Communicate confidently with real-world Mandarin skills and survive in China…in just 1 month!
Be an active participant in your Mandarin language journey. This short self-paced course will help you feel comfortable enough to communicate with locals in no time. No prior Mandarin skills necessary!
“...fun, innovative, patient, and knowledgeable.”
-Simone G., student at Key Babel Institute
Is a career in China in your near future?
If you’re here, you resonate with at least one of these groups:
Students Ready to Graduate
You’re a high school or university student, and graduation is right around the corner. You have fresh eyes and a desire to travel. Maybe China has always been on your bucket list. Or it’s a new dream that you’re ready to turn into a reality.
Entrepreneurs with Global Goals
You’re ready to get into the trade business, and China is the place to be. You want to live in China as an expat and expand your career prospects.
Yet you haven’t prioritized studying Mandarin. Mandarin is hard. You just don’t have the time for it. Everyone speaks some English in China, right?
Want to know the truth? Living in China with basic Mandarin skills is crucial to making your experience as stress-free as possible. The good news is, it doesn’t take long to master Mandarin basics!
So you’re on your way to China.
Imagine this.
*You can use your Mandarin skills to order a meal and drink on the flight.
*You feel comfortable navigating through security, immigration, and customs with native Mandarin Chinese speakers.
*You can confidently greet people in Mandarin.
You’ve arrived in China!
What else can you do?
*You know how to interpret the train or bus time schedule and direct a taxi driver. No worries about ending up on the other side of the country.
*You can seamlessly check in to your hotel–no language mishaps that might put you in the wrong room.
*You can confidently order a meal at a local restaurant and show off your Mandarin skills in your new home on DAY 1.
Say goodbye to language-learning anxiety and hello to confidence with Part 1 of Survive In Chinese in 3 Months.
This concise course is packed with exactly what you need to know to rock those Mandarin skills in your daily life in China, through immersion learning.
❌No wasted time on studying characters that you won’t need right away.
❌No rote memorization of vocabulary that won’t serve your day to day well.
❌No dull repetition of grammar rules that won’t help you.
❌No boring language lessons that would rather have you watching paint peel.
Enjoy laidback learning with this self-paced course and take as long as you need. Or study diligently throughout the week, and you’ll be ready to go to China in just 1 month.
Your ticket to 1 month of stress-free study
✔️ A curriculum constructed by a Mandarin teacher team, based on current pedagogy that works.
✔️ 9 modules with the Mandarin skills you’ll need to feel at ease, from the moment you step on the plane.
✔️1 instructor who provides a fun, judgment-free learning environment.
✔️20 video lessons under 8 minutes each. Just enough for you to squeeze into any busy schedule.
✔️ Role play scenarios with real world Chinese phrases and expressions–no boring repetition of phrases you won’t need to know.
✔️ Opportunities for feedback on your audio practice, so you’ll know if you’re on the right track.
✔️ Writing practice broken down into stroke order of ONLY the critical characters that will help you get by in your first few months in China.
✔️ Reading practice with real materials–what you’ll actually see when you get to China!
✔️ Audio recordings from native Mandarin speakers in the Beijing dialect AND different areas of China, for diverse listening practice.
✔️ Downloadable vocabulary worksheets with essential Chinese survival words and phrases, color-coded with the four tones for extra clarity.
✔️ Just enough homework for you to internalize what you’ve learned, without overwhelming you.
Crave interaction with a live teacher?
For an additional $120, schedule live weekly sessions for conversation and pronunciation practice. In an informal 30-minute 1:1 setting, you’ll get the chance to gain more confidence as you practice what you’ve been learning with your Mandarin instructor.
Want a Sneak Peek?
Each brief module includes a video on basic greetings, topical vocabulary words and expressions, role play videos, reading and writing practice, and homework. Develop all 4 language skills with our carefully-crafted curriculum that’s designed to mimic the real-world environment in China. Feel prepared to interact with locals on day 1 in China!
Course Curriculum
Key Babel Institute’s mission to encourage Americans to become bilingual:
At Key Babel Institute, we’re committed to solving foreign language illiteracy in America by providing you with high quality language lessons rooted in modern-day language teaching methodologies. Together, we want to achieve a world where U.S. citizens take the initiative to expand our cultural knowledge in our global society by becoming bilingual.
In our courses, you’ll find elements of Montessori and Reggio Emilia education practices combined with the Natural Approach language learning methodology. This means that our content has an emphasis on real world communication skills. You’ll begin to acquire the language instead of merely learning and repeating rote grammar rules. On your first day of class, you’ll start speaking Mandarin.
Your Mandarin Instructor
Kiana (林雅欣) started learning Chinese as a fun hobby at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 2006. What started as a hobby quickly became a passion. She worked for a Chinese school as an assistant teacher for a couple of years before she became an interpreter at industry trade shows that frequent the city. Her experiences as a language learner led her to create courses to foster second language learning for Americans in today’s society.
Chinese is Kiana’s 3rd language. She knows what it’s like to embark on a foreign language journey. She’s ready to walk alongside you as you fulfill your dreams of a career in China!
Do you have questions that haven’t been answered yet? Check out our FAQs.
Q: Is this course for beginners?
A: Yes! This course will take you from zero Mandarin skills to being able to hold day-to-day conversations in China.
Q: Is this a live course?
A: This is a course with a preconstructed curriculum and pre-recorded video lessons. There are a few opportunities to leave an audio recording. If you choose to do so, you’ll get feedback from a fluent Mandarin instructor. While there is no live instructor in this course, you can find our live classes here.
Q: What type of Chinese will I learn?
A: You’ll learn Mandarin Chinese, the official language of mainland China and also widely used in Taiwan.
Q: Can I have materials in traditional Chinese?
A: Sure, just shoot us an email and we’ll send you info about the traditional Chinese character track. However, there is no similarity to Cantonese since the spoken language will be Mandarin.
Q: How long will this course take?
A: The course is designed to be studied for a minimum of two hours a week. For optimal results, it's best to add another hour or two of self study within the week.
Q: How is this course different from a language-learning app?
A: Language learning apps are great, but they can often be repetitive in nature. You might also spend a lot of time learning things you won’t necessarily need from language learning apps. This course has been efficiently designed to explore only the skills you’ll need in your first few months in China. No need to waste time studying things you won’t use. You’ll learn Mandarin from a team of real teachers with native insight on the language and culture.
Q: Will I learn what I need to know to pass the HSK exam?
A: The content in this course is designed for you to work toward passing the HSK Level II.
Q: What if I’m not a high school/university graduate or interested in trade? Will I still benefit from this course?
A: If you’re planning on taking a short or long trip to China and want to know how to communicate the basics with locals, this course will get you there.
Still have questions? Send us an email at [email protected]. We’re happy to help.
Fast track your career goals and begin your Mandarin journey with the click of a button…
Are you ready for those lightbulb moments as you realize that studying Mandarin isn’t as hard as it's cracked up to be? Are you ready to conquer the overwhelming fear of learning a language with bite-sized lessons? Are you ready to feel comfortable and confident in your Mandarin skills before you get to China?
Get started on your Mandarin journey today!
“…Efficient, Patient, Creative and Extremely Down to Earth…I look forward to learning more every week.”
-Lewshawnda H., student at Key Babel Institute