We at Silk Mandarin believe that understanding each other’s language and culture unites people. It is our mission to teach Mandarin and Chinese culture to all who have an interest in it, whatever their ambition, background or age, and wherever they are. Since we opened our doors early 2015, our ground-breaking Slow Motion Technique has proven to be the key to learn Mandarin faster and with fun. Our high quality teaching and service has helped thousands of students to reach their learning goal and turned their dreams into reality. Silk Mandarin offers flexible learning with online and offline classes, intensives and part-time courses, and Chinese camps for kids in Shanghai and Suzhou. Experience our innovative Blended Learning, the perfect combination of video classes and face-to-face sessions.
Past reviewers overwhelmingly had a great experience with this company. Customers frequently state how friendly, exceptionally patient, and highly professional the entire teaching staff is, ensuring that every student receives personalized guidance, clear grammar explanations, and continuous encouragement throughout their studies.
People are also extremely pleased with the modern online learning platform and comprehensive study resources, which provide structured videos, helpful exercises, and great scheduling flexibility for daily practice. Reviewers consistently note that the well-organized curriculum, supportive environment, and engaging interactive classroom sessions transform the entire educational process into a remarkably smooth, rewarding, and enjoyable adventure.
I’ve taken both online and in-person classes with Silk, and they do an amazing job. My Chinese level has improved tremendously over the past few months.
The teachers are all very happy and encouraging, and you don’t just learn the language, but also study Chinese culture.
I originally studied Mandarin in college, and have had a much better time with Silk. I especially prefer their methods for teaching grammar; they make sure you truly understand how Mandarin speakers think, instead of just memorizing sentence structures.
They also do a great job of preparing you for the official HSK exams. By the time I sat down to take the HSK4 exam, I was very comfortable with the type of questions, and had no problem passing.
I passed my HSK1 exam in around 2 months (2mornings /week) with teacher Jane. It was great, this school provide a platform with a set of videos and interactive exercises to do online before and after the classes, it really helps. And during the classe we do a lot of practice, I really enjoy the way Jane teaches me Chinese. I addition the school organises a lot of events, lunches... To meet the other students, it feels like a family :)
For me Silk Mandarin has been a very good school to learn mandarin.
I think that their learning platform is really good and stands out from other schools. The grammar lessons on the platform are very well explained and I also found the preview and review parts very helpful.
Jane has been a wonderful teacher and she made the classes very fun and educational. She also showed a lot of patience with me during my mandarin learning.
I am pretty much what you would call a hopeless case when it comes to learning new languages, but SilkMandarin has challenged that notion. Their methodology and classes are distinctive from any other centres I've attended - structured, easy to follow, and fun. The staff are friendly and helpful, and Evelyn is an amazing teacher whose classes are fun and engaging, with a perfect balance of challenge and encouragement.
I fall in love with silk mandarin since the first contact with Coco who is in charge with communication with the students. I found how professional they are and how seriously they take the goal to teach and help students to learn. I was amazed by the way they use the blended learning materials what can help so much with self learning.I do the level 3 one-on-one class online learning with teacher Yanqin. She is so knowledgeable, experienced, professional and very helpful. Going to class was always super fun. She use a good mix of grammar, vocabulary and conversational skills.so far, I feel my Chinese is improving a lot. I would recommend this course and teacher Yanqin to any Chinese learner. Thanks a lot silk mandarin!
Silk Mandarin Language Tranining Institute 回复2025-01-21
Thank you for your heartfelt feedback! We’re thrilled to hear about your positive experience with Silk Mandarin. It’s fantastic to know that Coco’s professionalism and support made such a strong impression on you from the very beginning. We’re equally delighted that our blended learning approach and teacher Yanqin’s expertise have been so beneficial in your journey to improve your Mandarin.
Your enthusiasm and dedication are truly inspiring, and it’s wonderful to hear that the classes have been both fun and effective for you. Thank you for recommending us and for your kind words about Yanqin—she’ll be so happy to hear them!
