Your tutors
Learn from people who've been in your shoes
Neither Antoine nor Dorota is a native speaker ... and that's exactly the point.
They learned Mandarin as adults, lived it, and know every stumbling block along the way.
Antoine Collard
Co-founder · Originally from Belgium
Antoine moved to Taiwan in 2018 and completed a full Chinese-taught Master's degree in Political Science at National Taiwan University. He then worked entirely in Mandarin for 2 years in a local Taiwanese start-up.
HSK 6 certified
6+ years in Taipei, Taiwan
Chinese-taught Master's at NTU
Uses Mandarin professionally daily
Co-founder of Polylocal consultancy
Dorota Maczuga
Co-founder · Originally from Poland
Dorota developed a passion for Chinese in high school and spent a year in Xiamen, China before moving to Taiwan for four years. She too completed a Chinese-taught Master's in Political Science at National Taiwan University.
HSK 6 certified
1 year in China · 4 years in Taiwan
Chinese-taught Master's at NTU
Uses Mandarin professionally daily
Co-founder of Polylocal consultancy
Process
How it works
Pick your package
Choose a trial, single class, or pack. Decide on your preferred teacher, provide us with your current level, and make the payment.
Contact and Class schedule
We will email to confirm your booking within 24 hours and decide an ideal time for your first class.
Classes run via video call — anywhere in the world, and we will try to best adapt to your time zone.
Start learning
Your first session dives straight in. Every class has a clear focus and you'll know exactly what to work on before the next one.
Not sure where you fall? The trial class starts with a quick level check so we can tailor everything from session one.
Coverage
From complete beginner to HSK 3
Our classes take you from your very first character all the way to confident intermediate Mandarin — the sweet spot where real conversations begin.
HSK 1 is the foundation level. You learn to understand and use basic Chinese for everyday situations: introducing yourself, talking about family, numbers, dates and time, shopping, food, and simple daily activities. The current HSK 3.0 target is around:
- 300 words
- 300 characters
- 100–150 hours of combined classroom learning and self-study
HSK 2 develops your ability to communicate in familiar, everyday situations. You learn to talk about routines, preferences, travel, health, work and study, while understanding longer and more natural conversations. The target is around:
- 500 words
- 600 characters in total
- 200–300 hours of cumulative learning
HSK 3 marks the transition from basic to more independent communication. You should be able to discuss a wider range of everyday topics, understand connected speech, read short texts, and express yourself in simple spoken and written Chinese. The target is around:
- 1,000 words
- 900 characters
- 350–500 hours of cumulative classroom learning and self-study
The exact number of hours varies considerably depending on the learner, intensity of study, and amount of exposure to Chinese.
Pricing
Simple, transparent pricing
Choose what suits your pace. Every class is 50 minutes, live on video call.
Trial class
25-minute session
Perfect first step. Get a feel for the teaching style before committing.
15€
Book trial
Single class
per 50-min session
No commitment. Great for targeted help on a specific topic or skill.
36€
Book now
3-session pack
A small commitment for real progress. Ideal for a focused topic sprint.
100€
€33 / session (save 7%)
Get pack
5-session pack
The most popular choice. Build a real habit and see measurable progress.
155€
€31 / session (save 13%)
Get packMandarin Zest materials included! Your sessions will use our structured HSK workbooks and textbooks — delivered digitally at no extra charge.
Note: Prices are shown here in Euros, but you will be able to pay in your preferred currency.
Class hours must be used within 31 days after purchase.
Student Testimonials
"I decided to book 5 sessions with Antoine after buying the HSK 1 Textbook. I'm generally more of a self-study person, but I wanted to have some guidance on pronunciation and Chinese characters. The first 2 sessions were excellent, especially on Chinese characters. I even received their guide on Chinese characters for free as part of the classes. I also liked the flexibility. He allowed me to spread these sessions over the space of 3 months. Usually when you buy several hours, you often have to use them within a month, which I find very inconvenient. Still have 3 hours to use, but so far I love it!"
Common questions
Not at all. HSK 1 classes start from absolute zero — no prior knowledge needed. We'll begin with tones, pinyin, and the most essential vocabulary.
Classes include exclusive Mandarin Zest digital materials, so you don’t need to prepare anything — we take care of everything for you! Students who book multiple classes at once also receive personalized homework assignments to support their learning between lessons.
Standard classes are 50 minutes. The trial class is 25 minutes — enough time to assess your level and dive into real content.
All classes are online via video call (Google Meet). You can be anywhere in the world.
No — and that's the point. Both learned Mandarin as adults, passed HSK 6, and reached advanced fluency through years of immersion in Taiwan and China. They know exactly where learners struggle, because they've been there too.
We teach from complete beginners (no Mandarin at all) up to HSK 3. If you're beyond HSK 3, a native teacher might be a better fit for your level.
