"I’m really loving the lessons so far. Miya is a fantastic teacher and is very flexible. She is really helping me improve all aspects of my language skills."
Jess Mather
Mandarin Chinese course in Derby.
Mandarin Chinese Lessons in Aberdeen
Aberdeen, located on Scotland’s North Sea coast, is one of the largest cities in the country. According to the 2020 census, it has more than 228,670 estimated city residents, 24% of which are foreign-born. This makes Aberdeen one of the Scottish cities with the highest proportions of foreigners, so it comes as no surprise that over 69 languages are spoken here. In fact, 12% of city residents reported speaking a different language than English at home. Among the immigrant population, Chinese is one of the most commonly used languages, with more than a thousand native speakers.
As you can imagine, learning Chinese in Aberdeen will improve your experience in the city dramatically. Not only will it help you expand your social circle and allow you to make friends in the immigrant communities, but it will also grant you unique job opportunities in the area and abroad. On top of that, it will change the way you think about Asian cultures and the world forever.
Why Study Mandarin Chinese in Aberdeen?
Learn Mandarin Chinese for Work and Travel
It is no secret that learning a language will make you more employable and help you advance in your career. This is especially true if you decide to learn Mandarin Chinese, which will make your CV stand up in any job interview, especially if you want a position in one of the top companies in Aberdeen like EY, Amazon or BP, which are constantly looking for applicants who can help them build business relationships with leading Chinese companies and expand abroad.
In addition to that, due to Chinese residents being one of the largest immigrant communities in Aberdeen, being able to communicate with them in the native language will get you access to unique job opportunities in the city and find great business partners and employees within the Chinese local community. It’s also a great idea to learn this language if you’re planning on working in China, as not many locals outside big cities can understand English.
Learn Mandarin Chinese for Social
As a Chinese learner, you probably want to learn everything you can about Chinese culture. One of the best ways to do this while in Aberdeen is to visit some of the great Chinese restaurants in the area, where not only you’ll get to taste amazing food, but you will also have the unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the Chinese traditional music and get to know some of the native speakers that run these businesses. Taste of Hong Kong, located at 28 Adelphi, offers traditional Chinese dishes like Yangzhou fried rice, a popular wok-fried rice dish, Cantonese lo mein, which are yellow egg noodles tossed in homemade oyster and soya sauce, and fried ho fun, stir-fried white flat rice noodles with beansprout and onion. Another great place where you can explore Chinese cuisine is Panda Valley, located at 114 Rosemount Place, where you can find delicious duck dishes, Chinese soups and sweet and sour pork dishes.
Learn Mandarin Chinese for Culture
If you want to boost your Chinese skills, there’s nothing like getting together and chatting with other speakers who are just as passionate about the language as you are. In Aberdeen, the Confucius Institute, which is part of the University of Aberdeen, organizes many cultural events throughout the year which include language exchanges. Their main aim is to help local speakers meet each other and also connect them with native speakers in the area who want to improve their English. These events, which take place at the university campus, are completely free and learners of all levels are welcome to attend. If you want more information, you can check their event calendar to find out when’s the next exchange happening.
Where to learn Mandarin Chinese in and around Aberdeen?
There are many ways you can develop your Chinese skills. If you like learning through watching films, at any of the Aberdeen Public Library branches you’ll find great Chinese movies. One of the most renowned ones is Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, a great 2000 film directed by Ang Lee. It’s based on the 1941 Chinese novel by the same name, and it was acclaimed by critics. Because the film is in Chinese, it’s a great chance to expand your vocabulary as you enjoy a captivating story. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a Chinese language course, the University of Aberdeen offers lessons at all levels.
However, if you truly want to become fluent in Chinese fast and in an entertaining way, Listen & Learn is the best choice. You won’t have to use the same outdated materials you find at most language institutions, our lessons stand out because they’re flexible and completely personalised to your interests and goals. All you have to do is send us a quick enquiry and we’ll pair you up with one of our qualified native tutors who will tailor the best Chinese course just for you.
