Learning Method at SpeakMandarin.com        -Top

1. What's the learning plan? Is it customized for me?        -Top

Students will get a free trial online Chinese session first. During this session, Chinese teacher will evaluate students' Chinese level and try to understand their learning objective. Then, the learning consultant will send a customized learning plan just as students' own level and requirements to them for free! Students will start their Chinese mandarin session according to this plan. Every student will have his own learning consultant who will keep track of his studying progress, check the status of their learning, and adjust the learning plan in time, if needed.

2. Should I use the web camera when I have a session? I am used to have sessions without seeing the teacher.        -Top

We only use the camera with the students who are less than 10 years old. For the adults we try to concentrate on the voice only aspect. When you study in our virtual classroom, you will find there is no difference than in a face-to-face classroom, and it is even more effective.

3. How should I arrange my session time?        -Top

We strongly suggest that students have more than five Chinese classes in a week with some before-class preview and after-class review to get effective. Students will master the Chinese they learned through constant repeat and memorization. At the same time, students also can talk to our counselors, and they will suggest a study plan accordingly. One feature of our system is flexible which allow student change/cancel their booked sessions before session start with Refund Policy.

4. How can I type Chinese on a U.S. Keyboard?        -Top

Regardless of whether you have a Windows or a Macintosh system, you can use your U.S. keyboard to type in Chinese Characters. Please refer to the following instructions:
Windows
(1). Wait for your computer to turn on. Then, go to the "Control Panel" located under "Start" on the bottom left corner of your computer screen. Look for "Regional and Language Options" or a similar option that enables you to manage the computer language.
(2). Look for Chinese under the "Languages" option and add it to your list of languages by clicking "Add." That way, you can easily switch from English to Chinese with just a click since these languages will be located on the desktop of your computer, somewhere on the task bar. If you can't locate the Chinese language, click on "Install Files for East Asian Languages" under the "Languages" options and click "OK" or "Apply." You will need to restart your computer. After it has restarted, repeat the steps and select Chinese as the language.
(3). Locate the languages on your task bar and click on the language you currently want, whether it is English, labeled as "EN", Chinese, labeled as "CH" or another language.
(4). Type in "pinyin" on your keyboard and notice how Chinese characters appear on your screen. To switch back to English, simply click on "EN" on the task bar.
Macintosh
(1). Locate the "System Preferences" in the dock on the bottom of your computer screen. Look for "Language and Text" in the first row of options.
(2). Look for Chinese in the list of languages on the left hand side. If you cannot find it, click on "Edit List..." and add Chinese to this list. This list doesn't contain all of the world's languages, but by editing it, you can include the languages you like.
(3). Click on the "Input Sources" option. Scroll down until you find the "Chinese- Simplified" input method. Click on the box next to it to select it.
(4). Type in "pinyin" to see if Chinese characters appear on the screen. To switch between languages, look for the "Language & Text" options in the top right-hand corner of your desktop. The chosen language will be displayed with the country flag as an icon.

5. How do I use "My Package" in my account?        -Top

There are two parts regarding "My Package." The first one is "Recommendation." It is used to view the courseware that a learning consultant has customized for each student, adapting to his own Chinese level and learning interest. The second one is "My favorites." It is a way for users to explore our library of courses and pick the ones they like most. If users would like to review one or even several courses in "My Favorites" during their upcoming session, simply select and add them to the note area when booking you next session.

The Price of the Courses to Learn Mandarin Chinese at SpeakMandarin.com        -Top

1. How do I pay my tuition fee?        -Top

You can pay for your tuition fee through paypal.com or just use a credit card. Please go to the Pricing page to check it out. Just follow the steps. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at Support@speakmandarin.com or find us from Live Chat on the home page.

2. How much does SpeakMandarin.com charge for the sessions?        -Top

There are monthly subscription packages and normal sessions to choose from. Students need to purchase credits before they can have sessions: 100 credits for 50-min sessions. Monthly subscription packages are much more effective than flexible credits but have time limited. Please find more, detailed information from the Pricing page or contact us for any other requirements.

