Kids’ Chinese Program
Mandarin Speaking
Why do families choose Creative Chinese Club?
We help children connect language with culture, curiosity, and confidence.
What makes Creative Chinese Club different?
We create a learning experience that is personal, interactive, consistent and flexible.
What do families say about Creative Chinese Club?
Hear what families from different countries say about their children’s learning journey with us.
Is in-person class better than online class?
Not necessarily. A great learning experience depends on three key factors.
What does the first class look like?
You can book a free trial class online at a time that works best for your child.
What is your class size? How many kids per group?
You can choose between a one-to-one class and a small group class, depending on what’s best for your child.
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 fun, low-pressure, step by step environment.
How do you teach grammar?
We teach grammar through sentence patterns that children can use in real-life conversations.
What age is suitable for your program?
We welcome children across a wide age range.
Can my child join if they have no prior Chinese?
That is absolutely fine.
How much does it cost to join your program?
US$120/month for one 30-minute lesson each week. For children in a small group, the cost is shared.
How much involvement is needed from a parent?
You are welcome to be as involved as you would like to be.
What skills will my child develop?
We offer two learning paths — one focused on speaking and one on writing.
Do you offer one-to-one tutoring?
Yes, we do.
My child is struggling with Chinese. Can you help?
Yes, we can.
1. Why do families choose Creative Chinese Club?
2. What makes Creative Chinese Club different?
If you are looking for a Mandarin programme that is both joyful and academically thoughtful, we offer children more than a standard online class. We create a learning experience that is personal, consistent, flexible, and culturally aware.
Consistency and trust
Rather than switching between teachers, your child learns with a dedicated teacher over time. This allows a strong relationship to grow and helps the teacher understand your child’s personality, confidence, learning style, and progress. Children learn best when they feel safe, seen, and supported.
Flexibility for real family life
Our teachers are based in different parts of the world, so families can choose lesson times that work around school, activities, and energy levels. This makes it easier for children to learn at a time when they are ready to engage and enjoy the lesson.
Professional teaching with purpose
Our teachers bring strong knowledge of Chinese language and culture, but great teaching goes far beyond delivering content. They know how to observe, adapt, check understanding, and make learning interactive. Each lesson is designed to be engaging, well-structured, and rigorous in the right way for young learners.
A global and child-centred 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 children growing up outside China or in multicultural environments. We do not simply teach language; we help children connect language with culture, curiosity, and confidence.
3. What do families say about Creative Chinese Club?
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.”
USA –
“I can’t forget to mention how much I enjoy working with the teacher. Initially, our son was hesitant and lacked confidence when it came to learning Chinese. However, the teacher’s caring and encouraging teaching style transformed his attitude. He now loves learning Chinese and is far more confident in his abilities. The teacher also incorporates creativity into the learning process, offering fun pre-class challenges that our children thoroughly enjoy.”
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 –
“We have 3 children enrolled in Creative Chinese Club classes. The CCC team prioritizes personal connections with our kids, create personalized lessons for their proficiency progress as well as host cultural events with other learners around the world! We can not say enough about how amazing and enriching this experience continues to be for our kids. “
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.”
France –
“Learning Mandarin online with a teacher passionate about what she has created, enjoys teaching while she is (and you are) also having fun, sounds attractive to you?”
4. Is in-person class better than online class?
Not necessarily. A great learning experience is not defined simply by whether it happens online or in person. It depends on three key factors: a safe learning environment, content that suits the learner, and genuine interaction between teacher and child. When these three elements are in place, children are far more likely to feel secure, stay motivated, and be challenged at the right level.
Is the learning environment a safe space?
When a child feels anxious, bored, hungry, embarrassed, or distracted, it becomes much harder for meaningful learning to happen. Children learn best when they feel comfortable, respected, and encouraged. A safe learning environment helps them build confidence, take risks, make mistakes, and grow. That is why the first task of a teacher is to create a warm, playful, and low-pressure space where a child feels ready to engage.
Is the content right for the learner?
Effective teaching meets each child where they are. The right content should match a child’s age, level, interests, and pace so that learning feels both achievable and stimulating. This is exactly what we aim to explore in the trial class. Through a relaxed conversation and some simple language activities, our teacher gets to know your child’s interests, personality, and current level. No prior Chinese is required. This helps us recommend the most suitable curriculum and learning experience for your child.
Is learning interactive?
Strong learning is never one-way. A teacher’s role is not simply to deliver content, but to notice how a child is responding and adapt in real time. Children 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 child’s responses, facial expressions, and body language so that they can constantly adjust practice activities that are meaningful to young learners.
5. What does the first class look like? class?
You can book a free trial class at a time that works best for your child. The class takes place online via Zoom and lasts around 30 minutes.
Before the lesson, we will send you an email with clear joining instructions. Your child will also be invited to create a simple drawing to introduce themselves. You can see examples from young learners around the world on our Your Story page. If you can share a little information about your child in advance, we can tailor the experience more thoughtfully to their current language levels and interests.
During the lesson, the teacher will use your child’s drawing as a natural starting point for conversation. Through this, your child will begin learning useful vocabulary and simple sentence patterns to talk about themselves in Chinese. They will then practise these through a range of interactive activities to make learning stick.
After the lesson, we will send you feedback covering three areas: your child’s performance, the language covered in class, and suggestions for review, including helpful resources for home practice.
Each learner also has a progress record, which includes their basic information, a summary of each class, and a visual progress bar to help track their learning journey 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 child’s personality, learning style, and goals.
One-to-one classes can be tailored entirely to your child’s needs. They are particularly suitable for young learners who need extra support with focus, confidence, or a specific area of improvement. They also offer the valuable benefit of dedicated teacher attention and personalised guidance throughout the lesson.
