Studying Chinese in Zhuhai?

[pacotaco]

I'm looking for a private mandarin instructor in Zhuhai, and/or a mandarin chinese school. Am suprised I'm having so much difficulty to find, can anyone recommend?

[abcdefg]

I’ve studied Mandarin there two times about a year apart each time. It’s possible, but it’s pretty hard to do, and even more problematic to make arrangements long distance ahead of time. If you are already there you can usually work something out face to face.

This is the most useful internet link I can give you, and it is not too great: http://www.deltabridges.com/directory/12/education

I once went to Gateway Language Village because their internet ad said they taught Mandarin. But I found out they stopped that a couple years ago and just didn’t bother changing their website info. They switched to only teaching English to Chinese speakers. Still, one of the secretaries, when pressed, was able to give me names and phone numbers of a couple teachers who used to work there back when they still taught Chinese.

Another time I rode the bus way out in the suburbs to the campus of Beijing Normal University where they advertise a program teaching Mandarin to foreigners. I didn’t want to live there because it was so remote and their course schedule didn’t fit the time I had available. But again a helpful secretary gave me a couple names of teachers who lived in town and might be able to take me on as a private student part time. I'd imagine you could try this same approach at the Zhuhai campus of Sun Yat Sen University.

Another time I considered using Royal Language, but did not follow through. They are set up to teach expats working there full time a little Mandarin on the side, usually two evening classes per week. They said they could accomodate my desire for a more intense instruction program but I made other plans instead.

None of these options are cheap or easy and none are suitible for an absolute beginner. I really like Zhuhai, so I stayed there anyhow. If your main goal is learning Mandarin, many better choices of destination exist.

Edited July 18, 2009 at 01:53 AM by abcdefg

[pacotaco]

Very very useful info, I'm following up some of the leads on that link. I agree that Zhuhai is not the ideal place to study mandarin but for a variety of reasons that's where I'm going to be for 2 weeks in Aug. Thanks again for your help.

[abcdefg]

Zhuhai is a great place and you will hear lots of Mandarin there because many Zhuhai people came from other parts of the mainland originally. Since you are only going to be there two weeks, you might consider just relaxing and talking to local people every chance you get instead of studying formally.

I'm going to be there later this month and if I find out more, I'll let you know.

[Vincent Freeman]

Hi abcdefg! Thank you for your posts about Zhuhai! I saw that the post is a bit older.

Are you still in town? I am keen on starting learning Chinese in China. To finance myself and not work too many hours, I found out that teaching English seems to be a good option. The offer that I got is from Zhuhai, a school about 1 hour from the center. I am a German national and therefore have a hard time finding an English teaching post, so I guess I will accept the offer even though it is not my preferred choice hence far out, teaching huge classes, lower salary and apparently not in the best area in China to learn Mandarin.

I would like to know if it may be possible to give some examples where you will find written Cantonese and where Mandarin in the city as well as an estimated percentage of people who a) speak Mandarin among themselves b) speak Mandarin at all

[abcdefg]

Reply to #5 -- I live in Kunming now and don't have any current Zhuhai information. Zhuhai is a real nice city and a good place to live. I still enjoy going there from time to time.

Even though Zhuhai may not be an ideal place to learn Mandarin, it definitely can be done. Most younger people can speak Mandarin, even thought they may speak Cantonese at home with their parents. Sorry that I cannot supply accurate percentages.

Best of luck.

[Vincent Freeman]

Hi, thanks again for the information... I'm living in Zhuhai now... and yes, I must say the city is great!

Being far out kinda sucks though, as I thought before... so I'm trying to find a job in the city center.

Learning Mandarin also proved a lot harder than I thought but I'm grateful for the experience I get here...

[smurese]

I really like Zhuhai too - in a modern planned city kind of way (for example, the parks, greenery and open spaces are not bad, and complement the seaside setting - you could fault it, but at least they tried). Refreshingly different to modern larger cities in China. (It doesn't really feature in a big way in Chinese history - and much like Shenzhen, is mostly a product of the wave of Deng reforms. But it's difficult for me to find things I like about Shenzhen.)

Now that you're living near there, what is it you most like about Zhuhai in comparison to other places? How do you find dealing with the different kinds of Chinese and Putonghua accents in that city?