Chinese is regarded as the most difficult second major language in the world to learn. As such, if you are studying Chinese and having a tough go of it, you may be interested in contacting Varsity Tutors and signing up for Austin Chinese lessons. Chinese is extremely difficult for English speakers to learn because of how unique it is when compared to English. Chinese does not contain an alphabet. Rather it consists of over 50,000 different characters. Each symbol represents one symbol, and about 20,000 of the characters are used regularly, though with around 2,500 you can be considered fluent.
Chinese is pictographic, which means that its characters come from drawings of the items they describe. This type of language is challenging to learn because the symbols don't offer any sort of clue about how to pronounce them. There is a system that can help ameliorate some of the issues with learning the characters. This system is called Pinyin, which is a way of translating Chinese characters into letters in the Roman (and thus, English) alphabet based on their pronunciation.
There are an array of reasons why you might be interested in learning Chinese. One reason is that with Chinese being such a prevalent language around the world, it can be useful in career choices such as international trade and business. Being bilingual in Chinese and English could offer you an advantage when it comes to landing a job because it may set you apart from other candidates. Whether you are beginning a Chinese class at Westlake High School or Vandegrift High School or continuing with them at the University of Texas-Austin, Austin Chinese lessons can help you reach for your goals.
You may also be interested either moving to or simply traveling to a country like the People's Republic of China or Taiwan, each of which has Chinese as an official language. If you are planning on traveling to one of these countries, learning spoken and written Chinese could help in terms of getting around and talking to the local people. If you have designs on moving to one of these countries, it could be helpful to learn these skills and a bit about Chinese history and culture. This could make your adjustment to the new country a bit more seamless.
If you decide to sign up for Austin Chinese lessons, you have a choice between two types, including Chinese courses and Chinese tutoring. Chinese courses resemble regular classes in that you can work with an instructor and other students. Chinese tutoring offers a more personal approach to studying as you can work with a private instructor on an individual level.
What skills can an instructor in Austin Chinese lessons help me go over?
There are a myriad of different skills an instructor in Austin Chinese lessons can help you review. Some of these areas include grammar, vocabulary, and pronouns. Chinese grammar can be very challenging for English speakers to pick up because of how different it is than English. Chinese does not have plural words, verb inflections, or articles, all of which are featured in English. One aspect of Chinese that's difficult for English speakers to pick up is that Chinese nouns are the same whether they are plural or singular.
Pronouns are different in Chinese as well because the language has different characters for them that are determined by gender. These characters sound the same, but they're actually pronounced differently. Chinese vocabulary can also present quite a challenge because you have to memorize each individual character. Austin Chinese lessons can help with all of this. Your instructor can be there to guide you through all of these complex topics while your fellow classmates can help you practice your skills by engaging in class activities. Additionally, if you are having a rough time figuring out a concept, you have the option of meeting with your instructor after your class period to discuss things further.
One of the more challenging areas of learning Chinese is learning how to speak it, and one thing that makes this so difficult is the fact that Chinese is a tonal language. Thus, words can mean different things based on the tone of voice being used by the speaker. Chinese is actually multiple languages, or dialects. If you speak Mandarin, for example, you may not communicate well with someone who speaks Cantonese. Some of these dialects include Hakka, Xiang, and Wu. When it comes to different tones, Mandarin has four of them, including flat, rising, falling then rising, and falling. Some of the other dialects have as many as 9 different tones.
Learning how to speak Chinese takes a lot of practice. Practice can be achieved in a Chinese class because you can work on your language skills with your fellow students in class discussions. It is also possible that some of your class sessions could be presented entirely in Chinese if you are at a certain level of proficiency, which offers you a chance to engage in simulated immersion. This is often one of the best ways to learn a language because it gives you an opportunity to simultaneously practice your speaking and listening skills.
Studying with an Austin Chinese tutor can also be useful because you have more flexibility. You can decide which topics you cover and how much time you spend on each one, or you can leave that up to your instructor to ensure you are getting efficient study in. You can also determine what concepts you talk about and what sorts of activities you engage in. If you would rather just sit and talk to your Austin Chinese tutor to simulate immersion, you have the option of doing so. But you also have the option of applying your language skills more practically by going out in the world and using them alongside your instructor.
How do the two types of Austin Chinese lessons work?
Chinese classes involve working with both an instructor and other students. It takes place completely online so you don't have to commute to your class. You can simply take your class at home, the library, or your dorm, depending on your preferences. Classes are offered at many different times throughout the day, making it simple to fit one into your hectic schedule. With Chinese tutoring, you can choose between meeting your instructor online or in person. It may be even easier to find a time that works because you just have to work things out with your instructor.
How can I get started with Austin Chinese lessons?
Getting started with Austin Chinese lessons is as simple as contacting Varsity Tutors either over the phone or online. Classes begin every month, and we can help you reach out to a private instructor within 24 hours.

