by Olly RichardsLearning Chinese but have no-one to practise your speaking skills with? Then you need to discover the 6 best online Chinese tutoring services!
The best online Chinese tutoring platforms provide private classes to help you overcome any challenges you currently have on your plate, whether that’s grammar, speaking ability, reading and writing characters, mastering tones, and more.
These lessons may be more affordable than in-person classes, and you can even take them from the comfort of your own home.
Check out the best websites for finding online Chinese tutors below.
Pro Tip
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With Chinese Uncovered you’ll use my unique StoryLearning® method to learn Chinese through story…not rules. It’s as fun as it is effective. If you’re ready to get started, click here for a 7-day FREE trial.
1. LanguaTalk
The top pick for Chinese tutoring online
When it comes to language learning, LanguaTalk is tough to beat. If you're looking for experienced, qualified tutors, they're the site’s first priority—which means you'll have one less barrier in your way to becoming fluent in Chinese.
You can be certain that the tutor you choose is highly skilled, because LanguaTalk takes extra care to vet all of its tutors.
LanguaTalk is very selective in who they allow to become a tutor on their platform. In fact, only 10% of all applicants are approved. The site's highly accessible layout makes it easy to find the right tutor for you.
Many students may think that speaking ability is the most important aspect of learning a language, but tutors’ courses are actually tailored to students’s needs. This means that students can learn at their own pace and focus on the areas that they need help with the most.
LanguaTalk is a great way to learn Chinese. As there are tutors from multiple countries, you’ll find most Chinese dialects are covered. However, if you’re looking to learn something highly specific, like Medical Chinese, you might not be able to find what you’re looking for.
In addition, you may need to ask your tutor for additional resources, as the site itself has a limited selection.
Pros
- Tutors are carefully vetted, so quality is high and they can adapt to your specific needs
- You can book a free, 30-minute trial (no card required)
- Students can view tutors’ reviews
- The website is intuitive and accessible
Cons
- If you need to learn highly specialised Chinese, you might struggle to find the right tutor
- You’ll need to ask your tutor for additional learning resources
2. Mandarin9
A Chinese-specific service powered by real teachers
If you’re looking for help from tutors that have years of experience, Mandarin9 might be a great choice for you.
With experts ranging from university educators living in China to tutors who are native speakers, you should be able to find exactly the type of education you need at Mandarin9.
As an added bonus, the type of classes themselves can be shaped to suit your needs. If you thrive best working alongside others, Mandarin9 offers group sessions of four to six people. If you’d rather have one on one time with a tutor, this is possible as well.
Personalized lessons come at a higher cost than the standard group classes, but bother are affordable. Purchasing a set of 8 weeks of courses is the most inexpensive option at just $6 per hour of tutor time. This also comes with access to textbooks and other materials that will help you to level up your Chinese in no time.
Pros
- Educators are highly skilled
- Many tutors also speak other languages
- A free trial is available
Cons
- The individual lessons can be a bit pricey
- You need to be able to use Zoom
3. italki
For students who need as many options as possible
italki is a popular name when it comes to Chinese tutoring. What sets it apart from other similar services is that it provides two types of instruction: professional and community.
The professional tutors who teach Chinese have the necessary credentials to be educators in their country, whether that means certifications or degrees. You may have to pay a bit extra, but they offer curriculums that can help you learn the language.
Although community instructors are less expensive, they often lack recognised credentials. This can be frustrating for students who are hoping to gain an edge in the job market, but it opens up the chance for those on a budget to engage in authentic speaking practice.
italki is a great resource for anyone looking to learn a new language. With more than 30,000 tutors, it's likely that you'll find what you're looking for. Whether you're interested in learning Chinese or another Asian language, italki has you covered.
If you want to learn Chinese in a way that is convenient for you, italki makes sure to be accessible both as a desktop website and an app. This way, you can learn the language at your own pace and in a way that is comfortable for you.
Pros
- Both pro and casual tutors available
- You don’t need a tutor to access lots of extracurricular materials
- Easy access on any device
Cons
- Professional tutors can be expensive
- The app is better with load times and user experience
4. Verbling
A global-focused tutoring site
Verbling is an online tutoring service that provides Chinese classes.
