Mandarin course - China

Product Details

After the course, when you try your new-found language skills, you'll find that Chinese people will be very keen to give you a helping hand. Every new word is seen as a small triumph - and probably just cause for another Chinese toast: ‘Gam-be’ (literally, ‘dry the cup’)!

The course will enable you to get a lot more out of your placement because you will have the basics to communicate in your teaching life and your day-to-day living and socialising. You don’t need any Mandarin to teach, as the children have a reasonable level of English, but learning a little of the language would definitely be of benefit to you while in the country.

Mandarin is a difficult language to grasp, with many different tones and intonations. Very few people in China outside the education system speak English, and while travelling around there are frequent opportunities to strike up conversations with people who are as curious about you as you are about them! Learning a little Mandarin will enable to you speak with these people, thus enriching your time here immeasurably, as you find out things about the culture and the way of life that someone without language skills simply would not have access to.

Course location 
Lessons are held in our offices in Shanghai by a qualified teacher. You'll have three hours of lessons a day and your classmates will be other Travellers volunteers who are starting their projects at the same time as you.

During the week of your Mandarin course, you'll stay in accommodation together in the city, which will give you a good opportunity to relax and explore the area before starting your project.

The Language skills you acquire from the course will also be useful on your weekend trips around China, and during your travels after your placement if you decide you want to stay in the country longer (which most volunteers do!). There are plenty of things to do in Shanghai itself, and near to the city are the famous towns of Nanjing, Suzhou and Hangzhou, which all make wonderful weekend trips.

Your students will also really appreciate hearing you speak some Mandarin.

Other Shanghai placements
Travellers Worldwide run a number of gap year placements in Shanghai which tie in well with this course.

Click here >> for their teaching project in Shanghai
Click here >> for their care project in Shanghai
Click here >> for their summer camp project in Shanghai
Click here >> for their journalism project in Shanghai