Small group classes can be highly engaging and collaborative. They are well suited to young learners who can concentrate online and enjoy practising with both the teacher and other children of a similar language level. They also give children the chance to connect with peers from beyond their local area. 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 have developed our own in-house curriculum for young 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 appropriate for young learners. Children are more motivated when what they learn connects with their interests and feels relevant to their lives. The ideas and language also need to match what they can understand cognitively at their stage of development.
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. Children should be able to use the language in meaningful, real-life communication. 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 also needs to support good teaching. Materials should be visually appealing, age-appropriate, and engaging. They should offer interesting and varied ways for children to practise vocabulary and sentence patterns, so that lessons feel lively, interactive, and effective.
8. How do you introduce new vocabulary?
We introduce new vocabulary in a fun, 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 a meaningful context and followed by multiple opportunities for practice so that the language becomes familiar, usable, and memorable.
For example, if a young learner has already learned how to talk about their name and interests 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 nationality and where they live.
We also often use music and songs to introduce new words. Songs help children become familiar with pronunciation in a joyful and engaging way, while also showing how the language is used in context. This means children are not simply drilling isolated words, but beginning to absorb 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 the child 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?
We teach grammar through sentence patterns that children 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:
这是我的爸爸
Zhè shì wǒ de bàba.
This is my dad.
may first be introduced through music. 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 child 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 children experience grammar as living language they can actually use, rather than as rules to memorise in isolation.
10. What age is suitable for your program?
We welcome children across a wide age range. One helpful sign of readiness is whether your child can stay engaged in front of a screen for at least 10 minutes. Our interactive small-group lessons give each child plenty of opportunities to engage, practise, speak, and participate actively.
If your child is not quite ready to join independently, that is absolutely fine. In the early stages, we often suggest that a parent sits alongside them and joins in through a family-style learning format. This helps young children feel safe and supported, and allows them to begin participating through observation before joining in more independently.
11. Can my child join if they have no prior Chinese?
Yes. Your child can join with no prior Chinese at all. Our programme is designed to support young learners from complete beginner level, guiding them step by step as they build confidence and develop their Chinese skills. Our teachers have extensive experience in helping children grow from complete beginners into confident Mandarin learners. You can also book a class to discover your child’s Chinese level and get a free learning plan from us.
12. How much does it cost to join your program?
Our children’s 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.
Families are not simply paying for lesson time. They are joining a learning journey that is personal, flexible, and thoughtfully supported. This includes a stable teacher-child relationship, well-trained teachers who know how to make Chinese meaningful for Western children, a connection to our parent community in China, personalised class feedback, a progress report that records each child’s basic information and lesson details lesson details throughout their learning journey, and extra resources for home practice.
For children in a small group class, the cost is shared between 2 to 3 learners, making it a collaborative and more affordable way to learn.
13. How much is required from me as a parent?
You are welcome to be as involved as you would like to be. Even small, consistent support at home can make a real difference to your child’s Mandarin learning journey. We especially encourage three things:
Motivation
Small cultural experiences can help spark your child’s interest in Chinese language and culture. For example, you might play a Chinese song in the background, watch a cartoon in Chinese together, or enjoy a Chinese meal as a family. These simple moments can help keep the language feeling alive and exciting.
Patience
Speaking skills take time to develop. Just as children take time to learn their first language, they also need plenty of meaningful input before they feel ready to speak with confidence in Mandarin. Sometimes, going slowly at the beginning helps children move forward with greater confidence later.
Communication
Open communication with your child’s teacher is very helpful. When families and teachers share observations and stay connected, we can work together more effectively to support each child’s Mandarin learning journey. Together, the parent, child, and teacher create a strong support triangle that helps the learner grow.
14. What skills will my child develop?
We offer two learning paths — one focused on speaking and one on writing — so children can build confidence in both communication and literacy. In each path, learners move forward step by step, from beginner level to more advanced use.
In the speaking path, children learn to express their own personalities, interests, and everyday experiences in Mandarin. They start with useful vocabulary and simple sentence patterns, then gradually grow into conversation and more detailed expression. Across each level, we revisit 15 core life themes that help children build practical Chinese they can use in real situations.
In the writing path, we combine creative drawing with story-based learning to help children understand how Chinese characters are built. We group radicals into 30 meaningful categories, such as face, body, domestic animals, and wild animals. This helps children build a strong foundation, so they do not just memorise characters, but develop a deeper understanding of how the writing system works.
15. Do you offer one-on-one tutoring?
Yes, we do. Some young learners benefit from a more personalised learning experience, whether they need extra support, a different pace, or help in a particular area. We are very happy to support this.
A common first step is to arrange a free trial class so that we can get to know the learner, understand where they are in their Mandarin journey, and design a personalised learning path based on their needs. We then speak with the parent to discuss learning goals and agree on a suitable next-step plan.
If this sounds like a good fit for your child, you are very welcome to book a free trial class.
16. My child is struggling with Chinese. Can you help?
Yes, we can help. Some young learners have been learning Chinese for a while but, for different reasons, may find it difficult to keep up with progress or stay motivated. We are very happy to support them.
A common first step is to arrange a free trial class so that we can get to know the learner, understand where they are in their Mandarin journey, identify what they are finding difficult, and design a personalised learning path based on their needs. We then speak with the parent to discuss learning goals and agree on suitable next steps. Very often, we also work alongside the curriculum the child is already learning, so we can strengthen understanding, rebuild confidence, and help them move forward more successfully.
If this sounds like a good fit for your child, you are very welcome to book a free trial class.