A) Univ. course B) Language school course or C) Private tutoring?

[Triling]

Hello

 

I'm a Korean American person who has a daytime job in Qingdao looking for structured ways to learn Mandarin in Qingdao.

 

It seems that the options boil down to

 

A) the university courses offered at the Ocean and Qingdao Univ for ~7000 RMB for four hours per day

 

B) various smaller language school courses for around 500-1000 RMB/month 

 

C) private tutoring offered around 50 - 100 RMB per hour.

 

Since I have to be at my work for most of the day time, I think option A is mostly out unless I change something with my work schedule.

Various smaller language schools, I just have no clue which is good and the same for tutoring.

 

Does anyone have any advice on how to go about doing this?

[Basil]

I always enjoy learning with others, so I'd go for group classes. That way you can also see how you are progressing compared to others.

 

private tutoring, you have to interview lots of people, there's quite a few crappy teachers out there.

[tysond]

I work every day.  I find it better to have 1:1 lessons.

I pay over 100 an hour but it's at my house and it's a full teacher, not just a tutor.

 

I do 2 x 2 hour sessions a week, and self-study 1-2 hours every other day.

I focus the sessions with my teacher on speaking, pronunciation, grammar, reading out loud, questions about vocabulary and how to use it.

We use a textbook as base, but we can cover all sorts of material.

 

I can study characters, reading, writing largely by myself in my own time.

 

Quality of these sessions is totally dependent on the teacher.  

You should try few teachers and see who you like before committing heavily.

[Triling]

Group classes seem more "fun" for sure.

 

With tutors I have no way of searching for one.

 

Does anyone have any advice on specific language schools in Qingdao?

I can't seem to do the university ones because they are from 8am-12pm which wouldn't lave me any time to work after I do the homework.