Online Mandarin courses for adults and kids

Lessons start from US$36 per hour for the Traveller and Basics courses, US$43 per hour for Intermediate, and US$50 per hour for Business Mandarin and HSK Preparation. Pair lessons are US$57 an hour for the two of you. There is no lock-in contract — you can pay by the hour, or take a package as a planned block of lessons. A customised WillyChina booklet is a one-off US$71 — included in the Basics four-week starter term — and we keep it up to date.

Every lesson is live, one-to-one or as a pair, online via Zoom or Google Meet. You will need a reliable internet connection and around 45–60 minutes — nothing else. Lessons are fully tailored to your level and goals, not a fixed video course.

None at all. The Basics course starts from absolute zero — pronunciation, the four tones and pinyin from day one — in a structured, logical way that first-time learners find easy to follow.

Yes. We teach children from age 5 in three Mandarin courses for kids, for ages 5 to 14. Lessons are one-to-one or as a pair, and are taught in English and Mandarin.

Most students hold simple conversations within three to six months of weekly lessons, and reach comfortable fluency in twelve to eighteen months. See our full guide on how long it takes to learn Mandarin for realistic timelines by level.

Courses are primarily one-on-one, so every minute is focused on you. Small-group lessons (maximum two students) are also available if you would like to learn alongside a partner or friend.

Live teaching with a native speaker, materials tailored to your goals, native-audio practice and immediate feedback. If you choose a package, a customised WillyChina booklet is available for a one-off US$71 to guide your practice between lessons.

Yes. The HSK Preparation course covers all bands (HSK 1–6) with vocabulary drills, mock exams and exam-day technique, planned backwards from your test date. Test dates and test centres are listed on the official Chinese Tests Service website.

Yes. Every learner starts with a free 30-minute intro call to discuss your goals and map out a plan — no obligation and no sales pitch. It is the best way to see if we are the right fit before you book.

Prices are listed in US dollars by default. If you would prefer to discuss local options, just mention it on your intro call and we will sort out the details.

Scheduling is flexible and built around your week, including evenings and weekends. Just give reasonable notice and we will move your lesson — no fuss.

Yes — most people who start with us have never spoken a word of Chinese. The first lessons cover tones, pinyin and the handful of sentence patterns that everything else is built on, at whatever pace suits you. Because lessons are one-on-one, nobody is waiting for you and nobody is leaving you behind.

For one-on-one language learning, online works well: lessons are live with your teacher over Zoom or Google Meet, so you get the same real-time correction you would sitting in a room together — your tones fixed as you speak, not marked afterwards. What matters far more than the medium is that the lesson is built around you rather than a fixed curriculum.

Once a week is the most common rhythm and it works well alongside a job. Twice a week moves noticeably faster if you have the time. What matters more than frequency is short, regular practice between lessons — fifteen minutes most days beats an hour the night before.

Simplified by default, since that is what is used in mainland China and in the HSK exams. If you are learning for Taiwan or Hong Kong, or you already read traditional, lessons can be taught in traditional instead, at 50% more than the simplified price, on every course and the booklet. Traditional lessons for a pair are US$71 an hour. Just say so on the intro call.