Learning Chinese in China

Learning Chinese in China is the best way to master the language. Not only does China offer an immersive environment, but you also have the opportunity to practise every day. Before you come to China, however, you’ll need to obtain a visa and be able to support yourself — and that’s where teaching English comes in.

Teaching English in China is one of the best ways to travel, learn Chinese, and have a rewarding job. Teaching English can also help you learn Chinese, and learning Chinese will, in turn, help you teach English. In this post, English 1 teacher and blogger Dioni Wise shares her story of learning Chinese in China while teaching English.

hinese students love knowing their teacher can understand them in their native language. When I corrected a student for saying “zhège” instead of “this one,” another student, Rita, asked, “Lǎoshī, nǐ huì shuō zhōngwén?”

I understood she was asking, “Teacher, do you speak Chinese?” and quickly replied, “No.” I wanted to give the illusion that I didn’t understand her, but blew my cover. She giggled, and my teacher’s assistant said, “You understood her! Wow!”

I’ve only been learning Chinese in China for two months, and moments like these help me realise how valuable learning Mandarin is to teaching English. As a prospective or current English 1 teacher, you can learn Chinese for free and start taking classes while you teach English.

Here are five reasons you should start learning Chinese in China and teaching English as soon as possible.

Everyone just wants to be understood. Students like Rita feel more comfortable with teachers who make an effort to understand them, even if they can’t speak Mandarin fluently. It shows you care. Parents also appreciate it when you can, at the very least, greet them in Mandarin. Knowing a few phrases makes a big and positive impression.

Learning a second language is tough! At times, everything my Chinese teacher said sounded like gibberish, and I felt overwhelmed. Studying Mandarin has given me a new perspective on learning other languages. I’m more patient with my students and applaud their efforts—big and small. I also strive to keep the lessons fun so students stay encouraged and relaxed.

Did you know Chinese students often struggle to pronounce certain English sounds because they don’t exist in Mandarin? For example, many say “fin” instead of “thin” because the “th” phoneme isn’t part of their native sound system.

As English teachers, understanding these common roadblocks helps us create effective detours, guiding students around their pronunciation challenges.

Miming and drawing pictures can only get you so far. That’s why every English teacher should learn a few Chinese phrases to communicate more effectively with students. Knowing how to say phrases like “I don’t know,” “this one,” and “I like...” can help you adapt your lessons, find new ways to explain concepts, and encourage students to use the English phrases they’ve already learned when they inevitably slip back into their mother tongue.

If push comes to shove, a simple explanation in Chinese can save you several minutes of class time and avoid a world of confusion. In a recent high-intermediate class of nine to eleven-year-olds, I used a table on the interactive whiteboard and a PowerPoint with examples in English to teach when to use ‘they’ and ‘their.’ I explained that ‘they’ is followed by a verb, while ‘their’ comes before a noun. These explanations were met with blank stares.

I quickly rattled off the equivalent phrases in Mandarin, and the light bulbs switched on. “Oh!” escaped from their mouths as they nodded in agreement. Although it’s not usually recommended, I used their mother tongue to help everyone overcome a huge hurdle and move on with the lesson.

Of course, you’re bound to encounter other challenges between Mandarin and English. I hope these tips have made you more aware of what to expect in the classroom and how to address potential problems. So hurry up and sign up for Chinese lessons now!