I started studying at Beautiful Mandarin in April, 2019 (it is now October of the same year), and I can safely say it is the best Mandarin class that I've found in Manhattan. I started from very little knowledge, having only taken a few classes offered by other language schools in Manhattan as promotions to try out the classes. I work full time at Columbia Law School and am a part time student at Columbia University. I am studying Mandarin in addition to my courses at Columbia and I hope to pursue study in related fields, so I am very dedicated to studying Mandarin. BM is great because there is flexibility in choosing your class schedule and you can try out harder courses whenever you'd like. I usually go to group class three times a week (for a total of 6 hrs) and do a one-on-one lesson every weekend. Since I started, I have advanced to the intermediate level and grown my vocabulary quite quickly. A bit about the classes themselves. Group class sizes are usually small, but they may vary. I would say 5 students is probably pretty average, but popular classes may have up to ten students. Still, this is significantly smaller than the class sizes as other (more expensive and less flexible) language institutes in NYC. Each class, you review the previous lesson and then do activities based on reading from a textbook. First, the teachers help you pronounce and recognize the characters for the new words. Then, you may do some activities or games involving the reading from the textbook and related words. There is constant discussion and the teachers try to enforce Chinese speaking during class as much as possible. The teachers are also very good at listening to feedback. For example, some students felt that we didn't do enough listening practice, so they have begun incorporating listening into the lessons more frequently. They provide plenty of exercises to practice on your own and often hold social events where you can practice your Mandarin with other students and teachers. They also are very good at meeting the unique needs of students. If you'd like to learn traditional characters, they will print out materials for you to use during class. I have taken classes with every teacher at the Beautiful Mandarin school and I think they are all top notch. You can set your own tempo, but the classes are faster paced and more immersive than other language schools in NYC. Overall, I think they are of a much higher quality than places like FluentCity or comparable language schools catered towards working people. A quick comment on the 1-star review below: it is idiotic. I can say this since I don't work at Beautiful Mandarin, but you honestly have to be a dumbass to not call or visit a school to confirm the class schedule before buying a $2k sixth month course package (and for two weeks of study??). When I showed interest in the school, Sissi immediately arranged to meet with me in person so that I could learn more about the school and we could make sure it would meet my needs. Sissi and the other teachers also helped me to apply for a scholarship through my work for a full year group and individual package, which has allowed me to continue my study. I think it's obvious to anyone who reads the exchange, but "Victoria F." clearly was irresponsible and now wants to blame others. Everyone at Beautiful Mandarin is a native Mandarin speaker, so minor miscommunication does happen, but it has never once made me think ill of the school and they always work with you if you try to communicate your problems to them. Beautiful Mandarin is the most affordable and flexible Chinese language school for working people in NYC. They also have classes for kids, but I am not knowledgable about them. I highly recommend this school to anyone who seriously wants to learn Mandarin. read more

5 or 6 months ago I couldn't speak more than 3 words of Mandarin. I could not recognize a single Chinese character. I didn't know what pinyin was or how to pronounce the four tones that are used in spoken Mandarin Chinese. Over the past several months as a student at Beautiful Mandarin, I have gained remarkable written and spoken proficiency in Mandarin Chinese. I can speak about many subjects--my hobbies, food, my family, countries in the world, illness, weather--and I can write and recognize the several hundred corresponding characters with little to no issue. Beautiful Mandarin is an exceptional place to learn Mandarin Chinese for several reasons, but the first and foremost reason is the top-notch quality of the instructors. All of the teachers at Beautiful Mandarin are excellent at their job. They have knowledge of each student's strengths and weaknesses and use that knowledge to personalize their in-class interactions with the students. They are engaging educators, and make sure class time is used in the most productive way possible. They are also kind, funny, and all around great people. Beautiful Mandarin is not just a school, but also a remarkable community. I look forward to going to class, because I like spending time with my classmates and instructors, regardless of the fact that I am also gaining language skills. I plan on continuing with Beautiful Mandarin for the foreseeable future and highly recommended it to anyone looking to improve their Chinese, while becoming part of a very special community. read more

