Question 1

What if we don’t speak Chinese at home?

Accepted Answer

You’re not alone—most Hello, Mandarin! families do not speak Mandarin at home. Our program is intentionally designed for non-Mandarin-speaking households.
 • Children receive rich, high-immersion input in class through songs, stories, movement, and routines.
 • We provide simple at-home supports—short audio demos, Quizlet sets, and Joyreader levels—that parents can use without knowing any Mandarin.
 • Every activity is built so a parent can support in two minutes a day, even with no language background.
Your child can thrive because we make the learning joyful, structured, and achievable for every family.

Question 2

Why is this so different from the Chinese schools I grew up attending?

Accepted Answer

Many parents remember weekend classes focused on memorizing characters and copying worksheets. Hello, Mandarin! takes a play-based, joyful approach that nonetheless achieves ambitious learning outcomes.
Our curriculum is:
 • Research-driven and aligned with NYC independent-school early childhood practices.
 • Play- and story-based, using songs, picture books, movement, and hands-on activities.
 • Highly immersive, with bilingual bridges that ensure understanding without breaking the language environment.
 • Purposefully small-group, giving every child authentic speaking opportunities.
 • Developmentally aligned, meeting children where they are from nursery through K and early elementary.
Instead of rote memorization, children learn Mandarin naturally—by listening, responding, singing, acting, reading stories, and having fun.

Question 3

What is the policy for make-up classes?

Accepted Answer

At Hello, Mandarin!, we offer unlimited make-ups within the same semester. To keep our small-group classes safe, high-quality, and joyful for all students, here’s how make-ups work:
 • Make-ups must be used before the semester ends
 • Make-ups are offered when a class has space available
 • Please schedule by email at least 24 hours in advance (no drop-ins please)
 • For classes offered only once per week, we’ll do our best to find a suitable alternative class if needed (time or group). We make every effort to ensure the make-up class is appropriate for your child’s age and proficiency level. 
We’re always happy to help you find the best make-up spot for your child—just email us anytime. Thank you so much for your understanding and support in keeping our classroom experience warm, safe, and personalized for every learner!

Question 4

How does enrollment work?

Accepted Answer

Hello, Mandarin! follows the Academic Year calendar, offering two joyful, learning-packed semesters each year:
 • Fall Semester: September – December
 • Spring Semester: January – June
Families may enroll for one semester at a time, and returning students receive priority registration before spots open to the waitlist. New families are welcome to join any time if space allows.