Business Chinese Program
Why should I choose Creative Chinese Club?
Are you looking for a Mandarin programme that is both engaging and rigorous?
What makes Creative Chinese Club different?
We create a learning experience that is personal, consistent, flexible, and practical.
What do people say about Creative Chinese Club?
Hear what learners from different countries say about their learning journey with us.
Is in-person class better than online class?
Quality of learning depends on whether the teaching is supportive, relevant, and interactive.
What does the first class look like?
You can book a free trial class at a time that works best for you.
What is your class size? How big is a group?
You can choose between a one-to-one class and a small group class.
Which curriculum do you use for your class?
We use three criteria: value of content, learning design, and teaching experience to curate curriculum.
How do you introduce new vocabulary?
We introduce new vocabulary in a low-pressure, step by step environment.
How do you teach grammar in your class?
We teach grammar through sentence patterns that learners can use in real-life conversations.
How long does it take to speak Chinese?
In our class, you are encouraged to speak Chinese from day one.
Can I join if I have no prior Chinese?
That is absolutely fine.
How much does it cost to join your program?
Classes are US$120 per month for one 30-minute lesson each week, one-to-one or shared.
How much is required from me?
What has worked well for our adult learners is a hybrid model.
What skills am I developing?
We offer two learning paths — one focused on speaking and one on writing.
How do I know where I am?
We created this journey map after researching standards across different systems.
How to learn on my own?
This works when three conditions are in place: foundation, habit, and feedback.
1. Why should I choose Creative Chinese Club?
2. What makes Creative Chinese Club different?
If you are looking for a Mandarin programme that is both engaging and rigorous, Creative Chinese Club offers more than a standard online class. We create a learning experience that is personal, consistent, flexible, and practical.
Consistency and trust
Rather than switching between teachers, you learn with a dedicated teacher over time. This allows a strong learning relationship to develop and helps the teacher understand your personality, interests, learning style, goals, and progress. People learn best when they feel understood, supported, and challenged at the right level.
Flexibility
Our teachers are based in different parts of the world, so you can choose lesson times that work around your professional and personal commitments. This makes it easier to build Chinese into a busy schedule in a sustainable way.
Professional teaching with purpose
Our teachers bring strong knowledge of Chinese language and culture, but effective teaching goes far beyond delivering content. They know how to observe, adapt, check understanding, and make learning interactive. Each lesson is designed to be well-structured, engaging, and rigorous in the right way for adult learners.
Relevant and practical learning
We begin with the Chinese you need to express yourself, describe your life, and build confidence in everyday communication. From there, we tailor learning towards Business Chinese, so that you can apply the language in real professional contexts. This makes learning both relevant and practical.
A global and cross-cultural approach
Our teachers have experience of living in, working in, or connecting across more than one culture. This helps them make Mandarin learning relevant and accessible for learners outside China or in multicultural environments. We do not simply teach language; we help you connect language with culture, communication, and confidence.
3. What do people say about Creative Chinese Club?
UK –
I have been taking beginner Chinese language classes with Creative Chinese Club for two years. The weekly group sessions are engaging and always well prepared. I will be taking a trip to China in March 2026 and have learned enough about the language, and culture, to get around on my own.
France –
My children have been taking online Mandarin classes with Creative Chinese Club for almost two years now, on a weekly basis, and the experience has been outstanding. The lessons are clear, concise, and very well structured, which makes learning both accessible and enjoyable. My kids absolutely love their classes and look forward to them every week. Their progress has been remarkable — they keep improving steadily, gaining confidence and vocabulary session after session. I truly recommend Creative Chinese Club to any family looking for high‑quality Mandarin teaching. An excellent program and a wonderful team.
Italy –
We are a multilingual family and I am a linguist specializing in bilingualism and multilingualism in the age of development. Last summer we had to prepare our three trilingual children for departure to China. We proposed to him to take a lecture with the teacher from CCC. We were a little hesitant that they could sit for half an hour and be involved in a Chinese lesson, a new language for them. On the other hand, we were pleasantly surprised by their cooperation during the lesson! Our three children – aged 4, 8 and 11 – not only enjoyed and learnt their first words and expressions in Chinese with interest and ease, but were also motivated to do more lessons later! Our children learned the basics of Chinese language and culture in just a few lessons! And I must say their interest in China grew even before they left!
USA –
I love this community that has been formed and builds a bridge that connects people across continents! My two sons have been taking weekly zoom classes for 2 years and I hope many more. The lessons use a variety of methods to keep the kids engaged and the classes are small enough where personalized help is received. The kindness, knowledge and patience of all the teachers we’ve met has provided a great learning environment. The new friends made both in class and overseas are a delight. Learning + meeting people = priceless.
