When there are so many different factors to keep track of, think of the things that are going to have the highest impact on your learning experience. For example, if your budget is really limited, but your schedule is more flexible, then you can focus on the options that meet those requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n
1. The Confucius Institute in Montreal<\/h2>\n\n\n
Named after the famous ancient Chinese philosopher Confucius, this organization was set up by the Chinese government to promote the Chinese language and culture overseas. Its branches are usually connected to a university, in Montreal being Dawson College. However, because they are a part of the same organization, the curriculum and teaching style is rather uniform. Due to the rigid structure, I would recommend these classes for anyone wanting to see what it’s like learning the language or wanting to pick it up again. They also offer HSK preparation classes. The HSK exam<\/a> is the official government-recognized Chinese proficiency test; it is highly recommended to take it if you want to work or study in China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While the course descriptions and other information about the Institute is available on the Confucius Institute in Quebec website<\/a>, the course schedule for each session will be posted on the continuing education section of the Dawson College website<\/a>. With a price tag of $240 CAD per 30 hours of instruction each semester, these courses are quite budget friendly compared to the cost of private tutoring.<\/p>\n\n\n If you\u2019re looking for a learning experience that goes beyond linguistic knowledge and helps you become more engaged with Chinese culture, look no further than Montreal\u2019s own local Chinese schools. Here you\u2019ll find a more immersive learning environment than anywhere else. Each school is like its own community, making it an ideal space for not only studying the language and culture but actually engaging with it as well. These schools are an excellent option for families as they have classes available for both children and adults. Thanks to the fact that these schools are non-profit, they are often more affordable than other options as well.<\/p>\n\n\n This non-profit school was established over 40 years ago, in 1983, with the aim of promoting overseas Chinese linguistic and cultural education. Located in Saint Laurent, it\u2019s accessible via public transportation, but it is a far more convenient trip if you drive a car. All of their classes are held on Sundays, making them a practical option for adults with full-time work or studies as well as busy families. Classes are held for two hours each week, and you can expect to pay around $250-$300 CAD for each semester, making this one of the most cost-effective options on this list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Their course offerings for children are very diverse, covering not only Chinese language and culture but also other school subjects including math, English, and French. One of the unique things about their Chinese classes for children is that there are classes intended for both native and non-native speakers, meaning that your child can come and learn even if they do not speak Mandarin at home already.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For adults, they offer conversational Chinese classes for both lower and upper levels. While they don\u2019t offer the same variety of courses that they have for younger learners, the adult conversation courses are available both in the morning and afternoon, meaning that you can likely find a timeslot that works for your schedule. Plus, it can be a convenient opportunity for you to take classes at the same time as your children.<\/p>\n\n\n Located on the same campus as Dawson College, the JiaoHua School is another non-profit Chinese school offering a huge variety of courses for school-age children and a smaller selection of conversational classes for adults. What sets it apart from The Montreal Chinese school mentioned above is that they offer weekday evening classes and even online classes. The tuition cost can vary greatly, with adult classes starting at approximately $120 CAD and some weekday children\u2019s programs costing around $360 CAD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Their course offerings for children include Mandarin Chinese classes for both native and non-native speakers, other academic subjects, and fine arts. Their adult Chinese courses take place both in-person and online on Saturday mornings from 9:30am to 11:20am. Bear in mind that registration for each school year begins well in advance, with in-person and online registration for the fall semester beginning as early as April. I would also recommend this school for parents who are looking to learn alongside their children or who may be looking for extracurricular activities for their children.