Sometimes, with traditional class studies, your access to a knowledgeable teacher is limited to your time in class and maybe a tutor after classes. You are also limited to a set schedule and a set pace, so you have to work around your class schedule and the pace set by your teacher. When you learn Chinese online, you can work at your own pace and log on to your course when you have the time. If you need to quit before the lesson is completed, you can always log on later to complete the lesson. With some online courses, you pay for lifetime access to the entire course. So, anytime you need to refresh your memory, you can log on and practice again.
The cost of learning the Chinese language can vary considerably. For example, at a conventional school, such as the Chinese Institute of Language and Arts in Boston (at the time of publication), a 10-session course can cost over $400. Many online providers, such as ActiveChinese.com, let you pay for an entire course for less than $250 or purchase a monthly subscription, for around $10 to $40 a month. You can find free Chinese language courses online, too. Chinese Lessons, Chinese Tools and Simple Chinese are just some of the free online courses that can teach you how to read, write and speak basic Chinese.
Learning the accent of any language can be difficult. With Chinese, different tones are used for different words. When you learn from a textbook, understanding those accents can be hard. Trying to learn from a teacher who doesn't speak English well also makes the accent difficult. Many online courses not only offer audio playback but you can also speak with a real live Chinese-speaking instructor through VoIP technology. Actual dialogue makes learning the accent of the language easier.
In a traditional class, like the small group classes at the Chinese Institute of Language and Arts, one teacher attends to as many as eight students at one time. This number can make learning difficult, especially when trying to understand accents or difficult words. When you learn Chinese online through a course like the one offered by Speak Mandarin, you can choose to be the only student or share your session with one other person.