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Sarah Graham
Mandarin Chinese course in Nashville.
Mandarin Chinese Lessons in New York
In the bustling streets of New York City, the USA’s most multicultural city, a cacophony of languages can be heard. Among them, one of the most commonly used, aside from English and Spanish, is Chinese. Spoken by more than 1 billion people worldwide, Chinese is a fascinating language that will completely change the way you experience the city. With around 486,000 speakers living in New York City, it’s the most common Asian language.
As you can imagine, by becoming a proficient speaker, you will not only be able to connect to some of the many local members of the Chinese community, and get to know their interesting customs and traditions, but you will also gain access to fantastic job opportunities and experiences that can change the trajectory of your life. If this wasn’t enough, learning a language that’s so different from English will help you discover new ways of thinking, as you come into contact with one of the world’s oldest continuous civilizations.
Want to know more? Then keep scrolling, and discover some of the most important reasons why you should enroll in Chinese classes in New York City this year.
Why Study Mandarin Chinese in New York?
Learn Mandarin Chinese for Work and Travel
Becoming a fluent Chinese speaker is one of the smartest ways to boost your career prospects in New York City. As you may know, China is a major player in the global economy, and nowadays, there are plenty of important multinational companies located in the city that have ties to China, like Alibaba Group, Bank of China and Tencent. As you can imagine, being able to communicate fluently in Chinese can open many doors for you to either work for these companies, or do business with them, and take your career to the next level.
On the other hand, if you are looking for jobs in the city and haven’t had much luck so far, learning Chinese can really help you boost your CV and impress potential employers. Even if the job you’re applying for does not require you to be bilingual, being a proficient Chinese speaker will set you apart from other job candidates, as many companies or businesses in NYC have international clients and are always looking for employees with additional language skills.
Another reason why you should master Chinese this year is if you're planning to travel to China. Your trip will be much smoother if you can actually read signs or talk to shop owners and restaurant staff in their own language. On top of that, learning Chinese will allow you to immerse yourself in the local culture and connect with people in a way that most tourists can't. Moreover, if an expected situation or an emergency were to happen while you travel, having sharp language skills would make seeking help much easier for you and your loved ones.
Learn Mandarin Chinese for Social
Renowned for its diverse population, New York City is the place to be if you want to be in contact with Chinese art, culture and traditions without leaving the US. There are many great institutions around the city that offer a glimpse into the intricate tapestry of Chinese culture and provide a platform for cross-cultural exchange and learning. One of them is the China Institute, founded almost a century ago by American educators and Chinese diplomats. This non-profit organization, located at 40 Rector St, hosts regular events that showcase some of the best work of Chinese artists and thinkers, such as film screenings, and conversations with Chinese writers. On top of that, the China Institute features an impressive gallery where you can find first-class exhibitions of Chinese art that include both contemporary art and ancient pieces of ceramics, decorative art and calligraphy.
Another great place you should visit if you want to immerse yourself in Chinese culture is the Museum of Chinese in America. Located at 215 Centre St, this museum is a great place to learn about the story of Chinese American history, and also enjoy great performances by Chinese musicians and performers. In addition to music concerts, and talks, this institution hosts events like the Mid-Autumn Family Festival, where you’ll get to enjoy traditional Chinese food and listen to classic Chinese stories with your children.
Learn Mandarin Chinese for Culture
In addition to expanding your horizons, and boosting your career, learning Chinese can be a great way to expand your social circle in the city and meet fascinating new people. Once you learn how to do things like introduce yourself and ask basic questions, you’ll be able to attend some of the many language exchange events that are host every week in New York City. This can be incredibly stimulating, as you’ll be able to hear how the language is used in real life and discover different accents as you socialize with native speakers and meet fellow students. Some of the most popular language exchange events you should visit include the New York English and Mandarin Exchange, which takes place at the Bryant Park, and the International Language Exchange, which is held at different bars around the city.
Where to learn Mandarin Chinese in and around New York?
Are you interested in finding Chinese classes near you? Then you’re in luck, as there are many options available for local learners who want to boost their skills. If you’re a complete beginner, you can start by taking one of the free Chinese Conversation Classes at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library, located at 455 5th Ave. On the other hand, if you’re an academic and want to study the language at university, you could explore the many courses taught at New York University.
However, if you’re committed to becoming the best Chinese speaker that you can be in the least amount of time, your best option is to study with us at Listen & Learn. We offer flexible face-to-face lessons that you can enjoy at the comfort of your home, taught by certified professionals with plenty of experience teaching the language. Our classes are completely personalized, so you can choose to focus on any aspect of the language that you want, like specific Chinese vocabulary for your job, or Chinese grammar to succeed at your exams. All you need to do is send us an inquiry today, and we’ll get in touch as soon as possible to help you find a Chinese course that meets all of your requirements.