<\/p>\n\n\n While formal Chinese schools and university programs offer a more structured learning experience, sometimes they can be too rigid in terms of both schedule and curriculum. This is where going with a personalized tutor may be more your speed. While hiring a tutor will generally cost more than the previously mentioned courses, you may see that you feel more engaged and progress faster when you can focus on the content that is most relevant to you. A one-on-one or small group approach will also ensure that you receive more individualized attention and feedback, which can be crucial for helping you reach your learning targets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With an overflowing list of positive reviews and a history of collaboration with major Montreal organizations, including Desjardins and UQ\u00c0M, Anna has earned her stellar reputation. Her qualifications cannot be overstated: she has a master\u2019s degree in second language education and over 20 years of teaching experience. What I find truly excellent is that your lessons with her can be whatever you need them to be. Anna offers one-on-one lessons, small group sessions, and large group classes. She is also ready to adapt to whatever your learning needs and goals are, including HSK preparation, business Chinese, daily conversation, and travel. She also nails the convenience factor because she holds her lesson in-person, online, and even by telephone if need be. When it comes to pricing, there is a high variability that depends on class size, lesson length, and other factors. Anna herself will provide you with an individualized quote when you get in contact. I think it\u2019s pretty clear that Anna offers a true one-stop-shop for Chinese lessons, where she\u2019ll act as your personal tailor.<\/p>\n\n\n When learning a global language like Chinese, sometimes you need to consider that the best teacher for you may not currently be in Montreal. If you think that might be the case for you, no worries, we\u2019ve still got you covered. Online tutors from all around the world can offer even more flexibility in terms of schedule and price point, but you may have to put in more research to find the right person to help you reach your learning goals.<\/p>\n\n\n iTalki is an online foreign language tutoring platform that offers one-on-one sessions with thousands of tutors from all around the world, including over 1,300 tutors for Mandarin Chinese. The biggest selling point of this service is its level of flexibility: flexible schedule, pricing, and lesson types. As opposed to other tutoring services, you are not assigned a specific tutor. You\u2019re in the driver\u2019s seat and have complete control over which tutors you\u2019d like to reach out to and try a lesson with. Many tutors on iTalki offer discounted trial lessons, which allows you to get a feel for their teaching style before committing to more classes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One downside to having so much control is that it can take a lot of time and effort to research tutors, checking their qualifications, reviews, availability, and prices. You can search for tutors based on specific criteria, such as teaching credentials and whether or not they\u2019re a native speaker of Chinese. Another thing that can help you select a suitable tutor is through video introductions that you can find on each tutor\u2019s profile. It\u2019s amazing how quickly you can tell if someone is a good match just based on the vibes from their video clip.<\/p>\n\n\n Touch Chinese is a completely different experience from iTalki for a few reasons. Namely, Touch Chinese is exclusively focused on providing the best quality tutoring experience specifically for Mandarin Chinese. They very carefully vet all of their teachers to ensure that they have the necessary teaching experience and provide an engaging experience for students. You can read all of their teachers\u2019 profiles and request a specific one, or you can allow them to match you with someone who fits your schedule and learning needs. They offer free trial classes to ensure that you\u2019re paired with the teacher who is right for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While initially this may seem like a very formal approach, I\u2019ve found that Touch Chinese\u2019s tutors are always ready to adapt to my unique learning needs. They can offer more structured classes for HSK preparation and business Chinese, or they can provide conversation practice with specific feedback. While Touch Chinese\u2019s services may cost a little more than independent tutors on iTalki, there\u2019s a much higher standard of quality.<\/p>\n\n\n Just one of the many great things about living in Montreal is that it\u2019s a lively city full of activity. As a global hotspot for linguists and polyglots, there are several free meetups all over the city where you can come and sharpen your language skills.<\/p>\n\n\n Mundo Lingo is an event held in many different cities around the world, from Nanjing and Osaka to New York and even Montreal. Essentially, it\u2019s a free meetup held once or twice a week in a bar where people gather to practice their various languages. Typically, everyone wears flag stickers to indicate which languages they speak to facilitate finding a partner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n2. Local Montreal Chinese Schools<\/h2>\n\n\n
A) The Montreal Chinese School \u8499\u57ce\u4e2d\u83ef\u8a9e\u6587\u5b78\u6821<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.digmandarin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Montreal_Chinese_school_1.jpg)
B) JiaoHua School \u4f73\u534e\u5b66\u6821<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.digmandarin.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Montreal_Chinese_School_2.jpg)
C) Learn Chinese with Anna<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n
3. Online Chinese Tutors<\/h2>\n\n\n
A) iTalki<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n
B) Touch Chinese<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n
BONUS: Language Meetups in Montreal for Practicing Chinese<\/h2>\n\n\n
1) Mundo Lingo Montreal<\/h3>\n\n\n