Chinese classes
for kids & teens.
Small classes. Thoughtful teaching.
A starting point that fits your child.
You don’t need to know their level before getting in touch.
Find a starting point.
We place children by Mandarin skills, age, and goals—not just a textbook level. Children from all language backgrounds are welcome.
01Beginning ChineseFor a first introduction to Mandarin, or more practice with everyday listening and speaking.
Early Mandarin: listening & speaking
For younger children starting Mandarin. Picture books, practical songs, stories, games, and guided interaction help children understand everyday language and begin using it.
Children practice greetings, choices, requests, and simple sentences. Many spend a year or longer building this foundation, depending on age and language exposure.
Materials: MAP thematic units, picture books, and selected Little Fox Chinese songs and stories.
Mandarin foundations for older children
For beginners who need age-appropriate content. Students develop listening, conversation, early reading, and sentence writing through everyday topics and practical tasks.
Materials: YCT Standard Course with stories, conversation, and supplementary activities. Placement is based on skills, not age alone.
02Speaking, reading
& expressionFor children who understand some Mandarin and are ready to say more, read, or write.
Speaking confidence & storytelling
For children who understand Mandarin but need help expressing themselves. Practice describing pictures, answering questions, explaining ideas, and retelling stories in connected sentences.
Materials: picture books, stories, visual prompts, and guided conversation.
Beginning Chinese literacy
For children with a spoken Mandarin foundation. Connect characters to familiar language, then read phrases, sentences, and short texts. Includes character activities and age-appropriate handwriting.
Core materials: Mobi Ai Shizi.
Story-based reading & expression
For students learning through accessible stories. Develop vocabulary, comprehension, retelling, discussion, and guided writing alongside Chinese cultural content.
Core materials: Xin Shuangshuang Chinese.
Systematic character learning & reading
For children with strong spoken Mandarin. Build character recognition through a structured sequence, recurring review, and reading practice. Families should be ready to support regular practice between lessons.
Core materials: Ma Liping Chinese.
Intermediate speaking & writing
For students ready to express connected ideas. Describe experiences, narrate events, compare choices, explain reasons, and write organized paragraphs. Typing is included when appropriate.
Materials: MAP thematic units and selected readings. Can be taken alongside a textbook-based class.
Further reading & writing
Read original Chinese books and selected nonfiction, discuss ideas, and develop detailed spoken and written responses.
Materials selected by readiness and interests, including supplementary People’s Education Press Chinese texts when suitable.
03Teen ChineseAge-appropriate Mandarin for middle and high school students, from foundations to further study.
For middle and high school students. Build listening, speaking, reading, and writing through topics connected to school, friends, interests, and daily life.
Materials: Go Far with Chinese and selected resources. Private and paired lessons are available; groups depend on compatible levels and schedules.
04School & exam supportFocused help with school Chinese, language credit assessments, or AP Chinese preparation.
School Chinese
Personalized support using school materials, with attention to gaps in speaking, reading, and writing.
Language credit exams
Practice understanding prompts, developing oral responses, organizing writing, and typing in Chinese.
AP Chinese
Preparation based on language readiness and the College Board requirements for the student’s exam year.
Exam preparation is optional. Students can build toward these goals over time through regular language study.
Understands Chinese but answers in English? Listening and speaking are assessed separately, so your child may not need to start from the beginning.
More than a page
in a workbook.
A picture can become a conversation. A conversation can grow into a story. The language and support change with the learner.
你看到了什么？
我看到了……
What do you see? Tell me about it.
- See. Find words for people, objects, and actions.
- Talk. Make a choice, answer a question, explain an idea.
- Connect. Read or retell at the right level.
Illustrative lesson prompt, not a record of a specific class.
About MAP’s teaching
Founded by Angela Liu, who holds master’s degrees in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages from Beijing Language and Culture University and World Language Education from George Mason University. Her teaching experience spans young children through university students.
The right group.
A workable schedule.
Learn with peers of compatible ages, levels, and goals.
A learning partner with more individualized attention.
Individual learning goals, specialized support, and scheduling needs.
Our Fairfax classroom Classes meet in Fairfax, Virginia. We provide classroom and arrival details before your first visit.
Finding a shared time Group schedules vary by semester. Share several available times, and we’ll look for a match with similar-level students and teacher availability.
We explain lesson length, tuition, materials, and home practice expectations before enrollment. School-year group tuition is paid by semester; midsemester enrollment covers the remaining sessions.
A few common
questions.
Can my child join if we don’t speak Chinese at home?
Yes. Beginner lessons make Mandarin understandable without prior knowledge. We can suggest manageable ways to support learning at home.
My child understands Chinese but answers in English. Where do we start?
We assess listening and speaking separately. A speaking and storytelling class may fit better than starting from the beginning.
How much practice is expected at home?
Expectations depend on the course and age. Beginners may review a song or story; literacy students may have reading and character review. We explain expectations before enrollment.
Should we buy books before contacting you?
Please wait for our recommendation so you purchase the appropriate materials and level.
Can my child join after the semester begins?
Yes, with placement and space in a suitable class. Tuition covers the remaining sessions.
What if there isn’t a suitable group?
We can discuss private or paired lessons based on your child’s needs and available times.
What happens if my child misses a group lesson?
Personal absences do not receive individual makeup lessons. Eligible students may use an equivalent-duration activity credit during the same semester, with reservations and available space.
Can parents watch the class?
Parents wait in the designated area unless invited into the classroom by the teacher.
Tell us a little about your child.
Age, Mandarin experience, learning goals, and a few times that work for your family.