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Hello, Mandarin Doesn't Stop at Age 8. Neither Does Your Child's Potential.

  • We know what some parents wonder when they first visit our website: 'This looks wonderful for toddlers — but what happens when my child is 10? 12? Ready for high school? The answer is: we've been ready for that question since we opened.

  • Hello, Mandarin's curriculum was not designed for young children. It was designed for the full journey — from a child's first Mandarin sounds at 18 months to AP Chinese and IB Mandarin in 12th grade. Here is what that looks like.

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THE CURRICULUM CONTINUES
(Click to FULL LADDER 18M to K-12)

  • Our 10-level curriculum map doesn't end at Level 3. Levels 7 through 10 — ages 13 to 18 — cover advanced dialogue, analytical writing, AP Chinese Language and Culture, and IB Mandarin preparation.

  • Students who reach these levels can hold spontaneous conversations on complex topics, read Chinese literature and news media, write multi-paragraph essays in Mandarin, and sit competitive national examinations.

  • The staircase has a top floor. And we know exactly how to get your child there.

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THE FOUNDER'S CREDENTIALS

  • Dr. Jiaoyue Lyu's doctoral dissertation at the University of Pennsylvania examined Chinese-language programs for students from Pre-K through 12th grade across the United States. Her research focused specifically on what makes these programs succeed — and fail — as children get older.

  • She currently serves as the founding Chinese language teacher at a prestigious PK–12 IB international school in New York City, where she designs a curriculum that grows with students through the IB Diploma Programme at the high school level.

  • When she built Hello, Mandarin's curriculum, she had the high school student in mind—not just the toddler.

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THE EXAM PATHWAY

  • We give every family a clear roadmap:

  • Ages 6–12: YCT Levels 1–4 — age-designed exams that build real confidence and measurable vocabulary

  • Ages 12–15: Transition to HSK 2–3 — bridging toward the adult standard

  • Ages 15–18: HSK 4–5 + AP Chinese Language and Culture — the combination most valued by U.S. college admissions

  • This sequence is not accidental. It is the result of a decade of research into what actually produces fluent, confident Mandarin speakers by high school.

Not sure where your older child fits in our curriculum?  — We'll show you exactly where they are and where they're going. [Book a Placement Assessment →]

Does Hello, Mandarin have experience teaching students older than 8?

Yes — and we are teaching them right now. Several of our current students are over age 8, actively working through our advanced curriculum levels. Our founder holds a doctorate specifically in K–12 Chinese language education and currently teaches advanced students at a prestigious PK–12 IB international school in New York City. Middle school and high school students are a core part of what we do — not an afterthought.

My child is 9 and has some Mandarin background. Is it too late to start at Hello, Mandarin?

Not at all. We place every new student through an assessment to find exactly the right entry point in our curriculum — regardless of age or prior experience. Students who join us at 8, 10, or even 12 have gone on to sit AP Chinese with strong results. We will tell you honestly where your child fits and what the path forward looks like.

What if my child attends a top private school — will Hello, Mandarin's program be rigorous enough?

Hello, Mandarin was designed by a researcher who studied Chinese-language programs at exactly those schools. Our curriculum is intentionally built to complement and exceed what most independent schools offer in Mandarin instruction. Many of our current families are from New York's most selective independent schools — and they are here because our program goes further, not because it goes easier.

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