At the start of my first ever Mandarin lesson in a popular language school in Shanghai last year, my tutor placed my brand new textbook in front of me (a slim volume for which I had paid the rather surprising sum of one hundred yuan) and pointed to the phrase: 学习汉语全球热 (xue xi han yu quan qiu re) – literally, studying Chinese is hot all over the world. It certainly is. Around 100,000 foreign students enrol at Chinese universities every year to study Mandarin, believing that fluency will be beneficial as China grows as a world power. Others come to study independently, or decide to learn the language while here on a work placement.

Photo: alexandralee

Earlier this month, an article appeared on Newsweek in which Mary Hennock speculated that learning Mandarin at university in China is a rip-off, with outdated materials and fusty teaching methods, and that independent language schools are equally over-priced and substandard. This triggered plenty of debate on various websites as to whether she is right. Are prospective students of Mandarin wasting their time coming to China to study? Would they be better off learning in their own countries, or studying online? Is Taiwan actually a wiser choice?

There are many factors at play. First, there’s your age. If you come to China as a fresh-faced gap year student or recent graduate, the university lifestyle will suit you better than it would a forty-year-old. You’ll enjoy dorm life instead of cursing late night baijiu parties in your block, and you won’t mind sitting through 8am hanzi lessons with a hangover. However, studying at a Chinese university isn’t cheap, especially if you want to go to one of the more prestigious schools in Beijing and Shanghai. On average, a semester will cost you anything from ¥5,000 to ¥10,000. Then there are accommodation costs to factor in, as well as living expenses. China is relatively cheap compared to the West, but even the price of twice-daily street noodles will mount up, not to mention nights out – an integral part of any student’s timetable.

But uni isn’t just for young folk; it’s great for anyone who thrives on structured learning. However, a big criticism is the style of teaching and the nature of the study materials. The Chinese way of learning is by rote. Lists upon lists of vocabulary, lines and lines of tedious, often pointless dialogues… Also, because class sizes are often large (universities want to cram in as many fee-paying foreigners as possible) there isn’t much opportunity for oral practice.

Another option is a language school. These are great for people who work, as lessons can be scheduled for evenings and weekends. The main critique here is the cost – lessons are pricey, and most schools charge for enrolment and study material.

Then, of course, there is private study. If you are disciplined enough, you can tailor your very own study plan to fit your timetable and budget. A popular way of learning Mandarin and making friends at the same time is the language exchange. It’s a common sight in cafes across China – a local and an expat huddled over a latte and a notebook, speaking English for an hour then an hour of Mandarin. It can be the perfect set-up if you can find a compatible partner.

The method of study is half of the battle. The next thing to consider is the location. Crazy as it may sound, mainland China might not be the best place to study Chinese. Arriving here without a word of Mandarin can be a highly daunting experience – often a case of ‘too much too soon’. People who have studied Chinese in their home countries tend to have an easier time of it once they get here. For example, I took four months of Mandarin lessons in London before I moved to Shanghai. While I was by no means fluent when I arrived, I had the basics, which was a good start. I entered a language school at intermediate level, and could already decipher a couple of hundred characters.

A minor problem with studying Mandarin in China is the dialects. This is a massive country, and pretty much every city has its own version of the language. Shanghainese, for example, bears very little resemblance to Putonghua, and the danger of learning in Beijing is that you’ll emerge speaking pirate hua(rrr) instead.

A very viable alternative to Mainland China is Taiwan. Less polluted, more democratic, excellent universities offering scholarships – what’s not to love? Zhèngt?zi, that’s what – or not, depending how you look at it. Taiwan uses complex characters instead of the simplified hanzi which was brought in on the mainland in 1956. Some say that China lost its artistry when fànt?zi replaced zhèngt?zi, but students of Mandarin would probably disagree. Take the character for t? meaning ‘body’ or ‘system’– the simplified character is a very modest 体, while its complex counterpart is the 22–stroke behemoth 體. The arguments for

learning zhèngt?zi are that the whole body of ancient Chinese literature will open up to you, and learning Cantonese will be easier. The counter-argument goes that not an awful lot of people go on to learn Cantonese, and even fewer delve any deeper into the literary canon than a bit of elementary Confucius. But there’s no doubt that Taiwan is a great place to live. Whereas Mainland China is still developing, Taiwan is developed, and Taipei is a much cleaner and more liveable city than any of its mainland cousins.

Wherever you are in the world, learning online is an option. There are some great websites and programs around including online Mandarin encyclopedia nckiku and downloadable dictionary Wenlin. Two of the best study aids are ChinesePod and Chinese-Course.com. ChinesePod is a series of podcasts each containing a single lesson. The study material for each lesson can be downloaded and printed or used as e-books. The good thing about ChinesePod is the subject matter. It’s not the usual boring, pointless stuff; lesson topics range from types of pearl tea, to drug dealers. There are different types of membership depending on the amount of material you want. One year standard subscription costs US$399, or US$49 per month if you renew monthly. The site Chinese-Course.com will deliver daily or weekly lessons to your inbox free of charge, and you can design your own course of flashcards on the site. If you opt for premium membership (US$3.99 per month) you get extra material including sound files and e-books. On the whole, online learning is a great way to study grammar, vocabulary and writing. The only thing that’s missing is oral practice.

From talking to various friends and colleagues about their experiences learning Mandarin, I’ve gleaned that most people have found it beneficial to study at least some Mandarin in their home countries before coming to China – or, if they didn’t, they wish they had. Some basic knowledge, however elementary, is a big advantage. After that, it really depends on personal choice, circumstances, and finances.
 

Related Links
Where to Learn Chinese? University vs. Private Language Center
Radical Simplification: Should Chinese Characters Be Erased?

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