We’re excited to see your continued progress and are here to support you every step of the way. 加油 (jiā yóu)! 😊
I recently completed the 100-hour online 1:1 Mandarin course with Silk Mandarin in 2024, and I am thrilled to share my positive experience. From the moment I signed up, the process was smooth and efficient. Within just one day, I received all the necessary study materials and immediate access to their learning platform. The school's organization and customer service are truly commendable, offering flexibility in scheduling that perfectly fit my busy lifestyle.
A special thanks to my teacher, Qiying, whose passion for teaching Mandarin made every lesson engaging and enjoyable. Her dedication and personalized teaching approach greatly boosted my confidence, even though learning languages doesn’t come easily to me. Each class ended with a focused homework or self-study assignment, which helped reinforce my progress step-by-step. Thanks to Qiying’s expert guidance and encouragement, I successfully achieved HSK 2—a milestone I didn’t think possible at first!
Without hesitation, I plan to continue my Chinese language journey with Silk Mandarin and Qiying. If you’re looking for a well-structured program, excellent materials, and a truly inspiring teacher, Silk Mandarin is the way to go!
Silk Mandarin Language Tranining Institute 回复2025-01-21
Thank you so much for sharing your incredible journey with Silk Mandarin! It’s truly rewarding to hear about your smooth experience, from the initial sign-up process to completing the 100-hour online 1:1 course. Your kind words about our organization and customer service mean a lot to us, as we strive to make every student’s learning journey as seamless and enjoyable as possible.
A big shoutout to teacher Qiying for her dedication and passion! We’re so proud of the progress you’ve made under her guidance, and achieving HSK 2 is an amazing milestone—congratulations! Your hard work, combined with Qiying’s personalized teaching approach, clearly paid off.
We’re excited to continue supporting you as you advance in your Chinese language journey. Thank you for your thoughtful recommendation—it inspires us to keep delivering the best learning experience to all our students. 加油 (jiā yóu), and we look forward to seeing you achieve even greater heights!
Well organised curriculum and very supportive staff are the two reasons why I find Silk Mandarin an effective way to learn Mandarin. The materials and videos before online classes helps a lot. The homework and follows ups are an effective way to cement my understanding. The teacher and staff are very accomodating. They are more than willing to answer any of my questions. I think they are the best people to support and help me to achieve my goal of becoming fluent in Mandarin.
Silk Mandarin Language Tranining Institute 回复2025-01-21
Thank you so much for your thoughtful feedback! We’re delighted to hear that you’ve found our curriculum well-organized and our team so supportive. It’s great to know that the materials, videos, homework, and follow-ups have been helpful in deepening your understanding and making your learning experience more effective.
Your kind words about our teachers and staff mean a lot—they’re truly passionate about helping every student achieve their goals, and it’s wonderful to see that reflected in your experience.
We’re honored to be part of your journey to Mandarin fluency and are here to support you every step of the way. 加油 (jiā yóu)—we’re excited to see you continue to excel!
I began my Chinese language learning journey in 2019 at Silk Mandarin in Shanghai and was initially impressed by the school’s professionalism. When I had to leave China due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Silk Mandarin offered me the flexibility to continue my studies either online or by returning to the school later.
Even though I’m now based in London, I was able to complete my course in a month, thanks to their thoughtful approach and dedication. The combination of expert teachers, flexible scheduling, and personalized lessons made my Chinese learning journey both efficient and enjoyable. Whether you’re learning in Shanghai or studying remotely, I would highly recommend Silk Mandarin for anyone looking to learn Chinese in a fun, interactive, and professional environment.
