Learn Chinese in Shanghai - Perfect for a Westerner

Like all language lessons, studying and learning is best done in its native country or at the very place where it is spoken. To learn Chinese in Shanghai is one big leap of faith for a total foreigner who may want to go there to study and learn the Chinese language.

One of the biggest reasons is that if you want to go to China and only wanting to learn Chinese, Shanghai may not be the best option there is.  Circumstances differ, though.

Better places

If you want to go to China and only wanting to learn the Chinese language, Shanghai is not the ideal place to study. To be correct, one can go to second tier Chinese cities (not so famous, but quite progressive and modern) like Xi’an or Qingdau.

The next alternative is Beijing itself. The advantage is that it is less internationally famous than Shanghai and they speak “pure” Mandarin. What’s more, the most prestigious universities in China are there.

Wrong choice

Shanghai is China’s most famous international city. Because it is a melting pot of many nationalities, you will find that many people speak English. The fact is that you can live in Shanghai without speaking a word of Chinese at all.

Mandarin is based on Beijing’s dialect. As such, not many people in Shanghai (especially the locals) speak Mandarin freely. However, they all use Mandarin when they speak with foreigners.

Minor benefits

On the other hand, if you have plans of getting a job or having a business later in Shanghai, the move is a wise decision. With Shanghai being one the most vibrant cities in the world, you may have the chance of meeting the right people.

Also, the city may just be about right if you have a Western lifestyle that is not so different than the one in your old city where you came from. 

Biggest benefit

In Shanghai, some of the most prestigious Chinese language learning centers are packed in this vibrant city. They comprise some prestigious universities, some very exacting (though expensive) private schools which belong to the nation’s best.

Each of these language institutes is comparable to the nation’s best in Beijing.

Shanghai International Studies University / Fudan University / Shanghai Jiaotong U.

These days, due to huge pouring of huge investments by the local government, the Shanghai International Studies University is now considered one of the best in the country. It has a Chinese language department that trains future Chinese teachers.

Fudan University is also considered one of the top universities in all of China that actually competes with Tsinghua and Peking University in terms of reputation and prestige. Shanghai Jiaotong belongs to the top 5 among Chinese universities.

Private schools

That’s Mandarin offers intensive classes, part time Chinese, online lessons, and summer programs. LTL Mandarin School has a special course geared especially for foreigners. AllSet Learning wants their students to have language and culture immersions as part of their curriculum.

With all these, foreigners seem to gravitate to learn Chinese in Shanghai rather than in any other place.