Language lessons across the UK & Ireland
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
These Mandarin Chinese lessons fit a broader spectrum and can be useful for those who need different things from the language. Most beginner students will have a handle of survival Mandarin Chinese by the end of their lesson, which will provide them with enough Mandarin Chinese to communicate at least at a basic level during short trips to the country, but those who require more would benefit greatly from these sessions. Typical students have been those eager to travel all over the world, those buying overseas property, those with foreign spouses, aficionados of Mandarin Chinese culture and those who just wish to pass a particular Mandarin Chinese exam. Enquire now about our Mandarin Chinese Courses or Take A Free Mandarin Chinese Level Test
The people who would benefit the most from these Mandarin Chinese tutorials are those who feel they need to learn Mandarin Chinese to help them out in their business lives. For starters, learning salutations and business etiquette is essential. Once these have been practised, then reading and writing lessons can begin. Typical studiers have been those involved in international imports/exports, negotiations and acquisitions, multinational companies requiring another language and those working in any way with international governments and relevant administration. Even our simplest lesson for beginners will have students finishing the lessons with basic telephone and e-mail Mandarin Chinese as well as survival Mandarin Chinese should a visit to the country be necessary. Enquire now about our Mandarin Chinese Courses or Take A Free Mandarin Chinese Level Test
The Mandarin Chinese lessons are also available for 2 or more people studying together (Two-to-One Mandarin Chinese Lessons or Small Group In-Company Mandarin Chinese Lessons). All participants must have the same level, the same business or general language needs and be able to study at the same time in the same location. The booking must be made for all participants at the same time. Listen & Learn does not recommend group classes of more than 6-8 people though In-Company Taster Mandarin Chinese Lessons can be run with up to 12 people. Enquire now about our Mandarin Chinese Courses or Take A Free Mandarin Chinese Level Test
You and your group can be trained by our native speaker qualified Mandarin Chinese teachers and can meet at your place of work or home at a time that works best for you. Tutorials can take place any day of the week, including weekends, and can be scheduled for the morning, afternoon or evening. If your home or office is not fitting for you, you can attend the lesson at the teacher's offices. You will be provided with all relevant lesson materials. Enquire now about our Mandarin Chinese Courses or Take A Free Mandarin Chinese Level Test
Two or more people can benefit studying Mandarin Chinese together as these Mandarin Chinese lessons are also offered to groups (Two-to-One Mandarin Chinese Lessons or Small Group In-Company Mandarin Chinese Lessons). Every student must have the same degree of knowledge of the language, the same business or language needs and the ability to study at the same time and place as everybody else. The booking has to be made for all students simultaneously. Listen & Learn does not advocate group sessions of more than 6-8 people, though Taster Mandarin Chinese Lessons can be experienced by up to 12 people. Enquire now about our Mandarin Chinese Courses or Take A Free Mandarin Chinese Level Test
“The Drunken Beauty” is a great song to learn more about the Chinese language, but also about their culture and traditions, as it combines ancient Chinese music with modern rhythms. The song is about two young adults who meet and fall in love in a disco one Saturday night, so you’ll learn some words related to love and relationships. If you are a beginner looking to improve your skills in Mandarin Chinese, this is the track for you, as it includes simple nouns and tenses and some useful prepositions. Plus, its rhythmic pattern makes the song easy to memorize.
Listen to this track here!Do you enjoy listening to rap and would like to take advantage to improve your Mandarin Chinese skills and learn new vocabulary in a meaningful manner? Then, you should definitely follow The Higher Brothers’ music. “WeChat”, for example, is a great song that mixes Mandarin with English, so it’s a good starting point for Beginner students who want to improve their listening skills. The song is about all the things that are prohibited in China (from free access to the internet to fashion or food), so you’ll also learn more about the culture, at the same time!
Listen to this track here!If you are a Beginner-level student of Mandarin, it may be hard for you to find suitable materials to improve your skills. Listening, in particular, is one of the most challenging. But you can always resort to catchy, easy-to-remember songs, like “Baby, I’m sorry”, to develop your ear quickly. As the name suggests, this is a romantic song that talks about a man who apologizes to his wife for his mistakes. It uses simple structures and vocabulary, and the whole song is in the present perfect tense, so you will find it easy to understand (even as a beginner), especially if you have the written lyrics to hand!
Listen to this track here!
Pleco is one of the best Mandarin Chinese offline dictionaries you will find. It has a free version and a more complete premium option you can download for Android and iOS. Pleco will not only give you the definition of each word but it also includes a handwriting recognizer (so you can check the quality of your Chinese symbols), and an audio recording of each word, so you learn how to pronounce them correctly. If you decide to pay for the premium version, it also includes a flashcard maker, so you can prepare your own flashcards with pictures, words and sounds.
Click here to download the app.If you are an eager language learner, you have surely heard of Duolingo. This app offers 5-minute lessons on more than 20 languages, including Mandarin Chinese. Their lessons are organised into different vocabulary areas, such as food, family, directions, and more! The first thing you will learn are the Mandarin characters, so the app is good for beginners, as well as intermediate-level students. Additionally, you can practise grammar, as many of the activities involve creating or re-ordering sentences, translating phrases, etc. You can use Duolingo on your computer or download it onto your smartphone, if you prefer.
Click here to download the app.If you are an advanced learner of Mandarin Chinese and now you are looking for partners with whom you can put your skills into practice, you should download Hello Talk. The app helps you connect with people from different parts of the world (native and non-native) who are looking to make new friends while chatting in Chinese. It’s similar to WhatsApp, but here you can find people you don’t know but who are, nonetheless, as eager to learn Mandarin. Just download it onto your phone, choose the language you want to practise and you will see a list of people who want to chat and participate in an enriching language exchange!
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