A big thank you to Amy, Joyce, Christina老师, Hannah老师, Spencer老师, Evelyn老师, and all the other teachers who made this experience so memorable! ❤️
Silk Mandarin Language Tranining Institute 回复2025-01-21
Thank you for your glowing review and for sharing your journey with Silk Mandarin! It’s truly heartwarming to hear how we’ve been able to support your Chinese learning journey since 2019, both in Shanghai and remotely. Your kind words about our professionalism, flexible scheduling, and personalized lessons mean the world to us.
We’re so proud of your dedication and the progress you’ve made, even across borders. It’s wonderful to know that our team, including Amy, Joyce, Christina老师, Hannah老师, Spencer老师, Evelyn老师, and all your other teachers, contributed to such a memorable and effective learning experience.
Thank you for recommending us—it’s students like you who inspire us to continue delivering fun, interactive, and high-quality Mandarin education. 加油 (jiā yóu) as you continue your Chinese learning journey, and we hope to stay connected! ❤
Silk Mandarin has been an outstanding institution for improving my Mandarin skills. When I first reached out in March, a friendly consultant contacted me to discuss my specific needs and language learning goals, ensuring they could recommend the best course and approach for me. My Mandarin background is somewhat complex—while my listening skills were relatively advanced, my reading and writing were basic. After taking a competency test, they tailored my learning experience, allowing me to fast-track into a more advanced class after a couple of private sessions.
I’m currently enrolled in the HSK 3 blended learning course, and my teacher, QiYing, has been fantastic. The course provides pre- and post-learning materials, helping you familiarise yourself with the content before each lesson. The online learning platform is user-friendly, allowing easy interaction and application of what you’ve learned. QiYing has also been very proactive outside of lessons, making communication seamless. Additionally, Silk Mandarin is flexible and accommodating if your learning priorities change.
I highly recommend Silk Mandarin to anyone looking to dedicate time and effort to improving their Mandarin. The value is exceptional, especially considering how involved the team is in ensuring a great learning experience. I’ve seen noticeable improvements over the past few months.
Silk Mandarin Language Tranining Institute 回复2025-01-21
Thank you so much for sharing your detailed and thoughtful feedback! We’re thrilled to hear that your journey with Silk Mandarin has been so positive and impactful. It’s great to know that our tailored approach, from the initial consultation to the competency test and course recommendation, has met your specific learning needs.
Your progress in the HSK 3 blended learning course is truly inspiring, and we’re delighted that QiYing’s guidance and proactive support have made a difference in your experience. It’s also wonderful to hear that you’ve found our pre- and post-learning materials, as well as the online platform, effective and user-friendly.
We’re so proud of the improvements you’ve made over the past few months and grateful for your kind recommendation. Thank you for recognizing the efforts of our team—it’s students like you who motivate us to continue delivering the best learning experience possible. 加油 (jiā yóu) as you continue your Mandarin journey, and we’re here to support you every step of the way! 😊
A Mandarin learning method that works wonderfully!
I had tried learning Mandarin for many years with very slow progress until I found Silk Mandarin. It was recommended to me by my son who is also doing private lessons. As he is a teacher himself, I took his recommendation seriously. I find the Slow Motion Technique used by Silk Mandarin, the many interesting and fun videos, the reading material and the professional teachers and staff very helpful and enjoyable. I am learning online but have also visited the Shanghai school and had lessons there, a great experience. It is a caring and supportive community. I am inspired to learn and practice and have made more progress and more quickly than ever before. I highly recommend Silk Mandarin!
Silk Mandarin Language Tranining Institute 回复2025-01-21
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback! We’re thrilled to hear about your positive experience with Silk Mandarin and are honored to have been recommended by your son—what a meaningful connection!
It’s fantastic to know that our Slow Motion Technique, engaging videos, reading materials, and professional teachers have made a difference in your Mandarin learning journey. We’re especially glad to hear that you found both your online and in-person lessons at our Shanghai school enjoyable and effective.