Beautiful Mandarin is a wonderful program for those interested in learning and excelling in Chinese. Sissi's teaching experience and passion for the language really shine through with every lesson, and it's clear that her knowledge, patience and enthusiasm are shared with all the teachers within the school. Previously, I took an introductory class at another school which I enjoyed, but was disappointed when the next level up was postponed for a couple months. Which lead me to some research for a new class where I could continue my studies without taking a break and eventually to finding Beautiful Mandarin. I feel it was truly a blessing in disguise. You can tell that Sissi really wants her students to learn as much as possible and become proficient in the language, and she is super encouraging and continuously sends invites to happy hours and dinners she organizes for her students to practice what they've learned out of the classroom setting. The school has classes at different levels and Sissi will help students find a suitable class regardless of what level you are at, and also suggest you come as many times a week as you can even if the class is above your level you can observe and learn, or refresh your memory with classes that are at a lower level. She has designed the school to be as immersive as possible, and hence the reason there is a 6th month package. I will definitely be continuing my studies at Beautiful Mandarin and highly recommend it for anyone trying to learn this language. read more

I am an intermediate student studying at Beautiful Mandarin. The instructors are amazing, teaching a challenging language in a supportive and friendly environment. Many students know each other well and that has made the classes a social experience as well. Recently, our two hour group classes were switched to online classes due to the Covid lock down. While I miss the classroom environment, the instructors took advantage of video conference features to enhance the learning experience. Group chat is used as a whiteboard by the instructor and the students. Our vocabulary exercises are often implemented as customized quiz games. Be prepared to use the Pinyin keyboard to enter Chinese text! I have found entering the phonetic spelling to output the Chinese character to be a great way to memorize Chinese characters and its pronunciation. If you are serious about learning Mandarin and especially if you want to use Mandarin in the workplace, it is an essential skill. The changes due to the Covid pandemic are severe and will probably last for a long time. I am glad that I can continue my Mandarin studies safely and conveniently at home until this crisis is over. read more

Beautiful Mandarin has been a great way to learn the Chinese language. I have tried to teach myself several different times using different apps and programs, but nothing beats a real teacher. Sissi and the staff are both patient and encouraging and the class structure is perfect for adults. I have the six month package and try to take two classes a week, though even more than that are offered. Beautiful Mandarin rotates the teachers so you can experience different voices as well as different methods. It's a real privilege to be able to have so many dedicated people helping you learn. They also use a variety of tactics, games, events, and exercises. I have found their approach to be really effective and am able to piece things together that i never had before. Also, their dedication to teaching reading and writing alongside speaking has made learning more fun, and, to be honest, significantly EASIER. It really forces you to connect to the language and the culture, which has made memorization and understanding much easier. For anyone considering learning Chinese, don't wait, I just wish I had started classes from Beautiful Mandarin years ago. read more

Yan Li is a wonderful teacher. She has a tremendous amount of patience and is always willing to help. She knows the perfect balance between when to be serious and when to be lax and have fun. Part of the reason she is such an excellent Chinese teacher stems from her emphasis on correct accent pronunciation. She accepts nothing shy of perfect, which will definitely help out in the long run. Her English is perfect as well so if anything is unclear she does not mind switching languages and fixing the problem or answering the question. That being said, she tries her hardest to maintain the conversation in Chinese because she believes that is the only way to grow as a speaker. I have had a few teachers in America as well as in a language school in China and Yan Li is by far the most excellent in every aspect. She has a wide breadth of knowledge reaching far beyond the language. She is extremely familiar with Chinese literature and culture from ancient times up until the present day. Lastly, she is very understanding and flexible. I wish Yan Li continued success as a teacher and hope to be her student for many more years to come. read more

