Smartly Mandarin

A Structured 10-Week Mandarin Programme

Smartly Mandarin runs as a 10-week programme that combines structured e-learning with personalised one-to-one coaching. 

You follow a clear learning path each week, practise what you learn, receive individual feedback, and keep building towards real communication.

 What’s included:

The programme includes:
✓ 10 structured self-paced e-learning modules
✓ 10 × 45-minute private coaching sessions — one for every module
✓ 1 Welcome & Level Check Session
✓ Personalised feedback and targeted review throughout

Ready to start?

  How it works

1. Choose your starting level

When you enrol in the programme, choose the level that seems closest to your current Mandarin.

 Each level is a different starting point within the same Smartly Mandarin Programme.

 Not completely sure? That’s okay — simply select “I’m not sure”, and your starting level will be confirmed during your Welcome & Level Check Session.

To help you begin the 10-week programme at the right point, Smartly Mandarin currently offers five starting levels.

Beginner Mandarin 1
Start speaking Mandarin from the beginning.

 Who this course is for
This course is for you if:
  • you are completely new to Mandarin, or know only a few words and phrases;
  • you want to build a clear foundation without being overwhelmed by grammar;
  • you want to start speaking and understanding useful Mandarin from the beginning;
  • you prefer flexible self-paced learning with personal guidance and regular speaking practice.
 What you'll be able to do
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
  • introduce yourself and exchange basic personal information;
  • greet people and interact politely in common situations;
  • ask and answer simple questions about yourself and everyday life;
  • talk simply about people, places and daily activities;
  • express basic likes, dislikes and preferences;
  • ask for simple things, information and services;
  • understand and respond to common everyday expressions;
  • take part in short, simple conversations with support.

Beginner Mandarin 2
Turn basic Mandarin into everyday communication.

 Who this course is for
This course is for you if:
  • you already know basic Mandarin and can make simple sentences;
  • you can introduce yourself and manage short, familiar exchanges;
  • you understand some basic sentence patterns but still need time to put sentences together;
  • you want to move beyond individual phrases and communicate more independently in everyday life.
 What you'll be able to do
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
  • talk about your daily life, routines and common activities;
  • talk about family, work, study and familiar interests;
  • ask for and give basic information in everyday situations;
  • make simple arrangements about time, place and activities;
  • express preferences, wants and basic intentions;
  • describe people, places and everyday situations in simple ways;
  • deal with common situations such as shopping, eating out and getting around;
  • take part in connected everyday exchanges rather than relying only on memorised phrases.

Pre-Intermediate Mandarin
Bridge the gap between basic Mandarin and real conversation.

 Who this course is for
This course is for you if:
  • you already have a basic foundation and can handle simple everyday exchanges;
  • you know useful vocabulary and sentence patterns but find it difficult to connect them in conversation;
  • you can answer familiar questions but want to speak in longer, more complete responses;
  • you want to become more confident talking about experiences, plans and everyday situations. 
 What you'll be able to do
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
  • talk about past experiences, current situations and future plans in simple connected language;
  • describe everyday events and explain what happened;
  • arrange activities and discuss simple plans with other people;
  • express preferences, intentions and simple reasons;
  • make suggestions and respond to other people's suggestions;
  • ask for help, clarification and practical information;
  • describe simple problems and explain what you need;
  • keep familiar everyday conversations going with greater confidence and less support.

Intermediate Mandarin 1
Move beyond basic Mandarin and say more of what you mean.

 Who this course is for
This course is for you if:
  • you can already manage familiar everyday conversations in Mandarin;
  • you can talk about your life, experiences and plans but sometimes struggle to express exactly what you mean;
  • you want to move beyond simple descriptions and start explaining, comparing and responding more naturally;
  • you want structured independent learning combined with personalised speaking practice and feedback.
 What you'll be able to do
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
  • talk in more detail about experiences, plans and everyday situations;
  • explain reasons and give simple explanations for your choices;
  • express and ask about opinions, preferences and feelings;
  • compare different people, places, experiences and options;
  • make suggestions and discuss possible choices;
  • recommend people, places, activities or solutions and explain why;
  • make requests and respond appropriately to requests from others;
  • describe situations and problems more clearly and discuss possible solutions;
  • maintain longer everyday conversations with less reliance on prepared language.

Intermediate Mandarin 2
Build more flexible Mandarin for real conversations.

 Who this course is for
This course is for you if:
  • you can already manage a range of familiar everyday conversations in Mandarin;
  • you can describe experiences and express opinions but want to communicate with greater detail and flexibility;
  • you want to respond more naturally rather than depend on textbook dialogues or prepared sentences;
  • you want personalised feedback to improve your accuracy, fluency and interaction.
 What you'll be able to do
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
  • communicate clearly about experiences, situations, plans and personal interests; * express opinions, preferences, intentions and emotions with greater detail;
  • explain your reasons and respond to other people's views;
  • discuss different options, advantages and disadvantages in familiar situations;
  • respond naturally to suggestions, invitations, requests and unexpected changes;
  • give advice, recommendations and practical explanations;
  • handle complaints, misunderstandings and everyday problems more effectively;
  • communicate rules, requirements and practical information clearly;
  • take a more active role in longer conversations by asking follow-up questions and developing a topic;
  • use a wider range of Mandarin more independently and naturally.

2. Begin with a Welcome & Level Check Session

Once your enrolment is confirmed, you’ll receive access to the e-learning platform, and together we’ll:
  • look at what you can already understand and say 
  • confirm the best starting level for you;
  • review your previous learning experience
  • go through how the programme works;
  • discuss your goals 
  • confirm your regular one-to-one coaching time;
 We'll make sure you’re ready to begin your first module.

3. Follow your 10-week learning journey

After your Welcome Session, your 10-week programme begins. You follow a clear learning path each week. It is built around three steps:

01

Learn & practise at your own pace

Using the e-learning platform, build your understanding and start using Mandarin at your own pace.

You will:
  • learn vocabulary, grammar, useful expressions and how Mandarin works;
  • practise through listening, speaking and meaningful activities;
  • start using new language in communication tasks;
  • pause, repeat and review whenever you need to;
  • study at a time that fits your schedule.

02

Get personalised feedback

Use one-to-one coaching session for feedback, targeted practice and real interaction.
It builds directly on what you have already studied and practised.

During coaching, we focus on:
  • how you actually use Mandarin in conversation;
  • personalised feedback and correction;
  • recurring problems that need attention;
  • pronunciation and more natural expression;
  • targeted practice based on your own needs;
  • real interaction, rather than repeating explanations you could study independently.

03

Revisit & improve

If coaching shows that a structure, expression or skill still needs work, you can return to the relevant part of the module.

You will:
  • return to the relevant part of the course when something still needs work;
  • review explanations and examples at your own pace;
  • practise again with a clearer focus;
  • try using the language again in real communication;
  • keep improving what you personally need instead of simply moving on.

Learn & practise → Get feedback → Revisit & improve

Instead of learning something once and simply moving on, this ongoing learning cycle makes you keep working on what you need until it becomes easier to use in real communication.

Self-paced study

Around 2+ hours per module, completed at a time that works for you.

Weekly coaching

One 45-minute private session for each module.

10-week rhythm

Normally one module + one coaching session per week.

Need to reschedule?

Coaching sessions can be changed with at least 24 hours' notice.

 More one-to-one attention where it matters

  Designed to fit around your life

Ready to begin?

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