The type of courses we offer:
Face-to-Face 1-to-1 (Individual) General Mandarin Chinese
These Mandarin Chinese lessons are more general in nature and are targeted at students who have a whole range of different needs. While all beginners level students can expect to cover Survival Mandarin Chinese—required for short visits to a country where English may not be spoken and/or the intention is to make good contacts with the local population—students then generally progress in different directions depending on their needs. Typical students include those buying property overseas, spouses of overseas nationals, people about to set off on that long-awaited world trip, Mandarin Chinese-culture enthusiasts and those who are keen to pass a particular Mandarin Chinese examination. Enquire now about our Mandarin Chinese Courses or Take A Free Mandarin Chinese Level Test
Face-to-Face 1-to-1 (Individual) Business Mandarin Chinese
The people who would benefit the most from these Mandarin Chinese tutorials are those who feel they need to learn Mandarin Chinese to help them out in their business lives. For starters, learning salutations and business etiquette is essential. Once these have been practised, then reading and writing lessons can begin. Typical studiers have been those involved in international imports/exports, negotiations and acquisitions, multinational companies requiring another language and those working in any way with international governments and relevant administration. Even our simplest lesson for beginners will have students finishing the lessons with basic telephone and e-mail Mandarin Chinese as well as survival Mandarin Chinese should a visit to the country be necessary. Enquire now about our Mandarin Chinese Courses or Take A Free Mandarin Chinese Level Test
Face-to-Face Closed (Private) Group General or Business Mandarin Chinese
Lessons in Mandarin Chinese are also accessible for 2 or more studying in tandem (Two-to-One Mandarin Chinese Lessons or Small Group In-Company Mandarin Chinese Lessons). All those involved must have around the same experience of the language, similar needs for areas of proficiency, and must be able to work at the same time and place. Bookings must be made for all students at the same time. Listen & Learn does not advise classes of more than 6-8 people, although In-Company Taster Mandarin Chinese sessions can be run with as many as 12 people. Enquire now about our Mandarin Chinese Courses or Take A Free Mandarin Chinese Level Test
Skype, Google Meet or Zoom Online 1-to-1 (Individual) General or Business Mandarin Chinese
Our native-speaking qualified Mandarin Chinese teachers can instruct you and your group at your work or at home at a time most convenient for you. Classes can take place on any day of the week—even weekends—morning, afternoon or evening. If meeting at your office or home is not suitable, you can take your lessons at the trainer's office. Study materials are supplied for you. Enquire now about our Mandarin Chinese Courses or Take A Free Mandarin Chinese Level Test
Skype, Google Meet or Zoom Online Group (Closed or Open) General or Business Mandarin Chinese
Lessons in Mandarin Chinese are also accessible for two or more people studying in tandem (Two-to-One Mandarin Chinese Lessons or Small Group In-Company Mandarin Chinese Lessons). All those involved must have around the same experience of the language, similar needs of areas of proficiency and must be able to meet at the same time and place. Bookings must be made for all students at the same time. Listen & Learn does not advise classes of more than 6-8 people, though In-Company Taster Mandarin Chinese sessions can be run with as many as 12 people. Enquire now about our Mandarin Chinese Courses or Take A Free Mandarin Chinese Level Test
Top Tips For…
mandarin-chinese Songs
The Drunken Beauty- Li Yu Gang
“The Drunken Beauty” is a great song to learn more about the Chinese language, but also about their culture and traditions, as it combines ancient Chinese music with modern rhythms. The song is about two young adults who meet and fall in love in a disco one Saturday night, so you’ll learn some words related to love and relationships. If you are a beginner looking to improve your skills in Mandarin Chinese, this is the track for you, as it includes simple nouns and tenses and some useful prepositions. Plus, its rhythmic pattern makes the song easy to memorize.
Listen to this track here!mandarin-chinese Songs
WeChat- The Higher Brothers
Do you enjoy listening to rap and would like to take advantage to improve your Mandarin Chinese skills and learn new vocabulary in a meaningful manner? Then, you should definitely follow The Higher Brothers’ music. “WeChat”, for example, is a great song that mixes Mandarin with English, so it’s a good starting point for Beginner students who want to improve their listening skills. The song is about all the things that are prohibited in China (from free access to the internet to fashion or food), so you’ll also learn more about the culture, at the same time!
Listen to this track here!Bao Bei Dui Bu Qi (Baby, I’m Sorry)- Shazam
If you are a Beginner-level student of Mandarin, it may be hard for you to find suitable materials to improve your skills. Listening, in particular, is one of the most challenging. But you can always resort to catchy, easy-to-remember songs, like “Baby, I’m sorry”, to develop your ear quickly. As the name suggests, this is a romantic song that talks about a man who apologizes to his wife for his mistakes. It uses simple structures and vocabulary, and the whole song is in the present perfect tense, so you will find it easy to understand (even as a beginner), especially if you have the written lyrics to hand!
Listen to this track here!mandarin-chinese Apps
Pleco
Pleco is one of the best Mandarin Chinese offline dictionaries you will find. It has a free version and a more complete premium option you can download for Android and iOS. Pleco will not only give you the definition of each word but it also includes a handwriting recognizer (so you can check the quality of your Chinese symbols), and an audio recording of each word, so you learn how to pronounce them correctly. If you decide to pay for the premium version, it also includes a flashcard maker, so you can prepare your own flashcards with pictures, words and sounds.
Click here to download the app.mandarin-chinese Apps
Duolingo
If you are an eager language learner, you have surely heard of Duolingo. This app offers 5-minute lessons on more than 20 languages, including Mandarin Chinese. Their lessons are organised into different vocabulary areas, such as food, family, directions, and more! The first thing you will learn are the Mandarin characters, so the app is good for beginners, as well as intermediate-level students. Additionally, you can practise grammar, as many of the activities involve creating or re-ordering sentences, translating phrases, etc. You can use Duolingo on your computer or download it onto your smartphone, if you prefer.
Click here to download the app.Hello Talk
If you are an advanced learner of Mandarin Chinese and now you are looking for partners with whom you can put your skills into practice, you should download Hello Talk. The app helps you connect with people from different parts of the world (native and non-native) who are looking to make new friends while chatting in Chinese. It’s similar to WhatsApp, but here you can find people you don’t know but who are, nonetheless, as eager to learn Mandarin. Just download it onto your phone, choose the language you want to practise and you will see a list of people who want to chat and participate in an enriching language exchange!
Click here to download the app.Testimonials
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Client case studies
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Philip Jarman
Mandarin Chinese in Swansea
Listen & Learn was right for me with their tailored home tuition, flexible learning, good prices and good reputation
Our Clients Include
From our clients all over the world
BGL Group Ltd
Language learned: French in Peterborough.
JW Marriott Hotel
Language learned: Spanish in London.
