With the help of Varsity Tutors, you can be connected with Phoenix Chinese lessons, whether you're taking your first Chinese language class at Mountain Pointe High School, fulfilling a language requirement at Arizona State University, or learning Chinese for any other reason. We provide lesson options including live online classes, online tutoring, or a combination of both.
Chinese is the most popular language in the world, with more than one billion native speakers. The Mandarin dialect is the most common, and is the official language in the People's Republic of China and in Taiwan. In the US, people have historically spoken Cantonese, but whichever dialect you study, you'll increase the number of people you can communicate with by a lot.
Chinese can seem daunting because the writing system is pictographic and because it's tonal in nature. This means there are words that mean different things based on which of the tones is used (four in Mandarin). There can be up to nine tones in some dialects. Some aspects that start out being confusing about the language, such as the lack of articles, verb inflections, and the distinction between plural and singular nouns, can also make it easier once you understand it better. Learning Chinese is definitely best done with a professional instructor because of the dissimilarity to English. Whether you do so in an online class or with a private tutor, signing up as soon as possible is likely your best bet. Continue reading to learn more.
What's covered during Phoenix Chinese lessons?
There are a number of topics in Chinese that may be covered in your class. For one, the written symbol system called Pinyin uses English letters based on how Chinese words sound. If you're looking to become entirely fluent, you'll eventually learn characters, which is a lifelong process for even native Chinese speakers. But having the Pinyin to work with until you become familiar with characters is useful.
Learning the tones is something you'll probably do very early. You might be surprised how different a word's meaning can be whether you say it in a flat, rising, falling then rising, or falling tone. This can instigate humorous situations, but as a serious language student, you'll probably want to get the tones figured out early on.
Pronunciation, including the tones, is essential to making yourself understood in Chinese. This is something that can be a big focus during your lessons in the virtual classroom with your class or your private language coach. As with any language, you'll probably start speaking Chinese right away, beginning with simple introductions and moving on through a planned syllabus in class lessons, or according to your individual needs in private lessons.
Should I choose a private Phoenix Chinese tutor or multi-student virtual classroom lessons?
In the end, you must decide what's best for you, but we can look at some of the benefits of each type of lesson. If you're energized by working with others, teaming up with students who are in your same learning situation, and sharing tips and ideas amongst your instructor and peers, you'll most likely want to enroll in a Chinese course. The atmosphere of collaboration in these types of classes has been proven to help with learning and retention and provides a variety of speaking and listening practice partners. It can help if you're in a group of students all working on your tones, your instructor can point out if one of you has really got it right, and the rest can use that person's pronunciation as a model. This means you're not entirely dependent on the instructor and can get together online to continue studying once the class period is over.
If you prefer to focus on what you're learning from one trusted mentor, or if you have other-than-average language-learning needs, then Phoenix Chinese tutoring lessons might be your best bet. Examples would be if you knew a great deal of Chinese restaurant vocabulary and usage because you worked at a Chinese-owned restaurant, but you don't know how to share thoughts and ideas or read an academic text. Another example would be if you were learning Chinese for a precise purpose, such as communicating on a regular basis solely with a Chinese supplier in your specialized industry like manufacturing toys or creating Chinese décor for restaurants in the US.
Why are Phoenix Chinese lessons better than learning on my own?
While it's always better to learn a language with a fluent speaker, it would be nearly impossible to learn Chinese on your own. Chinese is much more of a spoken language than a written language, and there is no book in the world that can properly demonstrate the differences in tone the way group or individual Phoenix Chinese lessons with a professional instructor can. Hearing people speak Chinese on free Internet sites can be part of a good language-learning plan, but it doesn't help much with developing your pronunciation and intonations.
You'll almost certainly have a lot of questions as you're learning Chinese. Possibly the most common one being, "Was that right?" regarding your pronunciation. But there will be others, and learning the culture and history of the area of Chinese you're interested in can be an added bonus of learning with someone who's either a native speaker or has plenty of experience.
The bottom line is, language is a social practice. There would be no need for language if we didn't use it to share information with other people. Whether you'd prefer that to be Phoenix Chinese lessons with one expert, or an expert plus a classroom of peers, Varsity Tutors can help you learn Chinese the way it was meant to be.
Great. How can I get enrolled in Chinese lessons?
All you need to do is contact Varsity Tutors and speak with an educational consultant. They'll ask you some questions about your schedule, your current fluency level, and other pertinent information. They'll then use this to set you up with a Phoenix Chinese tutor or enroll you in a Chinese class that best matches your unique set of requirements.

Corinne: Phoenix Mandarin Chinese lesson instructor
...and tests are very important, what I value most are the opportunities for practical experiences that I have had in my preferred subjects. Having the ability to use what I have learned in realistic settings has helped me to learn how to apply what I have been taught and shown me what areas to focus improving on. My hope is to help all the people I tutor to gain confidence in their subjects, and to...
Education & Certification
- Arizona State University - Bachelors, Asian studies: chinese
Subject Expertise
- Mandarin Chinese
- Reading
- Languages
- Other
- +15 subjects

Jackie: Phoenix Mandarin Chinese lesson instructor
...who has just graduated from the University of Arizona with my BA in Linguistics. My minors are Spanish and Mandarin Chinese. I was born in Germany, and speak fluent German. I have always had a love and interest for languages, and my goal is to encourage students to also embrace foreign languages, and hopefully ignite a spark for second-language learning all kinds of different people. Learning a second, third, or even fourth language can be...
Education & Certification
- University of Arizona - Bachelors, Linguistics
Subject Expertise
- Mandarin Chinese
- Conversational Mandarin
- German
- Mandarin Chinese 2
- +10 subjects