3. What is the monthly package and how much is it?        -Top

(1). Students can choose to take 1 session per day, or 3 sessions per day while taking a break other days, or any other way students would like to distribute their sessions. These packages are designed for the students who want to improve their Chinese level enormously in a short time. Please be aware that the subscription will be automatically effective at the beginning of each month period and will remain so until the end of the contract. The unit price of each session is as low as $9! Notes: The period is not a calendar month. It starts the day which you pay and will end in 30 days.
(2). Can I pay the tuition fee for a monthly subscription package by credit card?
Normally, students can purchase normal credits by credit card or by using PayPal. However, a monthly subscription package can only be paid through PayPal. Please email Support@speakmandarin.com or Chat Live with us if you have any trouble when paying this way. Custom service will help you in this instance.
(3). Can I negotiate the price of the monthly subscription package?
Sorry, the monthly subscription is the lowest pricing for a one-on-one online, live Chinese course we can supply. We promise to offer the lowest price but the best service for all of the Chinese learners.

4. Can I cancel my booked session? Is there any cancelation fee?        -Top

Yes, you can cancel your booked session as your own schedule.
There will be no extra charge for cancellations of 12 or more hours prior to the scheduled session time; however, a 50-min session cancellation that is made less than 12 hours prior to the scheduled session time will incur a cancellation fee of 100 SpeakMandarin.com credits. And a 25-min session cancellation that is made less than 12 hours prior to the scheduled session time will incur a cancellation fee of 50 SpeakMandarin.com credits.

5. Is there any way for me to track my credit spending history?        -Top

Yes, you can find your credit spending history under "My Credits." It will automatically record all of the changes of your credits, categorized by events, including purchases, spending, bonuses, and refunds. You can log in to your personal account and then click on "My credits" to check them.

6. Is there any discount for the courses?        -Top

We will provide different discounts at different times. It will be very cost-efficient if you buy our sessions during the time a discounted time. If you are a registered user, you will receive our newsletters, which will send out discount information from time to time.

7. If I introduce my friends to your company, do I receive a discount?        -Top

We greatly appreciate the fact that you would like to share our website with your friends. We will provide you with free trial sessions according to the amount your friends purchase, or you can choose to receive a discount on you next purchase.

Subscription Sharing Plan        -Top

1. What is the Subscription Sharing Plan?        -Top

You can choose to have a partner to share your subscription with just a little additional cost. You and your partner can choose to join the same session (i.e. 2 students are in the same classroom with 1 teacher, or 1-to-2 model), or take individual sessions independently as long as the number of the sessions is within the limit of your subscription.

2. Does my partner have to learn the same thing as me?        -Top

We customize the learning for each student, including your learning partner. The two learners in the Subscription Sharing Plan are treated as independent learners. Each of you receives your own learning plan and learns at your own pace. However, if you choose to take the 1-to-2 sessions, it's the best to have a partner at the same level.

3. How much do you charge for the Subscription Sharing Plan?        -Top

40% of the cost for one person package will be charged for the additional learner that will share your package.
e.g.:
(1). For the flexible credits,
One person $249 for 10 1-on-1 sessions
Two person $249*140%=$348.6 for 10 1-on-2 sessions, as low as $174.3 per person.
(2). For subscription package,
One person $279.99 for 30 1-on-1 sessions in 30 days
Two person $279.99*140%=$391.99 for 30 1-on-1/1on-2 sessions in 30 days, Learners in the Subscription Sharing Plan can choose any combination of 1-on-1 or 1-to-2 sessions. As low as $195.99 per person.

4. Can you help me to find a partner to share my subscription?        -Top

Sorry, we're unable to match students at the moment. You will be responsible for finding your own partner and forming your own group.

5. What's the refund policy?        -Top

We follow the Money-Back Guarantee practice for the Subscription Sharing Plan. The money-back guarantee is for first-time students only. As a first-time students, if you and your partners are not satisfied with our service, you can cancel your subscription any time within the first month, starting from the date of your first payment, not the date of your first class. You will only be charged for the first month's fee. We will refund you the remainder of your payment.
After the first month, if one of the partners quits for any reason before the contract period ends, no tuition fee will be refunded.
No credits will be refunded and no make-up sessions will be offered due to the absence of the group members. Be careful to coordinate your time with your partner!

