-Our usual schedule is 1.5 hours per week for 8 weeks (12 hours total)
-Interested in more than one semester? Please look at our class bundles
-Get a discount on your next semester if you refer a friend / family member
-Check course details for textbook information. Our textbooks are provided by the Chicago Branch of the Beijing University Press

Chinese Classes

Chinese Student Voices

My teacher is an awwwwwweesome teacher! Energetic, encouraging, engaging and prepared. One of the things that attests to her skill as a teacher is her ease of balancing students of different skills and encouraging the student to talk around words they can't recall. I'm very fortunate to have her!

JAKE C
I've been looking for a basic kick-start to get confidence up to learn mandarin. I now have some understanding and can try and talk with wife's family in Taiwan.
BRIAN H
The teacher is great! I've studied many languages in many different formats and I really think that this is the quickest I've picked up an understanding of the language. If we aren't pronouncing something correctly, she has us repeat it until it is correct and is very patient in doing so. She is also able to explain why we are having problems pronouncing such as where our tongue and teeth are placed. She gives me tons of extra phrases for my specific job, which is awesome!
APRIL S
Participating in two different Mandarin courses has been very beneficial. I am thankful for the patience of my teacher and students. Encouragement among us is awesome. I am very pleased with my teacher - he is very pleasant, professional and patient.
SHAKIRA H
My teacher is an excellent instructor who is able to satisfy all my expectations in my Chinese class. She provides me with a great platform to understand and assimilate the tonal requirements of the Chinese language, much better than books and audio recordings can do.
VICTOR V
This is a very motivating and interesting course. The materials for the class cover interesting subjects you don't normally see for an intermediate class, which for me is important. I like the teacher very much as well.
JUSTIN M
Our instructor is patient, knowledgeable, respectful, accommodating and sensitive to our needs. This combination of qualities makes her an excellent teacher. I have had several Chinese Language instructors over the years and she is exceptional.
RAFAEL Q
I have been studying Mandarin Chinese with Hills learning for a year now. Class sizes are small, which helps the teachers really focus on each student's individual needs. Speaking of the teachers, they all seem to be native speakers, which is really important for a language like Chinese, where the pronunciation can be challenging for non-native speakers.
ANDREW G
I am taking one-on-one Mandarin classes and I really enjoy working with my teacher as well as with the Hills Learning staff. The classes are tailored to my specific needs and learn a lot in quite a short time. Dealing with the Hills Learning staff is always swift and highly professional.
CHRISTINE S
I didn't know how to learn Chinese at first, but my teacher has been teaching us any weak points we have and we are told how to make things better! She thinks a lot about her students and we are able to have fun in the class. I have more confidence now than ever before. Thank you for everything!!
YUMI N

Chinese Class Levels

There are multiple levels for beginner through advanced Chinese students. We have developed our own curriculum based off of standards and best teaching practices.

Check My Level
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Chinese Classes

for every level

  • Beginner
  • Pre-Intermediate
  • Intermediate
  • Upper Intermediate
  • Advanced

Beginner Chinese students learn the basics of Chinese such as greetings, classroom phrases and conversational skills. They also learn how to shop, order food and discuss in detail their schedules and activities. They can form basic sentences and also be able to read and write pinyin and some Chinese characters (hanzi).

Adv Beginner Chinese students go more in depth with everyday life skills in Chinese. They start out by discussing one's home and giving commands, then traveling and giving directions, and finally they can discuss their experiences and hobbies. Students start to learn how to do more advanced discourse. 


1-6
 ACTFL Standards

   NOVICE HIGH

 HSK Equivalent

   HSK 1

Pre-Intermediate students start out with phrases and vocabulary to discuss their travels in depth. Included in this is discussing experiences abroad, but also descriptors on recommendations and making appointments. Pre-Intermediate 2 enables students in depth to go shopping and go to restaurants, moving beyond basic vocabulary that was covered in Beginner 2. Pre-Intermediate 3 teaches students how to address needs in the doctor's office, and describing in general your body and feelings. Pre-Intermediate 4 is movies, Pre-Intermediate 5 is technology and change and how it affects daily life and Pre-Intermediate 6 is festivals.  