Your progress and enthusiasm are truly inspiring, and it’s great to see how our supportive community has motivated you to learn and practice. Thank you for recommending us and for your kind words about the Silk Mandarin team. 加油 (jiā yóu) as you continue your Mandarin journey—we’re excited to see you achieve even greater milestones! 😊
I had a week of intensive 1on1 course with Silk Mandarin.
Coming in with practically zero knowledge, I can read pinyin now, understand the tones and even can put together simple sentences.
They have a great set of learning materials with videos, audios, and quizzes, so you can self-study at home and get much more out of your course.
My teacher Jane was very knowledgeable, engaging and friendly, which made the classes really enjoyable.
The other teachers and school stuff are also very nice and friendly people, which creates a very good atmosphere.
Overall, definitely recommended!
Silk Mandarin Language Tranining Institute 回复2025-01-21
Thank you for sharing your experience with Silk Mandarin! We’re so glad to hear that your week of intensive 1-on-1 lessons was both enjoyable and productive. It’s incredible how much progress you’ve made in such a short time—reading pinyin, understanding tones, and forming simple sentences are fantastic milestones!
It’s wonderful to know that our learning materials and self-study resources helped enhance your course experience. A big shoutout to your teacher, Jane, for making the classes engaging and enjoyable, and to the rest of our team for creating a welcoming and supportive atmosphere.
We’re thrilled to have been part of the start of your Mandarin learning journey and are grateful for your kind recommendation. 加油 (jiā yóu) as you continue to build on this strong foundation—we’re cheering you on! 😊
José Spain
I have had such a great experience learning at Silk Mandarin.
I did a level 5 one-on-one and a group class with
Catherine for 3 weeks and now I am doing a level 5 one-on-one class online with Sisi.
Going to class was and it is super fun.
Silk Mandarin has been wonderful in my language learning so far, I have tried different schools and courses but what stood out with Silk Mandarin is this.
- Well-structured preparation.
- Fantastic teachers.
I highly recommend this school and encourage anyone to put in the hands-on work of studying.
Silk Mandarin help me to form a solid foundation in which I can build on.
I have had such a great experience learning Chinese at Silk Mandarin! I did a level 5 口语 one-on-one class online with Catherine. Going to class was always super fun, giving me time to practice the standard course in the textbook we used and time to have casual conversations to practice the language more naturally. Despite being online, the class felt very personal and engaging. I would recommend this course (and Teacher Catherine) to any Chinese learner that wants a super fun tailored experience!
Silk Mandarin Language Tranining Institute 回复2025-01-21
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We’re so glad to hear that your level 5 口语 one-on-one class with Catherine was both fun and engaging. It’s great to know that the mix of textbook practice and casual conversations made your learning experience feel natural and personalized, even online.
A big thank you for recommending both the course and Teacher Catherine—she’ll be thrilled to hear your kind words! 加油 (jiā yóu) as you continue your Mandarin journey!
Silk Mandarin was absolutely KEY in my language learning so far. I’ve tried different schools and courses, but what stood out with Silk is this:
- incredibly well structured preparation and review materials allows you to focus on conversational skills during class. Very efficient!
- Fantastic teachers (My teacher was Jane, and I was so impressed by her knowledge, patience and the fun and engaging classroom atmosphere created)
- community! We played Mahjong with other students and teachers, went to eat Hotpot, etc. absolutely priceless.
I highly recommend this school and encourage anyone to put in the hard work of studying. It pays off 10-fold as you get to enjoy life in China so much more!
If you had told me two months ago that I’d be able to read hundreds of Chinese characters and have conversations with people, I wouldn’t have believed it. Now I’m so grateful I took those classes!
Thank you, Silk Mandarin and Jane老师
I found this learning journey above my expectations in terms of results in short time (30h course) and applicability of the basics in the daily life. The school’s tools and methodology are very effective. Personal commitment in attending the lessons and making weekly homework is critical factor to succeed. Personally I recommend twice a week lessons, if you are starting from zero as I was. My teacher Jane was the perfect guide for both her professionalism and passion, she has been sharing not only about Chinese language but also many insights on their culture. Highly recommend!