Jay: Austin Mandarin Chinese lesson instructor
...third grade, my parents decided to move back to Taiwan to aid in my education of the Chinese language. Of course, learning Chinese as a second language is as difficult as it sounds. With some hard work and the right learning strategies, I was able to get a good grasp on the language and even winning third place in a national writing competition four years after moving to Taiwan. Although I learned a new language...
Education & Certification
- The University of Texas at Austin - Bachelor in Arts, Fine and Studio Arts Management
Subject Expertise
- Mandarin Chinese
- Algebra
- Essay Editing
- ACT Math
- +52 subjects

Ingrid: Austin Mandarin Chinese lesson instructor
...Global Studies at University of Texas at Austin and a graduate of Singapore American School. I learned French after attending a local school in France, and in my sophomore year, I received a 5 on AP French. For Chinese, I completed the highest level of HSK (Chinese Proficiency Test). Additionally, as a member of both Chinese Honor Society and French Honor Society, I have tutored high school and middle school students in both languages. While...
Education & Certification
- The University of Texas at Austin - Current Undergrad Student, International Relations
Subject Expertise
- Mandarin Chinese
- French
- Mandarin Chinese 3
- Math
- +16 subjects

Ashleigh: Austin Mandarin Chinese lesson instructor
...an early background in Molecular Biology. In addition to her love of teaching science and even mathematics (algebra to calculus) alongside general SAT prep, Ashleigh can also provide ESL and Russian tutoring to students of all ages and experience. She loves to share stories of her adventures teaching English in Ukraine, building animations and 3D computer Models in Estonia, and working in film festivals in Croatia. If you have a love of the arts, sciences,...
Education & Certification
- Harvard University - Bachelors, Visual and Environmental Studies
Subject Expertise
- Mandarin Chinese
- SAT Subject Tests
- SAT
- Adult ESL/ELL
- +39 subjects
Education & Certification
- The University of Texas at Austin - Bachelor of Science, Mathematics
Subject Expertise
- Mandarin Chinese
- SAT Math
- Mandarin Chinese 1
- High School Computer Science
- +40 subjects

China: Austin Mandarin Chinese lesson instructor
...Public Affairs, currently pursuing my master's degree in global policy studies. I have a BA in political science from Southwestern University. After graduation, I studied Mandarin Chinese for a year in Taiwan and then went backpacking through China. I can help you learn basic Mandarin Chinese (1 and 2), walk you through your political science studies, or bang out a killer essay. My two biggest priorities as a tutor are to teach you the *practical* skills...
Education & Certification
- Southwestern University - Bachelors, Political Science and Government
- The University of Texas at Austin - Current Grad Student, Global Policy Studies
Subject Expertise
- Mandarin Chinese
- Languages
- Political Science
- GRE
- +10 subjects

Rita: Austin Mandarin Chinese lesson instructor
...you can call me Rita. I studied and graduated at The University of Texas at Austin. I am an outgoing, organized, friendly and responsible person. I am fluent in Mandarin and English, and I'd love to help more people to know and learn about Mandarin. Most people think Mandarin is hard, but I will say it is super beautiful, interesting and worth learning. I hope you are interested in it and thank you for visiting...
Education & Certification
- The University of Texas at Austin - Bachelors, Economics
Subject Expertise
- Mandarin Chinese
- AP Chinese Language and Culture
- Mandarin Chinese 2
- Mandarin Chinese 1
- +3 subjects

Dominique: Austin Mandarin Chinese lesson instructor
...science and nutrition. I am aware of the challenges school can bring, so therefore, I am prepared to teach students of all ages and equip them for the next stage in their academic career. Learning was definitely a long process for me when I was in middle/high school, but after much trial and error, I was able to level up in academic performance. I hope to share the my wisdom with all of my students.
Education & Certification
- The University of Texas at Austin - Bachelor of Science, Nutrition Sciences
Subject Expertise
- Mandarin Chinese
- Algebra
- Science
- Pre-Algebra
- +20 subjects

Renee: Austin Mandarin Chinese lesson instructor
...Business & Marketing. With ~10 years of progressive experience in the Business Analysis field, including 5 year-career in a Fortune 500 company and 2-year career in a reputed European management consulting firm based in Shanghai China, I accumulated solid knowledge of Financial Services Industry and Management Consulting in China. I was interested to connect East and West culture and business market through my tutoring in Mandarin, business & economics. And looking forward to learn together...
Education & Certification
- Dalian Maritime University - Bachelor of Economics, Business Administration and Management
- Shanghai University of Finance and Economics - Master in Management, Marketing
Subject Expertise
- Mandarin Chinese
- High School Economics
- College Business
- Mandarin Chinese 2
- +22 subjects

Rachel: Austin Mandarin Chinese lesson instructor
...for. I strive to not only teach them the concepts and materials, but how to study more efficiently and develop conceptual capabilities that will benefit their academic career in the future. In the past, I have been a writing mentor at my high school and worked with children through a organization called Breakthrough Austin. I was also a leader for a summer camp where we taught English to non-English speakers. I love teaching and seeing...
Education & Certification
- Williams College - Bachelor in Arts, Political Science and Government
Subject Expertise
- Mandarin Chinese
- Math
- PSAT Mathematics
- ACT
- +41 subjects

Jason: Austin Mandarin Chinese lesson instructor
I have tutored mainly math-related subjects for K-12 and college students for more than 5 years. I utilize graphs, interesting symbols, and a more user-friendly language to convey complex math concepts according to my students. I also teach conversational Chinese Mandarin. My goal is to let my students learn the subject efficiently and be prepared for exams, such as PSAT, SAT, or GRE, in a rather relaxing environment.
Education & Certification
- Stony Brook University - Bachelor of Science, Applied Mathematics
Subject Expertise
- Mandarin Chinese
- Conversational Mandarin
- SAT Math
- Algebra 2
- +25 subjects