1-6
 ACTFL Standards

   INTERMEDIATE LOW

 HSK Equivalent

   HSK 2

Intermediate students will work to expand their speaking, reading, listening and writing skills. Intermediate students can communicate about themselves fluently, have mastered all basic grammar and vocabulary from the beginner and pre-intermediate levels. Intermediate students learn how to navigate situations outside themselves, where they need to communicate and get around in all difficult situations. In the higher intermediate levels, students will challenge themselves to communicate outside of everyday situations. 


1-16
 ACTFL Standards

   INTERMEDIATE MID TO HIGH

 HSK Equivalent

   HSK 3

Upper Intermediate students are trying to prepare to work and function like an advanced student. Students start to move beyond just speaking in concrete terms and instead get used to speaking in abstract terms about language. Topics such as community, current events, history, and other subjects are brought up and discussed. Students also start focusing much more on real world resources and materials, dramas, tv shows, music, and other materials created for Chinese native speakers.  


1-16
 ACTFL Standards

   INTERMEDIATE HIGH to ADVANCED LOW

 HSK Equivalent

   HSK 4

Advanced students are feeling accustomed to discussing difficult subjects in language. From current events to economics, students will be discussing abstractly on a variety of levels. It is assumed that all students can both discuss themselves thoroughly and also navigate all intermediate needs in language. Advanced students start out by really trying to get used to speaking abstractly, and then they move forward into discussing specialty areas using language. Most students at times will sound like native speakers and should be able to be understood by speakers of the language not accustomed to speaking to non-native speakers.  


MULTIPLE
 ACTFL Standards

   ADVANCED MID to SUPERIOR

 HSK Equivalent

   HSK 5 to 6

Chinese Lesson Types

GROUP

Maximum 7 students with over 40 levels of Chinese curriculum. Please don't forget to see our class schedules on this page.

Group Classes

PRIVATE

Lessons at your own pace and schedule. There is also flexibility in curriculum. We have multiple instructors available.

Private Lessons

ONLINE

The ability to take lessons anywhere without a commute. Lessons are taught through zoom and recorded. We also have an online assignment system.

Online Classes

BUSINESS

Group or private lessons at your office or at our center near Grand Central. We can teach multiple employees and coordinate with HR Departments.

Business Lessons

FOR CREDIT

Lessons that transfer to your high school, college or university with their permission. We are a fully accredited institution and can issue transcripts.

For Credit Classes

KIDS

We can teach all ages but usually we have most classes for elementary, pre-teen and teen aged students. Private lessons are possible along with group.

Kids Lessons

Private Lessons

 

Private Lessons Inquiry

Chinese is without a doubt the “buzz language” of the 21st century. Schools are scrambling to offer it, businessmen are trying to learn it, and China politically is becoming an ignorable face on the world stage. Whether your reasons to learn Chinese are professional or personal, private lessons are a great option to develop your communication skills in Chinese.

Hills Learning’s curriculum for Chinese comprises both language and cultural instruction. For each class, we follow our SWIRL methodology, developing at least three of the five language skills per class. Our main goal for Chinese private lessons is to develop conversational skills, but we also specialize in test prep (HSK and others), cultural etiquette, business, or just general language acquisition.

Within this basic framework, Hills Learning’s staff develops curriculum and assessments based on student needs and goals. Private lessons are a unique opportunity for students to learn Chinese at their own pace.

Private Lessons for all ages

Are you interested in having your child learn about the Chinese language and culture? Maybe your child wants to eventually travel to China or study abroad?

Hills Learning offers a unique opportunity for kids learning Chinese in private lessons. We can not only teach them the basics of the alphabets, reading, writing, and conversation, but it’s also possible that the classes your teen is taking with us can be transferred to their respective high school or college for credit. Please see for credit for further information.

For more general information on our Chinese classes for kids, please CONTACT US