Skype Chinese Lessons - 7 Factors to Consider

More and more people like to learn Chinese by taking Skype Chinese lessons because it is both convenient and effective. You can learn to speak Chinese 1 on 1 with a native teacher in real time. Learning Chinese on Skype has many beauties that a traditional class can’t match.

However, when you search online for Skype lessons, you realize that there are many websites offering similar service. Choosing one that best suits your needs is not easy work. So, we have summarized the top 7 factors you need to consider when selecting Skype lessons.

Free Trial Lesson

It is reasonable to take a trial lesson to see whether the class works for you, and whether you like the teacher or not. While most schools offer the trial lesson for free with no obligation, some may charge some fees, usually a small proportion of the regular class. In the free trial lesson, you can see and feel if it is the right one for you.

Teachers

Many schools state that their teachers all have a teaching certificate and on average two years of experience. However, they may employ part-time teachers who are less experienced. Another thing you need to make sure is that the teacher for the trial lesson is the same person you study with after you join them. Many schools select the best teacher to give the trial lesson, but arrange another (probably not as good as the free trial teacher) for you after you pay. So, you should double check this.

Internet Connection

Since the lessons are delivered online through the Internet, it is necessary to make sure the Internet connection is good. If you decide to be serious with your Chinese, then you should first get you speedy bandwidth and test whether there is a connection problem in the free trial.

Flexibility

One big advantage of Skype lessons is that you can have the lesson with very flexible hours, especially if you are working and may be very busy. In most cases, they will select a teacher whose time will cover yours.

Refund Policy

It is not easy to make commitment to online payment. Sometimes things happen and you may not be entirely satisfied with the service they provide. So, be certain to check the pricing policy or ask the staff from the school if there is refund policy.

You Don’t Miss Classes

Make sure the booking policy is reasonable. Some schools have the rule that demands you to have 3 or 5 lessons per week. This is good to keep you learning constantly, but the problem is that you will miss the untaken if you can’t attend the class for whatever reasons. Therefore, it is best that you find a service that offers flexible booking policies, by which you can cancel and reschedule the class that you can’t meet, and have it whenever you are available.

Cost

What’s your budget for hiring an online Chinese tutor? On average you should expect a class (usually 50 minutes) to be $20 USD per session. There are lessons with shorter time (20 minutes), which are also cheaper than the regular, but you can’t really learn much with that bit of time. The actual fees may vary from school to school. However, whatever your choice is, you should take the above factors into consideration.