Chinese For Us

Summary

ChineseFor.Us has impressively well-made online Chinese courses. The content is explained extremely well, in a simple manner, and with a lot of depth. Although they don’t yet offer courses for intermediate and higher levels, the beginner content is excellent.

I Like

• The most in-depth courses you’ll find anywhere online. No course will give you as solid of a foundation for learning Chinese as ChineseFor.Us.
• The videos and quizzes are very well-made. It’s clear that they put in the effort to make a quality product.
• It’s very affordable, especially if you’re willing to commit to a six-month plan. A subscription gives you access to all courses.

I Don’t Like

• The content may be overly covered. For a beginner, it may be better to learn some topics “well enough” instead of mastering every detail.
• If you’re just looking to pass an HSK test, some other courses might get you there faster but won’t give you as strong of a foundation.

Price

A subscription to ChineseFor.Us costs $24.99/month. If you commit to six-months up front this falls to $9.99/month. A one-year subscription would cost $8.99/month.

Chinese Zero to Hero!

Summary

I like Chinese Zero to Hero! a lot. Their courses cover HSK1-6 of the HSK Standard Course textbooks. While it’s not in-depth enough to be the only resource you use, few courses are. It’s a great option for those looking to add structure into their independent study routine or are preparing for the HSK tests. It isn’t meant to be a replacement for a textbook, but those with textbook phobia would really benefit from this course.

I Like

• It’s perfect for someone like me that likes to study using lots of different resources but wants to add some structure.
• The videos are well-made with clear explanations. They don’t rely too heavily on pinyin or English.
• Great value at a low price.
• Covers everything from HSK1 to HSK6.

I Don’t Like

• If you don’t use other resources with this course, you’ll struggle to get enough practice.
• Works best used alongside the HSK Standard Course textbooks and not as a standalone course.

Price

There are several different options to buy the courses. You can choose the ultimate bundle which gives you access to everything for $219. The HSK 1 – HSK 4 bundle costs $134 and the HSK 5 – HSK 6 & Path to Fluency bundle costs $109.

You can also purchase each HSK level individually. HSK 1 & HSK 2 cost $29 each, HSK 3 costs $36, and HSK 4, 5, & 6 cost $64 each. As each HSK level is made up of a few smaller parts, those smaller parts can also be purchased separately.

WordSwing

Summary

WordSwing provides text adventure games which are sort of a mix between graded readers, choose your own story adventure books, and role player games. These are made for intermediate and higher level students which helps to fill the gap where there aren’t a lot of study materials available. I’d definitely suggest trying them out!

I Like

• The focus on intermediate and higher level students helps to fill a gap where materials were lacking.
• You’re forced to actively read and listen to the stories. You’ll have to make decisions based on what’s happening in the story.
• It’s easy to use, look up unknown words, and generally works well.

I Don’t Like

• Occasionally the app can be a little slow. This seems to be rare though.
• While there are other components to WordSwing, they’re not done nearly as well as the text adventure games.

Price

A subscription starts at $8 a month or a year long subscription at $72.

Lingo Bus

Summary

Lingo Bus is an online Chinese learning platform specifically designed for children between 5 and 12 years old. Their immersive online lessons, well-designed curriculum, engaging materials, and excellent teachers would make them my top choice for anyone interested in helping their child learn Mandarin.

I Like

• Their focus on teaching Mandarin specifically to children leads to more appropriate and engaging lessons than competitors offer.
• The design of the curriculum with clear learning targets.
• The extra materials available both before and after the class.
• Skilled teachers that provide a comfortable and immersive environment.

I Don’t Like

• The price is fairly expensive though still reasonable.

Price

Each lesson costs $20 though discounts are available if you purchase lesson bundles.