Our Mandarin courses
Find a complete overview of the Chinese language courses in our curriculum.
Overview of our Mandarin programmesEst. 2012 · United House, Singapore
Stand out with
Yi Mandarin
Less textbook, more life: speak Mandarin with confidence.
Beyond the Classroom: We write our own curriculum and textbook, so you learn the Mandarin Singapore actually speaks — never phrases you will never use. Small groups of eight, and a method that moves past rigid academic structures.
Max 8 per class
Our own textbook
Words for Singapore
Our Mandarin courses
A method built for speed,
not for lectures.
Small groups of max 8
You speak, get corrected and improve every single lesson — never lost in a crowd of twenty.
Our own textbook
We write our own curriculum and materials, so every lesson gives you vocabulary you can use in Singapore the same week — the taxi, the foodcourt, the office.
Right difficulty level
A placement check in your trial class puts you in the group that fits: not too easy, not too difficult.
Join our classes online or onsite
Every group class runs in a hybrid format. Attend at our United House studio or join the very same class live on Zoom — and switch whenever you need to.
Live Mandarin classes on Zoom
Try a Mandarin class for free
Wondering whether we are the right school for you? Join a real class, meet your teacher and see the method for yourself — with no obligation afterwards.
Find out more hereHybrid format
Join our classes online or onsite
Onsite at United House
Small groups of no more than eight at 20 Kramat Lane, #05-05, United House, Singapore 228773 — our studio at United House.
Online via Zoom
Join the very same live class and teacher from home or the office. Switch between online and onsite whenever your week changes.
Live Mandarin classes on ZoomStudent reviews
What our students say
Rahul Dey
25/10/2026
The classes are excellent. Mina ma'am is very patient with us. Highly recommend.
Verified Google review
Tessa Angela
21/10/2026
I have attended Conversational Mandarin classes for 3 levels at Yi Mandarin. They provided a free trial and preliminary assessment to determine my starting level. The teachers are eager to teach beyond what the textbooks cover. Managed to build up…
Verified Google review
Charlotte Meyer
08/10/2026
Attentive and engaging teaching. Very practical for everyday use.
Verified Google review
Hameed Ibrahim
08/10/2026
Brilliant Professor Celeste made learning and cultural understanding seemless. I immediately signed up for part 2 as well. Really enjoying the journey !
Verified Google review
Phway Evelyn
05/10/2026
Had a great learning experience in Yi Mandarin class! Mina Laoshi is very patient and she explains the meaning and pronunciation of Mandarin words very well. What I love the most about is that she encourages you to speak in Mandarin even when we are…
Verified Google review
Orlando BACORDIO
03/10/2026
Hands-down the most practical intro to Mandarin! The continuous conversational back-and-forth helped me go from zero experience to speaking basic Chinese with real confidence
Verified Google review
Upcoming intakes
Classes starting soon
Mandarin Beginner 1
GroupSat 3:00 PM – 5:00 PMStarts 14/11/2026
S$445.81incl. textbook + 9% GST8 leftEnrol
Mandarin Beginner 2
GroupSat 12:00 PM – 2:00 PMStarts 14/11/2026
S$445.81incl. textbook + 9% GST8 leftEnrol
Mandarin Beginner 1
GroupTue / Thu 10:00 AM – 12:00 PMStarts 17/11/2026
S$445.81incl. textbook + 9% GST8 leftEnrol
| Course name | Type | Day & time | Start date | Fee | Seats | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trial class | Trial class | Tue · 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM | 10/11/2026 | S$0.00incl. 9% GST | 8 of 8 left | Enrol |
| Mandarin Beginner 1 | Group | Sat · 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM | 14/11/2026 | S$445.81incl. textbook + 9% GST | 8 of 8 left | Enrol |
| Mandarin Beginner 2 | Group | Sat · 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM | 14/11/2026 | S$445.81incl. textbook + 9% GST | 8 of 8 left | Enrol |
| Mandarin Beginner 1 | Group | Tue / Thu · 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM | 17/11/2026 | S$445.81incl. textbook + 9% GST | 8 of 8 left | Enrol |
Try before you commit
Book a free trial class
Experience the Yi Mandarin method firsthand. Join a real class, meet your teacher, and see why our students reach conversational fluency in half the time. There is no obligation to enrol afterwards.
