Silk Mandarin - Language Training Institute

My one-month HSK 2 Mandarin course at Silk Mandarin in Suzhou was an exceptional and highly efficient professional experience. The intensive curriculum seamlessly integrated advanced grammar structures with practical vocabulary. Utilizing their innovative "Slow Motion" teaching methodology, the instructors made complex linguistic concepts remarkably accessible, significantly accelerating my conversational proficiency and confidence. The faculty demonstrated a high level of expertise, and the small class size ensured tailored guidance. Additionally, Suzhou provided an ideal immersive environment to apply my skills daily within a professional context. I highly recommend Silk Mandarin for anyone seeking targeted, high-quality language training.

I've been having a great experience at the Suzhou school! The staff are very helpful and encouraging, particularly my teacher Sisi who is always friendly and patient, listening carefully and helping me with my spoken Chinese. I recommend this school to anyone wanting to learn mandarin ☺️

I’ve been studying HSK 1 at Silk Mandarin and would like to give a special thank you to my teacher, Jane. She was very kind and friendly, and I’ve enjoyed learning with her. During the course, we practised everyday conversations alongside the vocabulary and grammar, from introducing ourselves to talking about food and making plans. I’ve used the homework and lesson quizzes to revise between classes, and I’ve appreciated having that structure while working through the basics. Thank you, Jane, for making learning Chinese a positive experience!

Before joining Silk Mandarin, I was mostly learning Chinese by myself. I would Google new words and their pronunciation, ask Chinese friends for help, and pick up useful phrases here and there. While this worked for basic expressions, my learning lacked structure and progress was quite slow. Especially understanding the system behind Chinese pronunciation and grammar was difficult to achieve on my own while working full-time and having limited time to study. Since my stay in China was relatively short, I wanted to make faster and more consistent progress, especially so that I could use Chinese in everyday situations, make small talk, and communicate more naturally with friends and people I met. I therefore looked at several language schools in Suzhou. Their offers were quite similar, but I particularly liked the facilities and atmosphere at Silk Mandarin, as well as the people I met there, which ultimately made me choose the school. Taking lessons at Silk Mandarin with the teacher Sisi gave my learning the structure I had been missing. I quickly developed a better understanding of Chinese grammar and pronunciation while steadily expanding my vocabulary. Most importantly, I could actually see myself becoming more comfortable using Chinese in everyday life. I also really appreciated not having to organize the entire learning process myself anymore. With two lessons each week, I had regular guidance and a clear path to follow, which made it much easier to keep progressing alongside my work without constantly having to decide what to study next. Overall, Silk Mandarin made learning Chinese much more structured, efficient, and convenient for me. It helped me make considerably more progress during my limited time in China than I think I would have managed on my own, and I’m very grateful for the experience. Sisi was a great teacher and friend: Not only did she competently and patiently explain everything, but she also educated me culturally on customs and mannerisms, traditions and celebrations, everyday life and useful apps, whenever appropriate in our lessons or whenever I would have questions of my own. All of this was very useful to not only learn the language but also to understand the chinese people and to integrate into their culture. Thank you for everything and I wish you the best!

When I found out that I would be transferred to China, I felt nervous because I couldn’t speak any Chinese at all. However, since I started attending this language school, I’ve overcome my fear of speaking Chinese and improved a lot thanks to the friendly, supportive, and fun teachers! I took group lessons, where I had the opportunity to study with people from many different countries, which was a very inspiring experience. I highly recommend this school to beginners because you can enjoy learning Chinese while building a solid foundation!

After taking demo classes at several schools, I chose the intensive Mandarin program at Silk Mandarin, and it has been a fantastic decision. Everything from the materials to the teachers is exceptionally professional. They do an excellent job helping you understand the core logic of the Chinese language. Additionally, their unique Learning Management System provides video lectures for previewing and reviewing material, making it easy to re-watch and solidify new concepts. I am delighted with my progress and look forward to continuing my Mandarin journey with them..

Learning at Silk Mandarin is a great experience! The teachers are very knowledgable, encouraging, and accomodating. The location is super convenient to get to and the building and classrooms are welcoming. Apart from the part-time lessons they also hosted a Mahjong session which was super fun. I'll definitely return for HSK-2. Highly recommend!

Before Silk Mandarin, I had zero experience with Mandarin, no vocabulary, no sense of tones. I wanted a structured way to actually learn, not just pick up scattered phrases. Silk Mandarin has made a real difference. After just the first monthbof lessons, I feel comfortablewith the basics. The blended learning style, with preview and review built into each lesson, keeps things focused on speaking, sentence formation, and pronunciation, exactly what I needed to actually use the language day to day. What surprised me most was how patient and effective the teaching was. My teacher, Sisi, worked with me through every challenge and adjusted to where I was at. Going from total beginner to having a real foundation this quickly wasn't something I expected. Highly recommend Silk Mandarin

One child and I have just completed HSK 3 level, my husband and 2 other kids are beginner. 3 did Intensive classes 30h a week, 2 summer camp. I can highly recommend this language school as especially their blended learning concept with online self-studying modules is ideal for preparing the online classes. The teachers are patient and very kind. A big thank you for CoCo who supported the whole family with any problems (mobile broke down, driver was needey...). And thank you to Echo who was improving my spoken Chinese a lot.

