Learning Chinese with a Native Speaker

There is no specific age for language learning, but the simple answer is: the sooner you start, the better.

Languages are easiest to learn in childhood, when new neural connections form easily. If you have the opportunity to teach your child Chinese alongside their native language, take advantage of it. Children naturally acquire languages without the effort that adults typically need.

Don’t worry that learning two languages at the same time will interfere with your child’s native language development. Many families with parents of different nationalities raise bilingual children, who learn two languages in parallel. However, it’s never too late to start learning Chinese as an adult. Adults have the advantage of a more systematic approach to learning, but to build an effective system, it's important to set clear goals. These might include preparing for university admission, working in a Chinese-speaking industry, or moving to China. The training program and the choice of native Chinese-speaking Tutor will depend on these goals.

Not every native Chinese speaker can explain the grammar, tones, and other complex features of the Chinese language in a way that is accessible to foreign learners. This is true for all languages—those who professionally study and teach their native language are typically better equipped to pass on their knowledge, especially to non-native speakers.

When choosing a Tutor, it’s important to prioritise candidates with specialised education. For example, if you’re preparing for the HSK (Standardised Chinese Proficiency Test), your Tutor must understand the test's requirements and be able to create a comprehensive study plan. The HSK tests knowledge of syllables, words, grammar, and character recognition, so the training program must be tailored to meet these demands.

Another unique feature of Chinese is the large number of dialects. When selecting a dialect, you should consider your goals. Most foreigners learn Putonghua (Mandarin), which is the most widely spoken dialect in China and the dialect used for the HSK exam. However, if you plan to work or study in Guangzhou, Macau, or Hong Kong, you should learn Cantonese. When selecting a native Chinese-speaking Tutor, ensure they speak the dialect most relevant to your goals.

• Independently: You can search through classifieds or online platforms, but you'll need to filter out candidates without experience or education, compile a shortlist, and conduct interviews on your own.
• Through Gouverneur International: We handle all the initial work before the interviews. We search for suitable candidates based on your goals, both from our database and external sources. Once we compile a list of candidates, we will arrange interviews and work with you to select the best native Chinese speaker for your needs. We are available to answer any questions on weekdays from 9:00 to 18:00 by phone.