What distinguishes Verbling is the way its teachers charge for their services. Verbling allows teachers to set their own prices, which gives students a lot of flexibility in finding the right tutor for their budget.
Tutors are in control of how much they charge, making tutoring a flexible and convenient option for both them and the student.
When it comes to finding a tutor, you have a lot of options. You can search based on price, location, or even specific subject matter. That means you can find someone who meets your needs and fits within your budget.
The website is easy to use and navigate, but the same cannot always be said of the app. The app has good days and bad days, but a patch should be coming soon.
Looking for a tutor who can help you improve your Chinese skills? Verbling has tutors from all over the world, so you're sure to find one whose interests and abilities align with yours.
Pros
- Tutors can be searched anywhere in the world
- The website is super easy to use
- Free trials come around often
Cons
- The app needs some work
- Tutors may set their rates very high since they are in control of prices
5. MyLingoTrip
For those who like professional curricula
One of the main differences between MLT and other language learning programs is that you book your Chinese lessons on a per-lesson basis.
This means that each lesson is a one-on-one session, which allows for more personalized attention and tailored instruction.
The number of sessions you book at one time dictates the fee you will be charged, with more classes leading to a reduced overall fee. In other words, the more classes you book, the cheaper each individual class becomes.
You will need to take a minimum of five classes, for which you will be allocated a tutor based on your responses to questionnaires before you start. This is so that MLT can ensure that you get the best possible education and experience during your time there.
Although some people are nervous about having a teacher assigned to them rather than picking their own, all of the tutors are native speakers who have certification. This means that they are more than qualified to help you learn the language you want to improve in.
MyLingoTrip is a great online Chinese tutoring service for a number of reasons, but one of the best is that all of the teachers use the same tried-and-true curriculum.
This means that your experience with an online Chinese lesson will be just as good as a traditional in-person Chinese lesson, but from anywhere in the world!
Pros
- The tutors are not responsible for making a curriculum on the spot
- Sessions can be booked as a group
- Teachers are always native Chinese speakers
Cons
- Dialects and other specialised knowledge may not be a focal point
- The site has no built-in video option for classes
6. VerbalPlanet
When you need feedback more than anything else
Looking for the best Chinese language instructor and wanting feedback along the way? VerbalPlanet is the perfect tool for you!
With so many different instructors to choose from, you're bound to find one that fits your learning style and goals.
At VerbalPlanet, tutors understand that providing quick and effective feedback is one of the most important aspects of being a teacher. They make it their mission to provide users with the tools and resources they need to be successful.
Tutors can help you stay motivated by using the Common European Framework of References for Languages (CEFR) to identify your strengths and improve your language skills.
In addition to the traditional online Skype classroom setting, you can also take classes online using Zoom or Teams.
VerbalPlanet also stands out for the short duration of its lessons—usually no more than 40 minutes or so. This shorter time commitment makes it easier for you to fit a VerbalPlanet course into your busy schedule.
This is especially useful if you struggle to find time to study Chinese. Incorporating language study into your day can be a real challenge, but 40 minutes is something most of us can fit into our schedules.
Pros
- Feedback is consistent and valuable
- Bulk lessons are available for purchase
- Lessons are short
Cons
- May not be able to secure a free trial
- Some people like longer lessons
Best Online Chinese Tutoring Services
With so many resources available online, it's easy to find ways to learn Chinese. Whether you're looking for podcasts in Chinese, Chinese TV shows, or other materials, there are plenty of options out there. And best of all, many of them are free!
Still, there’s only so far you can on your own, and a full-service Chinese tutoring programme can help you synthesise the bits of knowledge you've acquired into useful skills.
There's no better time than now to get started, so check out LanguaTalk, our top recommendation for finding the best online Chinese tutors.
The platform stands out for its ease of use, and unlike other sites, identifies the top 10% of talent. It also offers a 30-minute free trial session to new students, though a few tutors do opt to charge a small fee for this. Click here to see tutors' availability, videos and reviews.