- 60-minute trial with a native teacher
- Small-group format (max 8 students)
- Taught from our own Yi Mandarin textbook
Claim your free trialNo card required · S$0
Why choose Yi Mandarin
Three reasons our students finish a level twice as fast
01
Small group class size
In a small group class, you get better attention from the teacher, and magic happens in learning — you learn better by having more chances to speak in class instead of just listening to what the teacher is saying. If large classes were truly effective for everyone, we wouldn't see so many tutoring centres opening near schools.
02
Cost
Most Mandarin classes in Singapore typically cost around S$20 to S$2 per hour. While our rates are slightly higher, you save money from the start because you progress through each term more quickly — 16 hours over the 18 or 20 hours offered by our competitors. Thanks again to our small class sizes, our students learn faster and achieve the same results in less time, so the overall cost of learning is lower as well.
03
Curriculum
We teach from our own Yi Mandarin textbook, written for adults learning Mandarin in Singapore. Unlike schools that follow a generic overseas syllabus, everything in it is chosen for how Chinese is actually used here — so the words you learn on Monday work in a coffee shop, a taxi or a meeting on Friday. Many Mandarin courses dive straight into characters, which creates a steep learning curve we wouldn't wish on anyone. Instead, we build your foundation in English — explaining grammar points in English first so your initial terms are easier to grasp, then gradually transitioning you to learning in full Mandarin.
Recognition
Awarded, reviewed, trusted.
Rated best language school
2023 – 24
Top Rated Certificate
Trustindex
Registered with MOE
Singapore
Trusted by 3000+ companies
Corporate training
Meet your trainers
Trainers who stay with you
Our team has been teaching together at Yi Mandarin for more than five years — same faces, term after term, so your progress never restarts.
Ms. Zheng Min
Head of our language team. Teaching business and social Mandarin to expatriate adults in Singapore since 2005.
Ms. Li Jia
Native speaker from China, teaching Business Chinese and every level of conversational Mandarin.
Ms. Song Baoye, Angel
From Shanghai. Teaching Mandarin as a second language to working adults in Singapore for over five years.
Ms. Zhang Linlin, Celeste
With Yi Mandarin since 2014, known for putting new and shy students at ease.
Est. 2012
Less textbook,
more life.
8
Max. per class
6 min
To Dhoby Ghaut/SOMERSET MRT
Yi Mandarin has taught Chinese first in Chinatown then in Orchard Road since 2012. We are registered with the Ministry of Education, and we still teach the way we always have: small groups of eight, one trainer who knows every name in the room, and a textbook we wrote ourselves after years of watching adults learn.
We move past rigid academic structures to explore the cultural mindset, the history and the real-life usage of the language. Our classes are geared to help you speak Mandarin confidently in everyday Singapore situations — the taxi, the foodcourt, at work and in your neighbourhood.
Less textbook, more life: speak Mandarin with confidence.
Yi Mandarin
FAQ
Questions,
answered
Still curious? Reach out on WhatsApp and we will get back to you within the hour.
Every group class has a maximum of 8 students. This is the core of our method — small groups mean you speak, get corrected, and improve every lesson. We never run large lecture-style classes.
Not at all. Our Beginner Level 1 starts from the very first pinyin syllable. If you already have some experience, we will assess your level during your trial class and place you in the right group.
We teach from our own Yi Mandarin textbook, supplemented with real C-dramas, Chinese pop songs and the Mandarin you hear in Singapore every day. All materials are included in your course fee.
Fees vary by course and intake. See the current total, including compulsory textbook costs and GST, on the Class Schedule before you enrol. Trial classes are free.
Yes. All our group classes are offered in a hybrid format. You can attend on-site at our United House studio or join the same class online, and switch between them as needed.
Refunds follow the approved schedule, based on when we receive your written withdrawal notice: 75% of the fees paid more than 60 days before your course starts, 25% up to 60 days before, 10% within 7 days after the start date, 5% up to 14 days after, and nothing beyond 14 days. A 3% administration charge applies, and a 7-working-day cooling-off period runs from the date the contract was signed. Full details are on our Refund Policy page.
Group courses run for 4-8 weeks, excluding holidays, with 2-hour sessions, and you may miss two classes to progress to the next term. You have three options: request the Zoom recordings for the entire course from our administrator as an optional paid add-on at S$54.50, schedule a one-on-one make-up class with your trainer at S$43.60 per hour (maximum of two), or study on your own. Details are in our Terms and Conditions.