Range of Services

Hitting the books

Supplemental tutoring for high school or college level world language requirement, with bonus cultural content if desired. Make sure summer slide doesn't happen. Prepare for the exams you need, including the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) or the AP Language and Culture test. Homework required for exam prep.

The first taste

This is a fun and casual introduction to Chinese culture with carefully curated songs, games, or videos. Get to know how the spoken and written language is organized and the rudiments of the pronunciation system. Sample different kinds of food, festivals, and stories. If you like, we can add easy character recognition to the lessons, writing strokes, graphic novels, translated texts... the choice is yours.

Riverside Mandarin offers a range of services for all levels of proficiency, for ages 6 - senior citizen. Below are some samples of what I teach. Mix and match any of these in any ratio to personalize your experience. Or come up with your own idea of what to learn!

"I know kungfu"

This one is for the cultural buff. Go deeper into movies like Nezha or Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, video games like Romance of the Three Kingdoms, or browse Sun Tzu's Art of War. Explore different kinds of music and stories from Chinese mythology and history. Learn as much language as you wish along the way.

Go east

Emphasis here is on functional conversation. Maybe you're planning on a trip out east, or want to try ordering food in Mandarin at a Chinese restaurant. We will practice natural dialogue, complete with regional differences depending on where you're headed. Some character recognition if you like, to help figure out street signs and directions -- always useful!

Questions & Answers

Are your sessions in-person or virtual?

That is up to you! In-person sessions are in Guilford, Connecticut.

Must I do homework between sessions?

Learning a language is a skill that can only improve with repeated practice. The emphasis here is on "repeated." I would suggest that learners practice some Mandarin once a day 4-5x per week, outside of our lessons.

The duration of practice time itself is another matter, and this will vary hugely depending on the individual and objective. I will tailor homework to the amount of time you wish to put in, from as little as 5 minutes (you listen to a video playback and repeat certain sounds), to 10-20 minutes of (you might write characters, or read sentences). For those hitting the books, 30-45 minutes 4-5x weekly may be needed depending on your level of proficiency and the test you are preparing for.

How do you customize the sessions?

Collaborative and personalized learning is at the heart of Riverside Mandarin. The first meeting is a free 30-minute consultation session to discuss your needs and end-goals. Based on that consultation, I will plan a program of study for you to sign off on. Lesson plans can be on a monthly, quarterly, or yearly basis. We will touch base frequently to ensure that the lessons are meeting your expectations.

Small-group classes can be similarly collaborative if learners with a similar purpose and proficiency level decide to form a group (minimum of 2, maximum of 4). I can assist in organizing a group if there is sufficient interest.

What days and times are you available?

On weekdays except Tuesdays, 2pm - 5pm. Weekends are more flexible with advance notice.

I'm a parent with little or no Mandarin background. How can I support my child learning the language?

For those with children under age 12, I offer an optional 10-minute debrief after each lesson, to go over any at-home support they would like to give. I will send videos for self-study, or pinyin for new vocabulary.

Parent-child joint lessons are also available, for those who would like to learn along with their child.

Rates and Policies

Payments

By Venmo, cash, or checks made out to "Jeannette Rivers"

Policies

Cancellation requires 24-hour notice.

Rates

Private lessons in-person: $80/hour, $60/45-minutes, or $30/30-minutes

HSK or AP exam prep: $100/hour

Private lessons on Zoom: $70/hour, $50/45 minutes, $35/30 minutes

Small-group classes (2-4 students): $50 each/45 minutes or $60 each/60 minutes.

Parent-child sessions: Let's discuss.