When
it comes to learning a foreign language, most students know all about
the traditional CD and DVD courses that are advertised on websites
and on television. These CDs or DVDs feature an instructor who walks
you through the lessons one at a time, leaving a gap in between their
pronunciations and yours so you can practice your language skills. If
you need more time, you have to replay the lesson.

This, of course, can
be frustrating, particularly when you’re learning a language
like Chinese. The pronunciations are very exacting and you’ll
quickly find yourself wearing out the replay button on your computer
as you go back and forth in the lessons.

If you want to know
how to learn Chinese, there’s really only one way: live
lessons. While CDs and DVDs are better than nothing, they are really
nothing more than glorified audio files, akin to listening to music
on iTunes. As such, you can’t really get as much out of them,
except to learn to repeat what they say over and over.

In contrast,
individual lessons will show you how to learn Chinese effortlessly.
Working with a qualified and certified teacher, they will work with
you on a one-on-one basis, giving you valuable feedback and answering
your questions as you go.

The best part is the
instructor will create a customized course for you, using your
background, previous exposure to the language and individual needs as
the basis for the course’s design. They will then show you how
to learn Chinese in the way that matches your exact needs. You move
at your own pace, in the privacy of your home and office, with no one
watching over you.

And, unlike learning
with audio files, you don’t have to rewind the lessons or
simply move on because you didn’t understand something.
Instead, you can stop the instructor at any time to go over a
particular lesson or skill. You never have to gloss over a key skill
set or miss an important lesson. They will show you how to learn
Chinese the right way, and be with you every step along the way as
you master this amazing ancient language that is spoken by one-fifth
of the world.

While
there are several online learning centers out there that can show you
how to learn Chinese, you want to be sure that you select one with
certified teachers who are trained to teach Westerners. One of the
leaders in this method is Mando Mandarin
( , but knows how to teach
it as well.