Learn Chinese

Find a useful starting point.

Choose a direction by age, language environment and current goals. Discuss formats and arrangements in an initial conversation.

Three directions, at a glance.

01

Singapore primary Chinese

Who it is for
Primary 1–6, including the PSLE years
Learning focus
Reading questions and selecting evidence, picture-based speaking, comprehension and writing.
Formats to discuss
Individual online support / Small-group reading and writing
Explore learning tasks

Start with a passage or piece of schoolwork.

Characters & vocabulary

Understand words in sentences and everyday situations, and learn to use them.

Comprehension

Understand what a question asks, locate relevant information and explain relationships.

Writing & expression

Choose a focus, then develop it through actions, dialogue and change.

Speaking & listening

Listen for meaning, state an idea clearly and support it with reasons and experience.

Enquire about this direction
02

Chinese for heritage families

Who it is for
A starting guide for children aged 5–12 and their families
Learning focus
Move from understanding to speaking; connect characters, shared reading and family stories.
Formats to discuss
Themed learning / Reading with parent participation
Explore learning tasks

Discuss home languages and when the child chooses to use Chinese.

Everyday communication

Begin with familiar people and experiences, and give children something meaningful to say.

Shared reading

Turn reading into conversation: what did you notice, why, and how else could you express it?

Characters & reading

Connect characters, vocabulary and short passages, building a bridge from speech to text.

Culture & connection

Explore family stories, festivals and daily habits to connect Chinese with a child’s own life.

Enquire about this direction
03

International Chinese

Who it is for
Beginners and learners with intercultural communication goals
Learning focus
Pinyin, tones and everyday language, alongside characters, festivals and cultural understanding.
Formats to discuss
Introductory and progressive learning modules
Explore learning tasks

Choose a practical situation that fits your goals.

Pronunciation & foundations

Explore tones and useful expressions through clear, manageable steps.

Everyday situations

Use Chinese in situations such as introductions, transport, food and shopping.

Characters & stories

Discover how characters carry meaning, and encounter new words in understandable stories.

Cultural understanding

Compare expressions, habits and contexts to communicate across backgrounds.

Enquire about this direction

These formats are a starting point for enquiries. Availability, teacher, group size, lesson length and fees are confirmed after an initial conversation.

How to begin

Know what happens next.

  1. 01

    Email your enquiry

    Email your learning stage, current question and preferred contact details.

  2. 02

    An initial conversation

    A short discussion, around 15 minutes, about current Chinese and goals. We will agree a time together.

  3. 03

    Agree a learning plan

    Review goals, format, schedule and fees before deciding.

  4. 04

    Learn, then review

    Use reading, expression and focused tasks to review progress.

USEFUL TO KNOW

Before we talk.

Starting points

Who is this for? Can beginners enquire?

Our directions include Singapore primary Chinese, heritage Chinese with ages 5–12 as a starting guide, and international Chinese for beginners. We also consider home languages, previous Chinese experience and the learner’s goals.

My child understands Chinese but rarely speaks it. Where do we start?

Start with people, experiences and interests your child wants to talk about. Shared reading, a photograph or a family interview can give speaking a real purpose. Tell us when your child chooses to speak so we can discuss suitable tasks.

How do local expressions connect with school Chinese?

Words such as 巴士, 德士 and 组屋 carry Singapore’s everyday experience. We begin with meaning in context, then discuss clear, appropriate expression for a particular reading, speaking or writing task.

Learning arrangements

How are format, timetable and fees agreed?

Email your enquiry, then arrange an initial conversation. We discuss content, teacher, format, timetable and fees before you decide. The formats on this page are a guide for that discussion; availability is confirmed individually.

Can we discuss learning across time zones?

Include your city, time zone and convenient contact times in your email. We will discuss an arrangement that fits both schedules and the learning format. You do not need to plan a full timetable before enquiring.

How will I learn about the teacher and feedback?

During your enquiry, we introduce the proposed teacher’s relevant experience and discuss goals, practice and feedback. Tell us what you would like to understand, such as comprehension, speaking or the use of Chinese at home.

Enquiries and preparation

Do we need to enrol after the first conversation?

The initial conversation is around 15 minutes, at an agreed time. It helps us understand your question and a useful next step. You decide after the goals, arrangements and fees have been explained.

Do we need schoolwork, reports or a test beforehand?

An age group or year level and one learning question are enough to start. If useful, bring a short passage, a piece of schoolwork or a recent example of a speaking difficulty. A full set of reports is not required.

Can I choose WhatsApp or WeChat?

Email us with your preferred reply method. For WhatsApp, provide a mobile number with its country code; for WeChat, your WeChat ID; for email, your email address. We will respond using those details.

Resources and partnerships

Is there something we can try at home first?

Try a family interview or shared reading first. Download the free family memory card, or explore the hiCHINAstories and rhymes, then invite your child to retell one detail.

How can a school or organisation discuss a partnership?

Email info@chanjuanculture.com with school / organisation partnership or original content / licensing in the subject. Share your audience, intended use and project timing. We discuss the scope of programmes, teacher resources, cultural projects or content licensing together.

Who can see the details I email?

Your enquiry email is handled by authorised team members responsible for responding. They are not displayed publicly. You can request a correction or deletion at info@chanjuanculture.com. Read our privacy notice.

A READING EXAMPLE

One passage. Three different tasks.

The school bell rang, but Minhui did not leave straight away. She picked up the scraps of paper and put the chairs back in place before picking up her schoolbag.

An illustrative teaching example, not a real student record or an examination question.

Read more about understanding the question
What shows that she cares for the classroom?

Find evidence

She picked up the scraps of paper and put the chairs back.

This asks for actions or details from the passage.

What does this suggest about her?

Make a judgement

She is responsible and takes care of a shared space.

Use the details to describe a quality, and show which actions support it.

Why did she leave later?

Explain a cause

She stayed to tidy the classroom, so she left after the others.

Connect the cause and the result to answer “why”.

FROM CLASSROOM TO HOME

Keep a memory in your own words.

Interview a family member, then write four sentences about their memory, what changed and a detail to keep.

Look for Can the child listen, ask a follow-up question and retell the memory in their own Chinese?

Download the memory card · PDFTry the family interview

A learning-task illustration, not a student case study or parent testimonial.

Let’s start with your learner.

Tell us about their experience, current challenges and goals.

Discuss your goals
Enquire