6. Is the Subscription Sharing Plan applicable to any package?        -Top

The Subscription Sharing Plan is not applicable to the Conversational Chinese Intensive Program and Chinese: Fast Track for Beginners Powered by Supermemo.com Package.

How to Schedule a Session        -Top

1. Are the times displayed on the clock at the SpeakMandarin.com website and the "Schedule Column" my local time?        -Top

Yes, our system is able to detect your local time zone, as shown in your PC, automatically. Therefore, the time you see in the "Schedule Column" and the clock on our website should be the same as your PC.

2. Can I take a trial session?        -Top

Yes. After registration, you can try one Free Trial session with no further purchase obligation. If you have any questions, please contact us through Live Chat.

3. How should I book a session?        -Top

Booking sessions are very simple and can be done through our Scheduling, or you can choose the day you want from the calendar on the left hand column. Simply look over all of the available slots and choose one that fits your schedule. Once a session is booked, all you need is an internet connection and a headset with a microphone to take your lesson. Log in to SpeakMandarin.com ten minutes before your scheduled time and your coach will be waiting for you.

4. How do I book a session with a specific coach?        -Top

Go to www.speakmandarin.com, sign in and click on "Schedule." On the next page, please click on "View Time Slots by Coach;" and then click the coach's name to find their "Available Time." You can then book a session that matches both the coaches' schedule and your schedule.

5. How far in advance do I need to book a session and how long is one session?        -Top

Sessions have to be booked at least 12 hours ahead of the coaching time. Session lengths vary depending on the personal preferences of the student as well as the courses and any packages that have been pre-booked. Session times can range between 25 minutes and 50 minutes. The free trial session is 25 minutes long.

6. Is the time SpeakMandarin.com shows my local time?        -Top

Yes, the time of sessions SpeakMandarin.com shows are your local time according to your computer. Please check it out after the webpage totally finished because get the time zone of your computer automatically still need several seconds. But please make sure the clock on the left always shows the correct time as your time zone. In the other words, you need to change the time of your computer when you travel to another time zone or choose the correct time zone under the clock to make sure you booked the correct sessions.

Start a Normal Session        -Top

1. How should I begin my session?        -Top

Once a session is booked, all you need is an internet connection and a headset with a microphone. Make sure that you have downloaded a flash player and installed everything that is needed to enter the classroom. Log in to SpeakMandarin.com ten minutes before your scheduled time and your coach will be waiting. Go to our Demo where you will find a guide for how to take a session. Just follow the steps, or go to the Support page where you can download the User-Guide.

2. What should I do if there is no response when I click on "Enter the Classroom" and "Skype"?        -Top

Your system has been set up to block pop-ups. For Mac users, please open Safari -> Preference -> Security and uncheck "Block Pop-Up Windows" under "Web Content". For PC users, please click on Tools-> Pop-up blocker-> and Turn off Pop-Up-Blocker.
Please add www.SpeakMandarin.com as a trusted site as followed by IE browsers, click "Tools" -> Choose "Internet Options" -> Click "Security" -> Click "Trusted sites" -> Click on "Sites" -> Input www.SpeakMandarin.com and https://speakmandarin.webex.com -> Click "Add" and> Click "OK" to finish.

3. Can I track my learning progress?        -Top

Yes. After each session, your coach will provide you with session notes in the feedback section of your SpeakMandarin.com account. It will cover what you have learned in that session. You also could print them as you want.

4. Can these sessions prepare me for a certification exam?        -Top

Yes, they can. The only simplified Chinese exam with international recognition in China is the HSK, which is the "Chinese Level Exam." We can make a customized study plan, where all of your sessions will be related to the HSK test to help you to pass it. Moreover, we can also help users to prepare for other examinations like SAP, AT or BCT and so on.