Mandarin Chinese Lessons in London

People from all over the world choose to make London their home. As a result, it’s one of the most multicultural cities in the world. In fact, did you know that according to the 2011 census, 36.7% of London's population is foreign-born? It comes as no surprise, then, that over 250 languages are spoken in the city. Among the most commonly used in the city is Chinese, with 141,052 estimated speakers.

As you can imagine, learning Chinese will change the way you experience London. Not only will it allow you to get unique job opportunities in the city, but it will also expand your social circle to include foreign-born Londoners from countries like Taiwan, Singapore and, of course, China. What’s more, learning Chinese will change the way you see the world and allow you to immerse yourself in one of the most impressive cultures out there.

Learn Mandarin Chinese for Work and Travel

Although many people find learning Chinese daunting, it’s one of the smartest things you can do to advance your career. Even if you don’t use it at work, Chinese will look great on your CV and can make you stand out from other monolingual applicants in any job interview. This is especially true if you’re trying to land a job in one of London’s top companies like Google, Amazon, IBM or Accenture, which are constantly looking for bilingual candidates to help them build business relationships with leading Chinese companies.

If your dream has always been to live in China, being able to communicate in Mandarin is almost a necessity, as not many locals outside bigger cities can speak English very well. Even if you want to teach English as a foreign language there, speaking their language and getting to know their customs before you go will help you adapt more easily and feel more comfortable there.

Learn Mandarin Chinese for Social

One of the most interesting things about learning a language is to immerse yourself in the cultures where that language is spoken. If you want to get to know more about the Chinese culture in London, you can’t miss the annual Chinese New Year festival, held every February in the West End, from Shaftesbury Avenue to Trafalgar Square. People from all around the world come to this celebration of Chinese culture where you can try mouth-watering traditional dishes, watch incredible performances and enjoy a colourful parade that will make you feel like you’re in Ancient China. In addition to that, you’ll be able to attend some of the many exciting events across London, like a Lantern-making workshop at St Margaret’s house, located at 21 Old Ford Rd, a tea ceremony on Beckway Street or traditional Chinese New Year meals at any of the restaurants in Chinatown.

Learn Mandarin Chinese for Culture

If you want to improve your Chinese skills while also making friends from all over the world, you should attend one of the language exchange meetings in London. One of the biggest communities is London Chinese Exchange - 中英交换, which organizes weekly free events where many language enthusiasts and Chinese native speakers who want to learn English get together to chat. They meet every Saturday at a local bar called The Hydrant located at 1 Monument Street. The meetup begins at 2:30 pm and runs until about 7:00 pm, and speakers of all levels are welcome. Although most people speak Mandarin Chinese, you can also find some Cantonese speakers.

Another great option to boost your skills is Chinese Tea and Talk:[Mandarin] English Conversation Social. They hold meetings where, in addition to having conversations with native speakers, you can have traditional Chinese tea and try vegetarian dumplings. They meet at The Film Atelier, located at 18 Ashwin St, and spaces are limited so if you want to attend you have to register before going. Although language learners of all levels are welcome, it is recommended that you at least are able to hold a simple conversation in Mandarin.

Where to learn Mandarin Chinese in and around London?

In London, there are many different ways you can learn Chinese. Whether you’re a complete beginner who wants to get acquainted with the sounds of the language or an advanced learner who wants to put their listening skills to the test, you should consider attending the London Chinese Festival, held in October. Here you’ll get the chance to watch great Chinese films in their original language, which will give you the perfect opportunity to listen to many different accents of the many Chinese regions depicted in the films.

As useful as this festival can be to develop your listening skills, if you really want to become a fluent Chinese speaker fast, the best choice is to study at Listen & Learn! To begin learning with us just take one of our free 15-minute level tests in Chinese and we’ll pair you up with one of our certified tutors who will help you take your skills to the next level. Our courses are flexible, and completely tailored to your own interests and goals, so if you’re looking for a unique Chinese course, send us a quick enquiry now and get started!