Chinese is a language — or more accurately, a language family — that belongs to the Sino-Tibetan linguistic group. It is spoken as a native language by approximately 1.3 billion people, representing 16% of the world’s population.
Chinese is primarily spoken in China, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau, and Malaysia, as well as by vast overseas Chinese communities around the world.
The official form of the language, Standard Chinese (Mandarin), is based on the Beijing dialect of Mandarin. It was adopted in the 1930s as the national standard and is now the official language of both the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of China (Taiwan). In addition, it is one of the four official languages of Singapore and one of the six official languages of the United Nations.
Learning Chinese opens the door to one of the world’s oldest civilizations, a vibrant modern economy, and a language spoken by more people than any other on the planet.
1. HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi)
- Levels:
- HSK 1 to HSK 6 (Α1-C2)
- Description: HSK is the most recognized Chinese language proficiency certificate, covering levels from beginner to advanced. It is an international standardized test aimed at individuals who have Chinese as a second language and assesses students' ability to use Chinese in their studies, personal work, and professional environment. There are two types of exams: HSK, which does not include a speaking component, and HSKK, which tests speaking ability. The HSK has six levels (HSK 1-6), while the HSKK has three levels (beginner, intermediate, and advanced).
- Examinations:
Exams are held twice a year, in December and June.
Learning the Chinese language is essential for those interested in pursuing business or academic opportunities in China.
A1-A2: 3 hours per week for 10 months
A2-B1: 4 hours per week for 10 months
B1-B2: 4 hours per week for 10 months
B2-C1: 4 hours per week for 10 months
“Private lessons also available upon arrangement with the students.”