I started to learn Mandarin a year back with CDs and wanted to advance more rapidly, have more chances to practice conversation, and learn how to write Chinese characters. I did some research and based on reviews and a initial class, I decided to sign up with Sissi, and I am already well on my way to achieving my goals. Sissi is a great teacher because she is enthusiastic, responsive to individual student needs, and most of all, makes learning fun! There is a hardly a dull moment in the classes, whether fun, interesting and at times challenging - everyone participates, it's the only way to learn. Good outside activities such as a New Year's party learning how to make Chinese dumplings. Classes are a good size (mine is currently 6). There are different levels depending on where you are. I even took a personalized session at the beginning to catch up where I was behind. Finally, it's flexible for the needs of busy New Yorkers - you can miss a certain number of classes without having to pay. I highly recommend Sissi, you have nothing to lose by trying the intro session, and everything to gain! read more

Beautiful Mandarin is an amazing place to learn Chinese. The teachers make their 2-hour lessons incredibly engaging and it makes the time fly by each week! What I love most about BM is how their class packages are structured. If you do the 6-month or 1-year package, you are able to attend as many classes as you'd like during the week. I feel that it is so helpful to be able to attend class 2 times a week to help hone and practice my Chinese skills. Sisi and all of the teachers are so incredibly helpful and reachable. The class sizes are the perfect size. The office locations (Manhattan/BK/Queens) are central and close to many public transportation lines which is great. Each lesson is structured to give you a review of the lesson from the previous week and then you move onto your new lesson from your textbook. The PowerPoint presentations are interesting and well put together. I love Beautiful Mandarin and am so glad that I chose them for my journey! read more

I decided after many years to enroll in a Mandarin course. I set an appointment to meet Sissi to discuss joining an evening group class . Sissi was incredibly friendly, helpful and answered all of my questions. Whenever I had a questions Sissi was always available and responded to all of my emails and texts. I have found Beautiful Mandarin to be a excellent choice for learning Chinese. The group settings are small and intimate. The is a lot of attention paid to student interaction with the instructor and classmates. The workbooks are easy to follow. And the rotation of teachers, 3 so far, was a real plus. I was able to hear Chinese spoken by different instructors, which really helped. All three of the instructor's (Sissi included) were lovely, patent and very committed to teaching. There is a general warmth and friendliness that all of the instructors have. I very look forward to many years ahead of learning Chinese at Beautiful Mandarin. read more

First of all, this is my first time learning Mandarin in NYC as a college student. I can tell that my experience in Beautiful Mandarin has been wonderful. I have learned a lot and more than I would have imagined. Taking into account that English is not my first language, it took me less than 3 months to learn plenty of daily words that any person needs to know in order to communicate with a native Mandarin speaker. Second, the teachers are very patient, helpful and friendly. They always care about their students' pronunciation and encourage them to keep practicing more, which is a very important part of learning any language if you are a beginner as me. Third, the locations, both Manhattan and Long Island City, are very convenient since they are relatively near to the subway station. I highly recommend you to take their classes if you are really interested in learning Mandarin. read more

Sissi is one of the best teachers i have ever had, she is very patient and honest when teaching her students. In my past, i have made numerous attempts to learn Mandarin through different venues... either group session or one on one... and i have found each teacher has a totally unique approach. Sometimes some work, and other times they fail. Needless to say, i feel compelled to provide this review as her approach works for me. I take her classes as a private student due to a constant work / travel schedule. Fortunately her class structure follows a curriculum that allows me to participate in accordance to my time. She suggests readings and gives homework in order to guarantee that the students push their own progress. I highly recommend her and her colleagues... and in due time you will feel comfortable with the language to move on to bigger and better opportunities... read more

I am an advanced Mandarin speaker looking to improve my Business Chinese along with my reading and writing skills. In the months that Sissi has tutored me, I have improved a lot. She is patient, respectful and attentive, all very important qualities to have as a language teacher. Together, we developed goals about what I was trying to accomplish. Before each class, she prepares a lesson custom tailored for my needs, so that the class can be most effective. During each class, she makes sure that we cover what we have planned in the agenda. After each class, she assigns me homework so that I can stay sharp on the new words and phrases that I learned. Furthermore, she has always been accommodating and respectful of my timing and schedule. I would highly recommend taking tutoring lessons or group classes with Sissi and Beautiful Mandarin. read more