For such an expensive course, I expected a bit more.
I initiated conversations with Silk Mandarin when I first arrived in China at the end of March as I was evaluating the different Chinese programs I found online. I spoke with a woman named Silvia over the phone and via WeChat. She was so attentive and understanding, that I was sold on the Silk Mandarin program. I took a Chinese level test as I had some history studying the language and realized I needed some practice before joining the HSK 2 level class as there were things I couldn't remember. Silvia was kind enough to provide me complimentary access to the HSK 1 modules on the contingency that I signed up for the HSK 2 class. I was then able to select which month I wanted to start the HSK 2 level class and even pay for the course in monthly installments, which was so nice. Unfortunately, during this process, Silvia left the company, and I was put in contact with a new salesperson.
The original intent, when I had worked with Silvia was to start a class in June, but a week before the June class start date, I found myself having to reach out to the salesperson as I still had not received the HSK 1 modules and it had been over a month since out last conversation, which we had briefly paused at the end of April for a 4-day holiday. I was very disappointed that I had to be the one to follow up on this, especially since I was ready to start everything at the end of April. During this follow up, the salesperson informed me that there would be no group class at the time that worked around my work schedule as no one else had signed up. I emphasized that I'd rather wait for another student to join as the group class is 1.5 hours vs taking the class individually which is shortened to 1 hour. We agreed to wait until July for another student to join. It was only in mid-June that I got access to the HSK 1 materials.
Another student signed up for the July course timing and we were put in a group chat with the teacher and some Silk Mandarin management people. The course started off very smoothly and everything was going great until I was one day pinged by the Silk Mandarin people and told that my class would be cut down to hour-long sessions as the other student had dropped out as he felt he needed some extra time studying before starting the class. I was a bit frustrated by this as 1. I had already delayed my studies to ensure I was getting 1.5-hour lessons and 2. I felt that the school should have flagged the difference in the students' levels before the class had started. I was also furious about how Silk had decided the class would be 1 hour instead of giving me options. It was only after I communicated my frustration that Silk offered to pause my studies and let me restart the class the following month with another student (if they found one).
I opted to stick with the 1:1 hour-long class schedule as I didn't wish to delay my studies further, but I asked if now that the class was 1:1, if the schedule could be adjusted slightly to give more flexibility around days I knew I’d be traveling. While my teacher seemed happy to accommodate, Silk Mandarin said they had a strict policy that classes couldn't be changed after the schedule was set. I was surprised that they couldn't offer more flexibility since they had just limited my class time.
As for the class itself, my teacher Sisi was great and willing to focus on areas where I was particularly struggling with. She also made time to teach me things about the culture that aren’t found in the textbook, when it was relevant to the lesson, which I appreciated. The HSK 1 and 2 courses have both pinyin and characters, but the main focus is on the pinyin as characters aren't really taught until HSK 3. I think this is a missed opportunity as students then have to go back to learn characters. I previously learned characters, so Sisi was happy to give me character-only reading assignments, and so on.
Sisi was also flexible with the start time of one lesson that I was taking from an airport when I was held up in customs. There was one lesson that Sisi missed, though it seemed that Silk Mandarin hadn't communicated to her that the class was going to be on a different day of the week than usual, and it conflicted with another class she teaches. Instead of Silk asking what I'd prefer to do in this case, they told me that they were going to find a substitute, someone who didn't know where I was struggling vs excelling. I personally would have preferred to postpone the lesson for a day that worked with Sisi.
In terms of the class resources, I do like the modules that are provided, but someone clearly needs to proofread. The modules are great at guiding students through the new vocab and grammar. The course is very fast-paced, so be sure you have time to study on your own. I like the “real-life” extra videos, but they need to add pinyin, especially as characters aren’t the focus until HSK 3.
