class |
| Rating | 4.7 |
Website: https://preply.com/en/online/chinese-tutors
BBC Chinese Online
BBC online Chinese course is another great website to learn Chinese online. The website offers free resources for beginners. The lessons mainly include audio and video content. Moreover, learners can access free Chinese content, and games in Chinese to master the language. Chinese pronunciation and writing lessons are also available.
| Level | Beginner |
| Duration | Self-paced |
| Price | Free |
| Rating | NA |
Website: https://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/chinese/
Anki
The Anki is another website that can help a person to learn Chinese online. The website aims to help the learners remember the Chinese characters easily. The website uses spaced repetition: flashcards, images, audio, videos, etc to help a student learn.
| Level | Beginner |
| Duration | Self-paced |
| Price | NA |
| Rating | NA |
Website: https://apps.ankiweb.net/
Learn Mandarin Chinese online for free by Busuu
Busuu is another website to learn Chinese. The website offers bite-sized lessons from native Mandarin speakers. There will be plenty of written exercises, and video flashcards to improve pronunciation skills. Chinese courses are available for beginners and advanced learners. The Busuu community would offer feedback on the practice exercises.
| Level | Beginner |
| Duration | Self-paced |
| Price | Free (basic version) |
| Rating | 3.2 |
Website: https://www.busuu.com/en/course/learn-chinese-online
Is learning Chinese difficult?
Yes, Learning Chinese is difficult for non-native speakers. Mandarin has a unique structure and pronunciation system. The language has thousands of characters, each of which has its own meaning and unique pronunciation. Other than this, the grammatical structure of the language is complex compared to other languages such as English. Hence, it can be difficult to learn Chinese.
How Long Does it Take to Learn Chinese?
The amount of time a person would take to learn Chinese depends on several factors such as The environment of study, the amount of time and effort a learner is willing to dedicate, and the person’s ability to learn the language.
Chinese is considered one of the most difficult languages in the world. Hence, to learn the language it would take approximately 30-50 hours to learn the basics. To achieve an intermediate level, the learner must dedicate 2 hours of study every day for 3 years. It would take approximately, 4-7 years for a person to reach the advanced level. That is, a person would have to dedicate 2200 to 4000 hours of study to reach the top.
FAQs
The best way to learn Chinese online is to enroll in a Chinese online class. Next, use the study materials and practice regularly. It is also important to watch and listen to Chinese content to improve communication skills.
The online Chinese courses can be free or paid. There are several websites where an individual can learn Chinese for free. For example, Duolingo, Busuu, and Coursera (audit), among others.
To learn Chinese in 30 days it is important to make a detailed schedule, stick to the daily routine, and focus, on practicing listening and reading skills.
Hope this blog provides you with all the important details, for more information about such courses, visit our online courses page.
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