The 5 Best Schools for Chinese Tutors in Ottawa
Chinese is the native language of one billion people worldwide, and its many dialects have already been standardized by globalization.
Because of this, learning the language would be advantageous for many people.
In this article, we listed the best schools for Chinese tutors in Ottawa.
How much do tutors charge for Chinese lessons?
The usual cost of Chinese lessons is around $30 – $40. The pricing depends on a few factors like the school’s curriculum, facilities, and the duration of the lessons per day.
The table below should give you an idea of how much you’ll be spending if you plan to learn Chinese.
The Best Schools for Chinese Tutors in Ottawa
Our goal is to find you the best schools in the city for learning Chinese. Our list is based on the following factors:
1. Ottawa Chinese Language School
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Rates | ★★★★(4/5) |
| Location | ★★★★ (4/5) |
| Curriculum | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Portfolio | ★★★★★(5/5) |
The Ottawa Chinese Language School is a non-profit, non-partisan, non-sectarian school established in 1972. Its main goal is to teach people the Chinese language and culture.
The school offers both Cantonese and Mandarin tutorials for children in junior kindergarten to grade eight. It also teaches kids to appreciate and understand different cultures, not just Chinese.
There is basic language training for adults. You can take the Basic Level course, which lasts for eight weeks, or the Master Level course, which lasts for three months.
At each level, students develop listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills as well as knowledge about various cultural topics, such as festivals, traditions, customs, and history.
Also covered are areas such as music, art, sports, and entertainment in China. The school offers both AM and PM classes on Saturdays.
There is also a free audio tutorial on the school’s website that potential students can check.
The only downside with this school is the fact that there are no private lessons. Students will have to endure other people listening to them as they mispronounce basic Chinese words.
If you can handle this, then you can definitely handle learning the language. The fee is slightly
pricey but consider it an investment because you are learning a new skill after all.
Pros
- Curriculum includes culture
- Has AM and PM Classes
- Audio lessons
- Chinese art lessons
Cons
- No private lessons
- Pricey
Customer Reviews
Good school
“Might be the only place to learn Traditional Chinese characters in this area.” – Wen-Ping Chen
2. Ching Hua Chinese Language School
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Rates | ★★★★(4/5) |
| Location | ★★★★ (4/5) |
| Curriculum | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Portfolio | ★★★★★(5/5) |
The Ching Hua Chinese Language School is another great option if you want to learn how to speak Chinese with a tutor. It offers a great curriculum in both language and culture.
The school also has a great location in Ottawa, close to the downtown area. It doesn’t just focus on the Chinese language but also tackles linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
The Ching Hua Chinese Language School started in 1980 and is still going strong now. It also offers online classes.
The tutorials are a bit more difficult in a virtual environment, but as long as you have a decent speaker and microphone, you should be able to learn.
Another interesting thing about the school is it has a tea curriculum. It offers lessons on traditional teas and their significance in Chinese culture.
There are also lessons on Chinese extracurricular activities like games and sports that were popularized in China.
Learning these traditions might give you an idea of how some Chinese people have fun and relax.
The only catch with this school is the limited slots for adult classes. Its office is also difficult to contact by phone.
Overall, with the variety of lessons it offers and its focus on cultural appreciation, the Ching Hua Chinese Language School is definitely a great place to learn Chinese.
Pros
- Tea curriculum
- Follows Canadian holidays
- Offers both Cantonese and Mandarin lessons
- Online registration
- Courses on extracurricular activities in China
Cons
- Adult classes have limited slots
- School’s office is difficult to contact through phone
Customer Reviews
Great value
“Love the school, my two kids are learning Cantonese and love their teachers. After School programs as well. As a Quebec resident it is still a great value.” – Jeremy H.
Great school
“Great Chinese Language school to introduce JK-8 children to the Chinese culture. Subsidized by the Ottawa Catholic School Board and the school fee is less than $50/year from Sep-Jun. The parent association organize great parties for the kids for main events such as Christmas, Chinese New Year, Moon Festival and Year End Graduation.” – Mike O.
3. Ottawa Capital Chinese School
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Rates | ★★★★ (4/5) |
| Location | ★★★★ (4/5) |
| Curriculum | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Portfolio | ★★★★(4/5) |
Another great Chinese language school is the Ottawa Capital Chinese School, which is actually part of the Ottawa Carleton Catholic School Board.