The type of courses we offer:
Face-to-Face 1-to-1 (Individual) General Mandarin Chinese
These Mandarin Chinese lessons are more general in nature and are targeted at students with a whole range of different needs. While all beginners level students can expect to cover Survival Mandarin Chinese - required for short visits to a country where English may not be spoken and/or the intention is to make good contacts with the local population, students then generally progress in different directions depending on their needs. Typical students include those buying property overseas, spouses of overseas nationals, people about to set off on that long-awaited world trip, Mandarin Chinese culture enthusiasts and those who are keen to pass a particular Mandarin Chinese examination. Inquire now about our Mandarin Chinese Courses or Take A Free Mandarin Chinese Level Test
Face-to-Face 1-to-1 (Individual) Business Mandarin Chinese
Mandarin Chinese lessons of this type are aimed towards those that need to learn Mandarin Chinese to aid them with their employment. For those just starting out, it is integral to learn basic greetings and business etiquette; and reading and writing can be adopted once the simple precepts are out of the way. Success has come from students who are involved in import/export, international negotiations and acquisitions, those seeking jobs in multinational companies, and those working with foreign colleagues, academia and bureaucracy. Just our most basic beginners lesson will have the student finishing the lesson with basic telephone/e-mail skills in Mandarin Chinese, as well as survival Mandarin Chinese should a short stay in the country be needed. Inquire now about our Mandarin Chinese Courses or Take A Free Mandarin Chinese Level Test
Face-to-Face Closed (Private) Group General or Business Mandarin Chinese
2 or more people can benefit studying Mandarin Chinese together as these Mandarin Chinese lessons are also offered to groups (Two-to-One Mandarin Chinese Lesson or Small Group In-Company Mandarin Chinese Lesson). Every student must have the same degree of knowledge of the language, the same business or language needs and the ability to study at the same time and place as everybody else. The booking has to be made for all students at the same time. Listen & Learn do not advocate group sessions of more than 6-8 people, though Taster Mandarin Chinese Lessons can be experienced by up to 12 people. Inquire now about our Mandarin Chinese Courses or Take A Free Mandarin Chinese Level Test
Skype, Google Meet or Zoom Online 1-to-1 (Individual) General or Business Mandarin Chinese
Your colleagues and yourself can be trained by our native-speaking fully-qualified Mandarin Chinese tutors at a time and location to suit you. Classes can take place any day, even weekends, and can happen in the morning, afternoon or evening. If the case may be that your home or office is not convenient, there is always the option to take your classes at the office of your teacher. Study books for the lesson are provided. Inquire now about our Mandarin Chinese Courses or Take A Free Mandarin Chinese Level Test
Skype, Google Meet or Zoom Online Group (Closed or Open) General or Business Mandarin Chinese
Those wishing to learn Mandarin Chinese in groups of 2 or more together (Two-to-One Mandarin Chinese Lessons or Small Group In-Company Mandarin Chinese Lessons) can sign up for our group classes. All students must be at nearly the same level of Mandarin Chinese proficiency, must have the same needs from the language, and must be able to study at the same time and place as the others. Bookings must be made for all students simultaneously. Listen & Learn do not propose group sizes or more than 6-8 people, but In-Company Taster Mandarin Chinese Lessons can occur with up to 12 people. Inquire now about our Mandarin Chinese Courses or Take A Free Mandarin Chinese Level Test
Top Tips For…
mandarin-chinese Songs
Stranger in the North- Wang Lee Hom
Are you looking to acquire some Mandarin Chinese vocabulary while enjoying some nice music? Then, you should give “Stranger in the North” a try. This is a pop and rap song that talks about a traveler who wants to get to know different places in the world and describes the beautiful landscapes he wants to visit. As it uses a lot of complex sentences and prepositions, it’s more suitable for Advanced students. Plus, the rap sections are fast-paced and include many colloquial expressions, so it may be hard for beginners to understand what the singer is saying.
Check out the song here!mandarin-chinese Songs
Light Years Away- 邓紫棋 (GEM)
Those who love pop ballads and would like to improve their Mandarin Chinese skills should listen to “Light Years Away” by GEM, a great track to start getting familiar with this tonal language. As you may know already, a word can have multiple meanings in Mandarin depending on the tone the speaker uses. In this song, you will find some examples of how this can occur (and you will notice them because it is a slow-paced piece), such as the word “ma,” which the singer pronounces with rising and falling tones.
Check out the song here!Playhouse- JiaJia
Learning Mandarin Chinese does not only entail memorizing words from a textbook: you can also improve your listening comprehension and learn new words by doing something enjoyable, such as listening to music. For example, “Playhouse” by JiaJia is an inspiring piece that talks about self-acceptance and love. It’s a great track for beginners, as it has a very slow pace and a lot of repetitions, while also using simple grammar and everyday vocabulary. For example, some of the most common words you will learn include love (ái), kiss (wen), hate (taoyán), and work (Gōngzuò).
Check out the song here!mandarin-chinese Apps
The Chairman’s Bao
If you are an advanced-level student of Mandarin Chinese, you should download The Chairman’s Bao app to your phone, available on both Android and iOS. This is an online newspaper that has been simplified, so that Mandarin learners can understand. Access the app and you will find thousands of articles about politics, travel, lifestyle, and more. The app includes an interactive dictionary, so when you are reading, you can tap on an unknown word and find out its meaning. Further, you can read in both simplified or traditional Chinese characters.
Check out the app here!mandarin-chinese Apps
Chinese Pod
Do you learn better by listening to podcasts? Then, ChinesePod is the app for you. It features hundreds of high-quality podcasts, categorized by level and topic, so it’s easy to find something that interests you. For example, you can learn traditional Chinese recipes or listen to businesspeople and entrepreneurs. Most of these materials include a transcript in Chinese (for the most advanced learners) and in English for those who are just starting their language journey. A big advantage over other apps is that you can download all the content and listen to the podcasts without an Internet connection.
Check out the app here!Memrise
Similar to Duolingo, Memrise is an app that offers bite-sized lessons in a great variety of languages, including Mandarin Chinese. You can find the lessons categorized by topic, such as family, food, jobs, and more. Some of the tasks include translation from Mandarin to English and vice versa, transcribing what you hear, joining two words that go together, and other interactive exercises that will help you remember vocabulary items and phrases in a fun way. And the best part is that you can use Memrise even if you only have 5 spare minutes a day.
Check out the app here!Testimonials
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Desjardins Bank
Language learned: French in Miami.
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Language learned: Danish in Rochester.
