Tips to Learn Chinese on Skype
December 11, 2019
If you want to learn Chinese the best way is undoubtedly through immersion! But if that is not an option for you, you can also learn Chinese on Skype.
Looking for other ways to learn Chinese? Check out our recommendations on the Best Ways to Learn Chinese!
Suggestions to Make the Most of Your Lessons
1) Go with a school
Schools often have more experience in online Chinese lessons. If you want to learn Chinese on Skype, chances are an established school has done it before. A school is also more likely to institute requirements for their teachers and therefore ensure a higher quality of teaching. This is not always the case though, so make sure you investigate thoroughly!You should also find out what the school’s rules are on trial lessons and booking.2) Find an independent teacher
If you do go with an independent teacher, choose an experienced teacher who has taught online Chinese lessons before. Before signing up, see if the teacher offers a trial lesson and get to know his or her booking policy.3) Get a Language Partner
We do not recommend this if you are a Chinese language beginner. However, if you have progressed beyond the basics, a language partner is a great way to practice your Chinese skills!A word of caution: if you arrange to be language partners with a stranger, do not give out any personal information! If the user says or does anything inappropriate, you should block and report them.
Learn Chinese on Skype:
Things to Keep in Mind
1) Have a good internet connection
Nobody likes spotty internet. Most people like it even less when bad internet stops them from learning Chinese on Skype! Save yourself the headache and frustration—before class starts, make sure you are in a place with stable and fast internet.2) You get what you pay for (usually)
Unless a school or teacher is running a special, be wary of ridiculously cheap prices. If you are learning Chinese on Skype, you want to make sure you get a good quality lesson. At the same time, more expensive does not always equal better quality teaching.To give a general range, on average online Chinese classes with a school cost between $20-30USD per hour. Independent teachers may charge less. Do your research before you book!
3) WeChat may work better.
Skype is blocked in China. There are *ahem* ways around this, though we won’t go into those here.If Skype is already downloaded on your device, it should work. However, the connection may still be unstable. If you or your teacher are based in China, WeChat video call works like a charm. It may be worth it for you to investigate Chinese lessons on WeChat.