4. Is in-person class better than online class?
Not necessarily. The quality of learning depends less on the format and more on whether the teaching is supportive, relevant, and interactive. When these elements are in place, online learning can be just as effective as in-person learning.
Is the learning environment supportive?
A supportive learning environment helps learners build confidence, take risks, make mistakes, and grow. That is why one of the teacher’s first priorities is to create a warm, encouraging, and low-pressure space where the learner feels comfortable engaging with the language.
Is the content relevant for the learner?
Effective teaching meets each learner where they are. The right content should match the learner’s needs, level, interests, and pace, so that learning feels both achievable and stimulating. We select content and build practical skills that learners can apply in real-life and professional contexts.
Is learning interactive?
Strong learning is never one-way. A teacher’s role is not simply to deliver content, but to notice how the learner is responding and adapt in real time. Learners make the most progress when there is active two-way communication, with opportunities to respond, ask questions, practise, and receive feedback. Our teachers pay close attention to each learner’s responses, facial expressions, and body language so that they can adjust activities in ways that are meaningful and effective for you.
5. What does the first class look like?
You can book a free trial class at a time that works best for you. The class takes place online via Zoom and lasts around 30 minutes.
The class has two parts
(1) Business Culture in China
How to start a conversation
What to expect
What to do and what not to do
Regional differences across China
(2) Language
How to introduce myself
How to introduce my business
How to connect with others
After the lesson, we will send you feedback covering three areas: your performance in the lesson, the language covered in class, and suggestions for review, including helpful resources for home practice.
Each learner also has an individual progress record, which includes basic information, a summary of each class, and a visual progress bar to help track progress over time.
6. What is your class size?
You can choose between a one-to-one class and a small group class. Both options have their own strengths, and the best choice depends on your needs, life situation, and learning goals.
One-to-one classes can be tailored entirely to your needs. They are particularly suitable for learners who value flexibility and a highly personalised learning experience. They also offer the benefit of dedicated teacher attention and individual guidance throughout the lesson.
Small group classes can be highly engaging and collaborative. They are well suited to learners who enjoy practising with both the teacher and peers of a similar language level. They also give learners the chance to connect with others beyond their local area, creating a more culturally diverse learning experience. Our small group classes have a maximum of three learners.
7. Which curriculum do you use for your class?
We have researched a wide range of curricula and textbooks used in different countries and developed our own in-house curriculum for adult learners. In selecting and shaping our materials, we use three key criteria: the value of the content, the quality of the learning design, and the teaching experience it creates.
Value of content – is it worth teaching?
The content needs to be both engaging and relevant for adult learners. People are more motivated when what they learn connects with their interests, goals, and everyday lives. We begin with general communicative Chinese and gradually move into Business Chinese and Travel Chinese, so that learners can apply the language with confidence in both everyday and professional settings.
Learning design – can it be learned well?
A well-designed curriculum should guide learners through a natural and carefully structured progression, building on what they have already learned. Learners should be able to use the language in meaningful communication, not simply study it in isolation. The curriculum should also include regular opportunities for review, reinforcement, and practice so that learning becomes secure over time.
Teaching experience – can it be taught well?
Good curriculum design should also support good teaching. Materials need to be visually clear, engaging, and appropriate for adult learners. They should offer varied and purposeful ways to practise vocabulary and sentence patterns, so that lessons feel interactive, focused, and effective.
8. How do you introduce new vocabulary?
We introduce new vocabulary in a practical, low-pressure environment, always building on what the learner already knows. New words are never taught in isolation and then left behind. Instead, they are introduced in meaningful context and followed by multiple opportunities for practice, so that the language becomes familiar, usable, and memorable.
For example, if a learner has already learned how to introduce their company and colleagues in Level 1, then in Level 2 of the same topic, the teacher will first help them review that earlier language before introducing extended vocabulary to talk about their professional context in more detail.
We also sometimes use music and songs to introduce new words. These can help learners become more familiar with pronunciation in an enjoyable and engaging way, while also showing how the language is used in context. This means learners are not simply drilling isolated words, but absorbing them more naturally through repeated and meaningful exposure.
After new words have been introduced, the teacher will use five to seven different practice activities, spaced across the lesson, to help the language stay with the learner. These activities guide learners from active listening, to speaking with support, and eventually to using the new words more independently in real-life communication.
9. How do you teach grammar in your class?
We teach grammar through sentence patterns that learners can use in real-life conversations. Instead of focusing on abstract grammar rules, we help learners understand grammar through listening, noticing, guided practice, and meaningful use.
