Chinese Language Academy of Washington DC

An Exceptional Mandarin Learning Experience with CLA and Jackson (my teacher) Mandarin is often cited as one of the hardest languages for English speakers to learn, and while it's definitely a challenge, my instructor, Jackson, makes the journey incredibly approachable and fun. I've only been taking lessons for two months, but I'm having the best time! I started with the Elementary A crash course, taking three private, one-hour classes per week. I've since moved on to Elementary B and accelerated my training to three private, two-hour classes per week—a change I highly recommend. A single two-hour class is a game-changer - especially compared to two one-hour sessions; the difference is night and day (you spend more time learning mandarin in a 2 hour class vs warming up). Here is what makes CLA and Jackson truly outstanding: Mastery of Pronunciation: Jackson stands apart from other top instructors. He dedicates the necessary time to ensure I achieve proper pronunciation and correct tone usage—a critical skill for future growth. Comprehensive Class Structure: Each session is perfectly balanced, combining pronunciation, new vocabulary, reading, and speaking. (We are holding off on writing and reading chinese characters - for now, per my request.) Excellent Post-Class Support: After every class, Jackson sends a customized worksheet focusing on the vocabulary and sentences we covered. High-Quality Learning Resources: The homework and take-aways are fantastic. We get access to great resources like YouTube videos for further learning, online flashcards, and various other online learning tools. Note: The video by the Australian Prime Minister speaking mandarin was inspirational. Clear Curriculum Path: CLA provides a solid, well-defined curriculum that offers a clear path from a beginner level all the way through to advanced proficiency - this helps a lot because I know the CLA has a clear path to making me better. Cultural Immersion: Jackson is a wonderful storyteller. Just today, we discussed various Chinese festivals and holidays, with him sharing personal stories connected to each one. It’s those little touches that make this such a fun experience. Personalized Goal Setting: A special mention must go to Ysabella. She was instrumental in helping me customize my training plan for my long-term goals and even motivated me to accelerate my pace, leading to the longer private classes. It’s also great to know that CLA facilitates and advertises field trips and programs to China. While I haven't participated yet, it’s a wonderful option I plan to explore in the future. Working with CLA is absolutely one of the best investments I have made in myself in a long time. Highly recommended!

I am literally tickled with my studies of Chinese and my laoshi at CLA. The course is just the right pace, I look forward to my classes two days a week. Not to get melodramatic but this has been a life changer. Learning Chinese is now my passion, my hobby. I told a friend in China today: Wo ganjue ziji xiang ge haizi dedaole xin wanju. I feel like a kid with a new toy. (and i am really old lol). Chinese rocks. Jiayou!

I have been studying Chinese at the Chinese Language Academy for about 8 months now and I plan to continue. The program is well thought out so that you build vocabulary and an understanding of Chinese grammar steadily. I am very happy with how much material we have covered in 8 months! The teachers are extremely professional and knowledgeable but also approachable and friendly. We spend time reading aloud and talking so that we get to practice pronunciation a lot-- which is very key. The setting is intimate so I have gotten to know my classmates and to laugh with them about the inevitable mistakes. The textbook CLA works from is excellent, I think. I really can't recommend this place highly enough.

I took the first section of the beginning/elementary course with Ysabella, and it was an amazing learning experience! The teachers at CLA are wonderful and are incredibly patient and kind during the learning process, while incorporating fun knowledge throughout the course. The beginning course is a great way to build a strong foundation in the Chinese language, and I am looking forward to continuing the learning journey with future classes!

Since 2011, I have had many different Chinese teachers both in high school and undergrad, but I have been really impressed with the depth and flexibility of CLA. If you have a solid background in Mandarin but want to improve or learn material not necessarily covered in traditional textbooks, I would highly recommend using them. I have been one-on-one with Barbara Wen twice a week over Zoom for the last month and plan to continue using CLA into the spring.

Great programs with amazing teachers! The classes are well paced and they provide resources to practice outside of class! My teacher (老师) Rachel was super patient and encouraging! She’s great at including cultural information and talking about trends relevant to learning. I recommend them!

Excellent! Highly Recommend! I took the CLA Crash Course - 16 hours of in-person instruction over the course of eight classes (two per week). The class size was small - just five students, and very enjoyable. Our instructor, Jas, was excellent and I enjoyed coming to each class. I felt I learned a great deal over a short time period; having taken three other languages in classroom settings, I'd say this is the most effective start to a new language I've ever had. I also enjoyed the textbook we used, and found it very well organized and perfect for beginners like me. I plan on taking the next class CLA offers, and potentially class(es) after that one, as well, schedule permitting! If you're even considering taking this class, definitely do it! It's well worth it.