Photos

I originally planned to take advantage of the summer break to send my child to Suzhou for a week of Chinese language study, so I searched online and found information about SilkMandarin. After some preliminary communication with them, they provided a professional language consultation. This time, I enrolled in their Youth Chinese Intensive Private Course after the demo class. Christina is very professional teacher. During the first class with my child, she conducted a more detailed language proficiency assessment and initially confirmed that his level was between HSK 2 and HSK 3. Right after the first lesson, she provided a detailed evaluation report of the proficiency test results along with a subsequent study plan. Their courses are also flexibly adjusted during the teaching process based on the child's receptiveness. We initially signed up for 24 lessons and later added 6 more. After this intensive study, my child's Chinese proficiency improved very quickly. I am extremely satisfied with the results of this course! Highly recommended!

What I enjoyed most about this program was the homestay element. I believe that it gave me insight into how Chinese people live on a day to day basis and it also gave me a very authentic environment to put my Chinese to the test. I also really liked how the hosts spoke Chinese the entire time, something I would have liked the staff/teachers to try to do a tiny bit more of. Overall, the lessons were very organized and the activities very structured, which was great! Overall, a fantastic first exposure to Chinese language and culture.

Fun and interactive lessons. I started in January with HSK 1 and liked from the get go. I was with three students and we were studying in a social dynamic of Mandarin. I found that I was using lots of the mandarin that I had learned in the classroom in real life. The sentence strucuture starts simple and then slowly gets harder which is very useful It's a lot of fun and the classes have giving me the confidence to continue my studying into HSK2 and the learning of Hanzi! I Definitely would recommend!

Learning Chinese has always been a challenge for me, especially because I have a busy work schedule and often struggled to stay consistent. I was looking for a school with a structured learning method that could help me make steady progress while keeping the classes engaging. Choosing Silk Mandarin was definitely the right decision. The school’s teaching methodology is very well organized, making it easier to build a strong foundation and continuously improve. I also really appreciate the frequent activities and events organized by the school, which create opportunities to practice Chinese in real-life situations and make the learning experience much more enjoyable. The biggest difference, however, has been my teacher, Catherine. She has an incredible ability to make every class feel light, interactive, and enjoyable. She creates a welcoming and encouraging environment where I feel comfortable speaking, asking questions, and making mistakes, which is essential when learning a new language. Her patience, enthusiasm, and positive attitude make every lesson something I genuinely look forward to. Overall, my experience at Silk Mandarin has been excellent. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a professional, well-structured Chinese language school with dedicated teachers who truly care about their students’ progress.

I studied at Silk Mandarin for a year now. All the teachers are great and make lessons engaging. My current teacher, Yanqin 老师, is an exceptional Mandarin teacher. Although our lessons are online, she makes the lesson really engaging and ensures that she relates content to her students’ individual interests, experiences and daily lives. She teaches me difficult content in clear and digestible parts so I can learn and build on that knowledge myself. Doing private lessons allows me to tailor the lesson to learning Mandarin I need in my everyday life, needs and goals. After trying other Mandarin centres in Shanghai, I recommend Silk Mandarin. As an overseas educator myself, I recommend Yanqin 老师. I particularly respect her teaching practices, professionalism and commitment to making learning meaningful for every student. She is passionate, approachable and highly skilled at helping students build both confidence and practical language ability.

I’m on my way to the end of hsk 2, and I feel very confident about how my Chinese has been improving. The best thing about Silk Mandarin is how flexible they are, when building the best and individual plan that fits into our needs! The teachers and staffs are very kind and helpful. I’ve had classes with 3 different teachers and all of them are very professional, matched our speed but at the same time, influences us to practice the more we can. The platform is easy to use, no issues at all, I’ve been loving the experience!