Each new sentence pattern is followed by five to seven varied practice activities. These guide the learner from active listening, to speaking with support, and then to using the pattern more independently.
For example, the sentence pattern:
这是我的同事
Zhè shì wǒ de tóngshì.
This is my colleague.
may first be introduced through a short real-life dialogue. The teacher then uses a series of activities such as repetition, true-or-false questions, sentence completion, word ordering, and personal application. Step by step, the learner moves from recognising the pattern to using it independently in their own speech. The sentence pattern is then reviewed again at the start of the next class to help reinforce learning.
This approach helps learners experience grammar as practical, usable language, rather than as isolated rules to memorise.
10. How long does it take to speak Chinese?
In our classes, you are encouraged to speak Chinese from day one. We create meaningful situations in which you can use the language naturally to express yourself and communicate.
At the beginning, we provide structured support so that speaking feels attainable. Over time, as your confidence and language foundation grow, you will be able to speak more independently and naturally.
11. Can I join if I have no prior Chinese?
Absolutely. You are very welcome to join with no prior Chinese at all. Our programme is designed to support learners from complete beginner level, guiding you step by step as you build confidence and develop your Chinese skills. Our teachers have extensive experience in helping learners grow from complete beginners into confident Mandarin speakers.
12. How much does it cost to join your program?
Our classes are US$120 per month for one 30-minute lesson each week. Depending on the month, this works out at around US$24–30 per class.
You are not simply paying for lesson time. You are joining a learning journey that is personal, flexible, and well supported. This includes a stable teacher-learner relationship, well-trained teachers, personalised class feedback, a connection to our community in China, an individual progress report, and extra resources for home practice.
For learners in a small group class, the cost is shared, making it a collaborative and more affordable way to learn.
13. How much is required from me?
What has worked well for our adult learners is a hybrid model that combines regular online live classes with a home environment rich in practice opportunities.
Online live classes
Our online live classes give you the opportunity to learn and practise Chinese with a native speaker who is well trained in teaching Chinese as a foreign language. Your teacher creates a structured learning journey and provides feedback on pronunciation, vocabulary use, and sentence and conversation patterns.
Home environment
After each class, you will receive a feedback email summarising your performance, the learning content covered, and suggested review activities. Alongside this, many learners spend around 20 to 30 minutes a day using mobile apps, listening to songs, or watching dramas and films they enjoy in Chinese.
Working with a professionally trained teacher over time, alongside regular exposure to the language at home, is a powerful way to build real confidence and practical Chinese skills.
14. What skills am I developing?
We offer two learning paths — one focused on speaking and one on writing — so you can build confidence in both communication and literacy. In each path, learners progress step by step, from beginner level to more advanced use.
In the speaking path, you begin with general communicative Chinese. Once you have built a strong foundation in Pinyin and basic vocabulary, we gradually move into Business Chinese and Travel Chinese. The focus is always on helping you build practical Chinese that you can use in real-life situations.
In the writing path, we use visual and story-based methods to help learners understand how Chinese characters are formed. By grouping radicals into meaningful categories, learners build a stronger foundation and gain a deeper understanding of the logic behind the writing system, rather than simply memorising characters one by one.
15. How do I know where I am?
This is a wonderful question. Knowing where we are in the learning journey helps us understand what comes next and how best to move forward.
We created this journey map after researching standards across different systems, so that learners have a clear reference point linked to frameworks they may already know. In developing it, we drew on:
In developing it, we drew on:
1. ACTFL in the United States (the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages)
2. CEFR (the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages)
3. Mainland China’s HSK system
4. Taiwan’s Chinese language curriculum framework
16. How to learn on my own?
First, we want to encourage you that it is absolutely possible to learn Chinese independently as an adult. This works especially well when three conditions are in place: foundation, habit, and feedback.
Foundation
A strong foundation makes independent learning much more effective, especially in Pinyin and pronunciation. When you know how Mandarin sounds are formed and how to pronounce them clearly, it becomes much easier to learn new words, remember them, and make yourself understood by native speakers.
Habit
The second condition is building a steady habit. Regular, consistent practice is more effective than occasional intensive study. Small, frequent moments of learning often lead to stronger progress over time. There are many ways to build Chinese into everyday life, such as using learning apps, listening to songs, or watching dramas and films that genuinely interest you.
Feedback
The third condition is a feedback loop. Feedback helps you see your progress, notice and correct errors early, and stay motivated to continue. It gives direction to your learning and helps you improve with greater confidence.