Helpful teachers with clear explanations for 1-on-1 classes. Delightful service and help from consultants about insight of the course and inquiry of living in China.
The teacher was very knowledgeable and competent in getting the information across. They provided sufficient resources to aid learning and understanding. The structure of the course is the most effective that I have seen so far and the time was flexible to accommodate my schedule. Support staff maintained contact to ensure that things were going well. I had an excellent learning experience with Silk Mandarin and I will continue my Chinese learning journey with them.
I fell in love with Mandarin at the end of 2022, when one of my colleagues introduced me to the intriguing and exciting world of Chinese drama, which I started watching endlessly. I very soon decided to also take up a one-on-one Mandarin course. Unfortunately, the method used in class was not engaging enough, too reliant on the textbook and memorisation, and the teacher would speak English to explain the rules as I was a beginner. I was not fully satisfied; so, I started searching online for alternatives. I was lucky enough to come across Silk Mandarin Instagram page and some of their entertaining content. I found the presentation of everyday Mandarin very appealing, the explainations were short, easy and fun, all accompanied by slides showing Chinese characters, pīnyīn and an English translation of each phrase/sentence. I decided to contact the school and had a quick call with one of the PRs to preliminary assess my Chinese level. Soon thereafter I had a demo class and was introduced to my awesome teacher, 思思. During the demo, I noticed that 思思 was well prepared, and I was positively impressed by the “Slow Motion Technique” as it quickly gave me a clear idea of how Chinese sentences are constructed. I thus decided to enrol in a one-on-one online course. I started in July 2023 with HSK 2, and now, in August 2024, we are almost halfway through HSK 4 上. I think 思思 is a great teacher; she is totally adaptable to my needs. Additionally, since day one she would use Mandarin to speak to me, and switch to English only if she noticed that I was really struggling to understand her. This “immersion mode” helped me get used to the sounds of this beautiful language. Additionally, 思思 always sets the bar a little higher for me to challenge myself and improve my level, but not too high to lose confidence in my abilities. Finally, we have a lot of fun learning new aspects of China and its culture, which makes the experience even more exciting. I’m really grateful to Silk Mandarin staff for being so committed to helping students succeed by offering high-level professionalism and engaging methods that make you feel at ease and progress fast. I can’t wait to travel to China and put to practice what I’ve learnt so far! :) Silk Mandarin 加油！
I have been studying Chinese for a while. I recently became quite frustrated with my lack of progress and decided to travel from Australia to Shanghai to try a more immersive experience with Silk. I chose Silk as they had excellent online reviews, reasonable pricing and a great location.
The experience was exceptionally good and I plan to return in future at least once a year.
The course organisers were extremely flexible and allowed me to spend one week reviewing HSK3 in individual/private lessons (to refresh my memory) and then one week studying HSK4 in group lessons.
Here is a list of things I really liked:
*Prior to starting, the course organiser was able to accurately assess my level and place me in the correct class.
*The online learning platform was very easy to install/use to prepare for the face-to-face lessons.
*The lessons were very organised and the videos were kept short and succinct.
*The grammar/new word explanations were very easy to understand with many examples to demonstrate different use cases.
*New words were deliberately repeated throughout example sentences throughout the course to help memorise them. There were also specific videos made for words that are similar, to demonstrate how they are different
*The teachers were completely fluent in English&Chinese and they were patient, energised and friendly.
*They were willing to assist me with course queries, as well as issues/queries regarding Shanghai daily life/sightseeing.
*The course was very well paced and I never felt rushed/overwhelmed or bored.
*The course content was extensive with daily classes focusing on the core concepts, but allowing students to review as much as they like after class.
*The facilities were very good- air conditioning was good and classes were tidy and clean. Small refreshments were served during breaks.
*Some grammar points were explained using ‘Slow motion technique’ which helped me better understand things I previously learned but never quite understood
*As well as online videos/flashcards/activities, textbooks and workbooks were supplied for review after class
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