Choosing the right school 

Learning a new language can be a mind blowing yet challenging experience. With the economy of China growing faster than any other, a lot of people are seeking more convenient ways to learn the Chinese language. Chinese language schools online have been the most preferred so far. 

Check the course outline 

There are thousands of Chinese online courses. If you need to choose one that is right for you, you need to find how much of the complete syllabus the school offers. You may desire to only learn the beginner stage of the language. If so, you don’t necessarily need to enroll for an entire syllabus. On the other hand, you may need to get proficient in the language. In this, case, you need to find a school that covers Mandarin fully, as not all do. 

How deep do your pockets go? 

While there are Mandarin schools that offer free language lessons online, most of them require you to pay for the course. Some free schools are actually very worth it and are a lucky shot if your budget is very tight. However, they hardly ever teach any deeper than paid for courses. Some schools will offer you lessons on how to speak Chinese minus writing its symbols. Some will teach you how to pronounce words and not sentences. Simply put, you buy what you get. 

Time is of essence 

Note that Chinese online schools’ timing varies. Some only offer live classes. If you enroll for these, you have to be sure to attend all the classes at the scheduled time as catching up with a foreign language may be tricky if you are left behind. Such classes may be troublesome to attend if you have physical classes or work running concurrently, as your schedules may clash. 

For some schools, uploaded podcasts, audio and videos are available for studying and may be used flexibly. This is a better option for persons with tight schedule. However, it hinders real time interaction with lectures and tutors in live classes. 

Various reasons may affect the time period you need to learn Mandarin Chinese. You may only intend to learn the beginner course. In this case, you will only need a few weeks of learning. If you are a slow learner, or need to learn deep Chinese, you will require more time. Note that longer courses usually cost higher and you will have to part with a little more money to enroll. Unless it is really necessary, choose a school with the shortest course that offers what you need. 

There are plenty of Chinese language schools online to choose from. Regardless of your choice, however, it is important to remember that self-discipline is key for you to study. Unlike in physical classes, you will not have your lecturer reminding you of a pending class or assignment. That you have to do yourself.