この学校に通い始めてから、私の中国語力は確実に向上しました。最初は簡単な挨拶すらぎこちなかったのですが、今では自分の気持ちや考えをある程度まとめて話せるようになりました。自分で知っている単語の数が増えただけでなく、中国語を話すことに以前よりずっと自信を持てるようになりました。 特に嬉しいのは、以前と比べて聞き取りや表現の幅が大きく広がったことです。授業の中で先生が話すスピードにも次第に慣れ、最初は聞き取れなかった会話の内容も、今ではだいたい把握できるようになりました。また、自分の伝えたいことをどう言えばいいか、すぐに言葉が出てこなかった頃と比べると、日常会話の中で「伝えたい」という気持ちが自然に言葉にできるようになったと実感しています。たとえば、買い物やレストランでの簡単なやり取りだけでなく、趣味や仕事の話など、少し深い内容でも中国語で話そうという気持ちが湧くようになりました。 授業の進め方もとても良かったです。新しい単語や文法をただ暗記するのではなく、実際の会話の中で何度も使う機会を設けてくださったので、自然と体で覚えられました。また、発音についても丁寧に指摘していただき、特に声調の違いを意識することで、以前よりも通じやすくなったと感じています。 先生方はいつも丁寧に指導してくださり、質問しやすい雰囲気を作ってくれていたので、継続的に頑張ることができました。わからないことがあっても、恥ずかしがらずにその場で質問できる環境があったのは、私にとってとても大きかったです。クラスメートともお互いに励まし合いながら学べたことも、良い刺激になりました。 今では、中国語で話すことが怖くなくなり、むしろ楽しくなっています。中国語を話す自分の姿に驚くこともありますが、それもすべてこの学校での学びのおかげです。 この学校を選んで、本当に後悔していません。もし迷っている方がいれば、ぜひ一度体験してみてほしいと思います。中国語を本気で学びたい方には、自信を持っておすすめできる学校です。これからも自分のペースで続けていきながら、さらに上のレベルを目指していきたいと思っています。

I’m a very pleased about my experience learning Mandarin at Silk Mandarin Shanghai. I chose to learn Mandarin, in the intensive (in-person) course at Silk Mandarin Shanghai while travelling in China. Before beginning, my only goal was to learn a bit of Mandarin for fun (as a HSK1 beginner), but straight away I felt so encouraged by the teachers at Silk - that now I am motivated to continue learning! The teachers Nina and Chunyan were wonderful - very clear, encouraging and promoted a positive learning atmosphere for our group. My group had 6 students, all of whom were given ample care and attention and we had many opportunities to speak and practice during class. The intensive course was fast-paced, but felt very well-structured and organised. The class-in material in the app was a very helpful supplement to what we had learnt during lessons. The support received from Coco throughout sign-up and duration of course was also very lovely and helpful. I am so excited to continue learning with Silk Mandarin over the coming months (online), and then also returning to the Shanghai school next year!

この学校に通い始めてから、私の中国語力は確実に向上しました。最初は簡単な挨拶すらぎこちなかったのですが、今では自分の気持ちや考えをある程度まとめて話せるようになりました。自分で知っている単語の数が増えただけでなく、中国語を話すことに以前よりずっと自信を持てるようになりました。 特に嬉しいのは、以前と比べて聞き取りや表現の幅が大きく広がったことです。授業の中で先生が話すスピードにも次第に慣れ、最初は聞き取れなかった会話の内容も、今ではだいたい把握できるようになりました。また、自分の伝えたいことをどう言えばいいか、すぐに言葉が出てこなかった頃と比べると、日常会話の中で「伝えたい」という気持ちが自然に言葉にできるようになったと実感しています。たとえば、買い物やレストランでの簡単なやり取りだけでなく、趣味や仕事の話など、少し深い内容でも中国語で話そうという気持ちが湧くようになりました。 授業の進め方もとても良かったです。新しい単語や文法をただ暗記するのではなく、実際の会話の中で何度も使う機会を設けてくださったので、自然と体で覚えられました。また、発音についても丁寧に指摘していただき、特に声調の違いを意識することで、以前よりも通じやすくなったと感じています。 先生方はいつも丁寧に指導してくださり、質問しやすい雰囲気を作ってくれていたので、継続的に頑張ることができました。わからないことがあっても、恥ずかしがらずにその場で質問できる環境があったのは、私にとってとても大きかったです。クラスメートともお互いに励まし合いながら学べたことも、良い刺激になりました。 今では、中国語で話すことが怖くなくなり、むしろ楽しくなっています。中国語を話す自分の姿に驚くこともありますが、それもすべてこの学校での学びのおかげです。 この学校を選んで、本当に後悔していません。もし迷っている方がいれば、ぜひ一度体験してみてほしいと思います。中国語を本気で学びたい方には、自信を持っておすすめできる学校です。これからも自分のペースで続けていきながら、さらに上のレベルを目指していきたいと思っています。

Before finding Silk Mandarin, my learning lacked structure, and I never knew what to study next. I decided to look online for good Chinese schools based in China, which is how I found them on Google. Since joining, my Chinese has improved a lot! Their learning materials for both listening and writing are great. The lessons are perfectly paced and easy for anyone to follow. What surprised me most was their Slow Motion Technique, I really like it, and it has made a massive difference in my journey. On top of that, the staff are all incredibly kind, amazing at their jobs, and truly know what they are doing. Highly recommended!

The teachers are not just incredibly friendly, but true professionals. Instead of mindlessly grinding through textbooks, they bring the language to life: grammar is made clear through perfect real-world examples, vocabulary becomes instantly accessible, and fascinating cultural insights spark genuinely engaging discussions during class. My experience with the in-person classes in Shanghai was so fantastic that I booked online lessons to continue after returning home to Europe. The digital learning platform is well-organized and is ideal for self-study in addition to in-person or online classes.