Emily: Phoenix Mandarin Chinese lesson instructor
...I study mathematics. My past mathematical research has included work with Markov chains, random walks, and combinatorial optimization. I tutored briefly in my freshman year of college, in addition to being a homework grader for calculus classes. For the past two summers, I have worked at Epsilon Camp, which is a summer camp for students who are profoundly gifted in mathematics. My experience there inspired me to start tutoring again. I believe that all students...
Education & Certification
- Smith College - Current Undergrad, Mathematics
Subject Expertise
- Mandarin Chinese
- Elementary School Math
- Algebra
- Discrete Math
- +32 subjects

Kyle: Phoenix Mandarin Chinese lesson instructor
...around us. It isn't something that is ever finished in life, although there are brief reprieves from tests and homework until finally graduation. School isn't the sole medium by which to inquire about and learn more of the world, but it's the best system we've got. Yet even still, it isn't perfect. People learn in different ways, and sitting in a classroom isn't always going to allow for optimal learning conditions. That's where I come...
Education & Certification
- Washington University in St Louis - Bachelors, international and area studies
- Thunderbird School of Global Management - Masters, master of science in global management
Subject Expertise
- Mandarin Chinese
- PSAT
- Calculus 2
- GRE
- +82 subjects

Jenna: Phoenix Mandarin Chinese lesson instructor
...at a charter school for the last four years. I graduated from Arizona State University Cum Laude in 2015. My favorite subject to tutor is algebra, mainly in the 7th-8th grade range - I love showing ways to check your work and get satisfaction from success! I absolutely believe that mathematics can be fun, but that it may take some time before every person can see it. When I teach, I like to make multiple...
Education & Certification
- Arizona State University - Bachelor of Engineering, Civil Engineering
Subject Expertise
- Mandarin Chinese
- Electrical Engineering
- Science
- Pre-Algebra
- +34 subjects

Janae: Phoenix Mandarin Chinese lesson instructor
...University studying Computer Information Systems and Chinese. I studied abroad in Beijing, China, for my junior year of high school, where I took intensive Mandarin Chinese courses, immersed myself in the local culture, and traveled throughout China. During the summer before my sophomore year of college, I was awarded with a Chinese Flagship study abroad scholarship and took 400-level Chinese courses at National Taiwan University. I can read and write with both traditional and simplified...
Education & Certification
- Arizona State University - Bachelor of Science, Management Information Systems
Subject Expertise
- Mandarin Chinese
- AP Chinese
- Writing
- Mandarin Chinese 4
- +35 subjects

Anthony: Phoenix Mandarin Chinese lesson instructor
...Studies major at ASU. During my sophomore year, I began studying Mandarin Chinese. Learning Chinese has become an integral part of my college experience, mainly because of my decision to join the ASU Chinese Language Flagship. Flagship is a competitive program designed to help members reach a "superior" level of language proficiency. As a Flagship member, I have participated in special Flagship classes, weekly tutoring, and a two-month summer study. For my Flagship capstone, I...
Education & Certification
- Arizona State University - Current Undergrad, East Asia Studies
Subject Expertise
- Mandarin Chinese
- Gifted
- ACT Writing
- SAT Writing and Language
- +46 subjects

Gabrielle: Phoenix Mandarin Chinese lesson instructor
...State University majoring in Chinese Language and Global Studies. After winning the Boren national scholarship, I spent the past year and a half studying abroad. During my time traveling throughout Asia, I worked and volunteered as a teacher for students of all ages, gaining significant experience in tutoring a wide variety of subjects. From ESL to public speaking, I have had the chance to help students make remarkable advancements in both confidence and competency levels....
Education & Certification
- Arizona State University - Bachelor in Arts, Chinese Language & Global Studies
Subject Expertise
- Mandarin Chinese
- IB Extended Essay
- College Essays
- Writing
- +29 subjects

Shuping : Phoenix Mandarin Chinese lesson instructor
...ago from China. I received my Associate Degree in English education from Central South University in China. I have been teaching Mandarin in the States for 6 years already and currently I work as a Mandarin interpreter. I do medical, legal, financial, banking, educational, and social services interpretation. I absolutely love teaching and tutoring students Mandarin. I teach the beginning fundamentals of the Chinese Mandarin language, starting with sounds and pronunciation, to numbers, words, conversation,...
Education & Certification
- Hunan Normal University - Associates, English Education
Subject Expertise
- Mandarin Chinese
- Conversational Mandarin
- Mandarin Chinese 2
- Mandarin Chinese 4
- +2 subjects

Sarah: Phoenix Mandarin Chinese lesson instructor
...University studying Political Science, with a focus on international relations. I am also a participant in the federally-sponsored Chinese Language Flagship program that supports students in attaining full business proficiency in Mandarin. I have previously studied abroad in Shanghai, China, during which I worked as a volunteer English teacher for elementary school children. While I currently tutor a broad range of subjects, I am most passionate about teaching Mandarin, political science, government, and world history....
Education & Certification
- Arizona State University - Bachelor in Arts, Political Science and Government
Subject Expertise
- Mandarin Chinese
- Study Skills and Organization
- Study Skills
- Languages
- +31 subjects