I've gotten the chance to refresh speaking in mandarin after taking the class with "beautiful mandarin" taught by an amazing teacher Sissi and Ming liang. Because of the variety of style that Sissi put in effort to make the class exciting and fun, everybody just keeps coming back to their class. Along the way, I got to make new friends with the same goal in bettering our language skills. I admire how we get to do hands on speaking with real native speakers of the mandarin language by going out be it ordering in a restaurant or places where we could practice the skills. I personally feel that it has boast our confidence to speak mandarin. A very patience and understanding teacher who does everything in her power to help her student excel in their goal is what makes her a sincere and effective trainer! Come & join us read more

I had wanted to learn Mandarin for a while before starting this class but I was told by many people around me that Mandarin is a language that's impossible to learn unless you grew up with it because of all the tones and characters, but I don't think that's the case at all. Sissi is a wonderful teacher, she's very nice, always helpful and fun. I'm in a class with one other person (a teenage class) and we're both beginners at the start this did seem like an impossible feat but I've learned so much already that I've been able to put to use. Everything is taught with the understanding that you want to be able to communicate in the language and actually understand what makes it so "beautiful" as their name goes. I think it's truly a great experience and I'm excited to keep learning. read more

When my daughter expressed interest in learning Mandarin, I wasn't quite sure where to go. We found Beautiful Mandarin and started lessons during the pandemic. I had been a bit wary about online learning, but from the start, lessons have been so fun! My daughter is 7, and loves the Chinese songs and videos that teach the children fundamental concepts, i.e. colors, numbers, days of the week, in a fun and exciting way. She also loves the Chinese characters. The homework uses some of the same videos, and my daughter sings the songs throughout the week! I do not speak Chinese, but the lessons seem very comprehensive. The curriculum focuses on vocabulary and writing in Mandarin (as well as equivalent latin letters). We plan to take lessons over the summer!!! read more

I've been studying Mandarin in an online class with the Beautiful Mandarin school for 6 months now, and I am pleased with my progress. It's so convenient, too. Since it's an online class, I don't have to travel to get to a physical location. Instead, I'm learning in the comfort of my home. I really look forward to my class each week and think that my teacher, Lei Laoshi, does an awesome job with keeping me engaged and interested. If you are looking for a school to help you learn the Mandarin language, give Beautiful Mandarin a try. The lessons are relevant to everyday life, and the homework reinforces the lessons taught. When you put in the work and effort, you will find that learning Mandarin is something you are capable of. read more

I have been going to Sissy's courses for about 8 month now. My Mandarin has improved massively and what I particularly like is the emphasis on all parts of the language, particularly pronunciation and conversation but also writing. Every teacher I have met is a native speaker. I can really recommend the courses, everyone is super friendly, the groups are some of the most enjoyable language courses I have been to (and I learned French for 5 years so I know what I am talking about). The course is as individualized and personal as possible and we also do fun activities outside the classroom like going to a restaurant or celebrating Chinese New Year etc. I don't think there is a better value Mandarin course out there in NYC. read more

My daughter has been taking classes at Beautiful Mandarin for almost a year. She enjoys learning Mandarin and looks forward to the classes. She began her language experience with a different school which we were not completely happy with. After starting classes at BM, we realized quickly that this is a higher level of teaching, even for beginners. They teach reading, writing and speaking. My daughter did not have any prior knowledge coming into Mandarin a year ago since we do not speak Mandarin at home, however, after BM she has started mastering a few concepts. We are very happy at BM and recommend taking classes with them at any age, interest or experience level. read more

I have wanted to study Mandarin for a while...I did a Yelp search and came across the reviews for Beautiful Mandarin. I called Sissi. She was pleasant and easy to interact with. Sissi is very accommodating and flexible. She is patient and takes the necessary time to make sure that your pronunciations are accurate. She follows up immediately and never leaves a stone unturned. I am so very thankful to be one of her students. I am looking forward to working with Sissi long enough to become conversant. If you are considering learning or strengthening your Mandarin, I would strongly encourage you to contact Sissi and study with her. read more