The approach of the tutors here is more akin to the western style of teaching. The school believes that this is easier for Canadian children to pick up.
There are classes for both native and non-native Chinese speakers. Most of the tutors have experience with students from different cultural backgrounds.
For language classes, the two main programs are simplified Mandarin and Cantonese. There are 14 levels from junior kindergarten to level 12 adult class.
Adult classes focus more on the language and history while classes for children also tackle art, music, dancing, and even Kung Fu.
There is a summer school option that runs for six weeks each summer. Classes are held five days a week from Monday to Friday, with each class lasting for two hours.
However, adult classes are only held on Saturdays.
It’s worth it to mention that most students that enroll in this school are kids. It also doesn’t accept walk-in students to avoid lesson mishaps.
The only way to enroll is by registration at least two weeks prior to the start of the school year.
For parents who want to enroll their children, the best way is to register at the start of the school year which begins yearly in September.
Pros
- Teaches Chinese extra-curricular activities
- Also teaches Chinese public speaking, singing, dancing, and art
- Has courses for both simplified and traditional Chinese
- Western approach to teaching
Cons
- Most students are kids
- No walk-in students, must always be registered
4. Ottawa Mandarin School
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Rates | ★★★★ (4/5) |
| Location | ★★★★ (4/5) |
| Curriculum | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Portfolio | ★★★★★(5/5) |
The Ottawa Mandarin School was established in 1989 as a non-profit organization. It offers classes for all levels of students, from intermediate to master-level.
Part of the school’s curriculum is cultural study.
This includes daily exposure to Mandarin Chinese through tutorial classes such as Chinese Culture and Music, as well as cultural activities like calligraphy and even a bit of martial arts.
There are also speech contests to promote healthy competition between students.
The Ottawa Mandarin School offers tutorials during the summer. Writing is also a huge part of these classes as students are tasked to write essays and short stories in Chinese.
The school has a unique conversational class for those who already know the basics of Chinese but have a hard time speaking the language.
For those who can’t come to the campus at a moment’s notice, there are online classes available. However, these are limited and require registration ahead of time.
If you’re able to go to the campus, there are walk-in classes available for adults.
The only drawback with this school is that it’s not that beginner-friendly. It is also mostly focused on Mandarin and doesn’t have many courses in Cantonese.
Overall, it’s still a great choice for learning the Chinese language and culture.
Pros
- Teaches intermediate to high-level Mandarin
- Adult classes are available for walk-in
- Offers online classes
- Also offers conversational classes
Cons
- Better for those who know basic Chinese already
- More focused on Mandarin
5. Ottawa Aihua Chinese Language School
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Rates | ★★★★ (4/5) |
| Location | ★★★★★(5/5) |
| Curriculum | ★★★★(4/5) |
| Portfolio | ★★★★★(5/5) |
The Ottawa Aihua Chinese Language School is one of the best schools in Ottawa for learning Chinese. It was established in 2008 and offers Chinese language tutors for both adults and children.
Students here have the opportunity to learn a variety of subjects in Chinese and their culture. The school offers both Mandarin and Cantonese classes for its students.
All of its tutors are fluent in English, so there is no need for students to struggle with understanding the Chinese lessons.
There are a limited number of slots available, so students are encouraged to apply early if they have an interest in learning Chinese.
The school also has courses specific to helping students pass the HSK or the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi test, China’s official language test.
Another great thing about this school is that it provides free textbooks. All students have to worry about is the enrollment fee.
The Ottawa Aihua Chinese Language School has a catholic background, so students can join Bible readings in Chinese. This is a good way to mix something familiar with something new to easily learn about it.
Overall, the only drawbacks with this establishment are its limited adult slots and the fact that it can only be contacted through email.
Despite all of that, with the curriculum it offers, the school is definitely one of the best options for learning Chinese.
Pros
- Provides free textbooks
- Also teaches classical writing and reading
- Teaches Bible reading in Chinese
- Offers online classes
Cons
- Adult slots limited
- Can only be contacted through email
Customer Reviews
Awesome
“Aihua Chinese School is awesome! Teachers love children and are very responsible. Bring Chinese children with basic knowledge little by little to help them improve little by little. Small class teaching, one hour of class time each time, while learning a lot” – Mengqi Quian
Small but quality
“Small class, high quality Chinese class.” – Joyce Shen
FAQs about Chinese Lessons
That ends our list of the best schools for Chinese tutors in Ottawa. Hopefully, you found this article useful.
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