Parents who are considering online Mandarin classes for kids usually ask us the same thing: can a young child really learn to speak a language through a screen? The most honest answer we can give is to show you one of our students.
Meet Natalie. She is six years old, she lives in the Philippines, and she learns Mandarin with us entirely online. In the short video below, she takes us on a tour of her world and names what she sees in Mandarin.
Watch: Natalie’s Classroom and Zoo Tour
Natalie starts with a cartoon classroom scene. She points to the laptop, then to the things in her backpack, such as a pencil and a book, and names each one in Mandarin. She sees the object and says the Mandarin word, which is the stage where a child stops treating the language as a school subject and starts using it.
Then Natalie shows us her zoo pictures and names the animals one by one, from the lion (狮子, shīzi) to the giraffe (长颈鹿, chángjǐnglù). Classroom objects are words a child hears in every lesson. Animals are a step further, because she is using Mandarin for things outside the lesson itself.
What This Video Tells You About Her Progress
It is easy to watch a clip like this and only see a cute moment. Here is what we look for as teachers:
- She names things directly in Mandarin. She goes from seeing an object to saying the word, without stopping to translate.
- She uses Mandarin beyond the textbook. She moves from classroom items to animals without switching back to English.
- She is comfortable speaking. She talks to the camera without hesitation, and that confidence is what keeps children speaking as the lessons get harder.
How Our Online Mandarin Classes for Kids Work
Natalie’s progress comes from a simple setup that we use for every student from ages 3 to 15:
- Live classes with a real teacher. Every session is taught live online, so children speak and get corrected in the moment.
- Small groups of up to 4 students. Each child gets plenty of turns to talk, and nobody can hide at the back.
- Grouped by age and level. A six-year-old beginner learns with other young beginners.
- Once or twice a week. Families choose the pace that fits their schedule, and 1-on-1 tutoring is available for children who need individual attention.
- From anywhere in the Philippines. All a child needs is a laptop or tablet and a quiet corner at home.
You can compare the options on our Programs page.
Consistency Is What Makes It Work
There is no trick behind what you see in the video. Natalie shows up for her classes every week, and the words she learned in one lesson get used again in the next. Because the classes are online, there is no commute to skip on a rainy day, and her own room has become the place where Mandarin happens.
This is also why we encourage families to start early and keep a steady routine. A child who attends regularly for months will get further than a child who crams for a few weeks and then stops.
Questions Parents Ask Us
Is my child too young to start?
We teach children from age 3. Younger learners pick up sounds and tones easily, and their classes are built around songs, pictures and play. We wrote more about this in Is 4 Too Early for Mandarin?
Do I need to speak Mandarin to help at home?
No. Most of our parents do not speak Mandarin. Our guide on how to help your child with Mandarin homework covers what you can do without knowing the language.
We live outside Metro Manila. Can we still join?
Yes. Classes are held online, so your location does not matter. See Raising a Mandarin-Fluent Child Outside Metro Manila.
See How Your Child Takes to Mandarin
The best way to find out whether online classes suit your child is to try one. Our trial class costs ₱599. It is a live online group class of 45 to 60 minutes, and there is no obligation to enroll afterward.
Keep reading: Looking for an Online Mandarin Tutor in the Philippines? and Online Classes vs Face-to-Face, Compared
