In all adult classes, the emphasis is on conversation, vocabulary building and pronunciation, with enough grammar to provide a firm foundation. The goal is maximum language acquisition for meaningful, real-life communication in an enjoyable, relaxed and supportive learning environment.

Children's classes are an immersion in the living atmosphere of language via games, stories, song, whole body movement, food and crafts.


FOR ADULTS
Beginning Mandarin
Designed for those with little or no Chinese language experience, this course focuses on spoken Mandarin and on developing conversational fluency.

Continuing Mandarin
Expanding comprehension and conversational abilities, vocabulary and basics of reading and writing Chinese characters.

Travelers Language Café
Language intensive for travelers. Designed to facilitate your travels by introducing you to conversational systems on various themes that you encounter while traveling: booking a hotel, shopping, getting directions, using the phone, making friends, and many more. Instead of memorizing phrases, learn basic “patterns of conversation” that you can apply to a variety of circumstances. Practical travel tips and cultural orientation are highlighted.

FOR CHILDREN
Mandarin Chinese Summer Camp
For children 7 – 12. Follow the mysterious animals of the Asian continent as you learn the basics of Mandarin Chinese language and discover the richness of China's culture—past & present! Participants will get a taste of Chinese music, songs, dance, shadow puppets, brush painting, art of Chinese paper cuts, tai chi, sweet rice balls, and so much more! Together campers will create a story and skit, animal costumes and scenery as tools to develop basic language skills.

Family Programs
These are intended for multigenerational attendance; preschool age children with an adult family member, and other siblings, can attend together. These are available as ongoing programs, weekend mini-camps and summer immersion camps.

Young Adult
Middle-school and high-school students enrolled in this program can receive a high school foreign language credit. These are usually year-long programs that meet a minimum of twice a week for 1.5 hrs. Our teen students can also participate as counselors and junior-counselors in the summer camps program.