5 Best Chinese Classes in Singapore in 2026

Key takeaways

• Best for improving spoken Mandarin with personalized one-on-one lessons: italki
• Best for frequent beginner start dates: Linda Mandarin
• Best for small conversation groups: Elite Linguistic Academy
• Best for business Mandarin with a certificate: SCCIOB
• Best for a university syllabus online: NUS Centre for Language Studies

The best Chinese classes in Singapore depend on what you need Mandarin for: speaking with relatives, communicating at work, or handling everyday conversations. If you understand some Chinese but struggle to respond, look for lessons that give you regular speaking practice and corrections on tones and sentence structure.

italki, a leading platform for one-on-one online language learning trusted by over 10 million learners since 2007, connects you with Chinese tutors for learners in Singapore. Your teacher adapts lessons to your level and goals, so you practice the conversations you need without commuting to a school.

This guide compares five options for learning Chinese in Singapore by format, level, schedule, and price, from personalized online Mandarin courses to local Chinese language courses and university programs.

Prefer to get started right away? Book a trial lesson with a Mandarin teacher in Singapore and start from your current level.

How we chose the best Chinese classes in Singapore

Each Mandarin Chinese class was evaluated on five criteria: time spent speaking, teacher qualifications, levels and placement, scheduling, and total cost. For the local schools we also noted the address and any Zoom option.

Evaluation criteria	What we evaluated
Speaking practice and feedback	Opportunities to speak Mandarin and receive corrections on tones, pronunciation, and sentence structure, considering class size and individual attention.
Teacher qualifications	Native speakers or teachers with a degree or certificate in teaching Chinese, and whether the school says who its teachers are.
Levels and placement	A path from beginner to advanced, a placement test for anyone with previous Mandarin, and whether the levels follow the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) exam.
Scheduling	Intake dates, evening and weekend sections, Zoom options, and the wait until the next start date.
Total cost	The fee in US dollars, whether GST, textbooks and materials are included, and whether SkillsFuture Credit can be used.

Each provider receives a “Best for” label based on its format and the type of learner it serves. These labels are editorial recommendations, not an overall ranking.

Best Chinese classes in Singapore at a glance

School/Platform	Best for	Format	Typical pricing
italki	Improving spoken Mandarin with personalized lessons	Live one-on-one video lessons, online	From $4 per lesson
Linda Mandarin	Frequent beginner start dates	10 two-hour group lessons, in the classroom or on Zoom	About $470 in the classroom or $390 on Zoom per course
Elite Linguistic Academy	Small conversation groups	12 weekly two-hour sessions in groups of 3 to 8, in person or online	About $430 in person or $350 online per term
SCCIOB	Business Mandarin with a certificate	30-hour and 60-hour certificate courses, classroom and online	About $440 to $1,700 per course before GST
NUS Centre for Language Studies	A university syllabus online	30 hours over 10 weeks on Zoom	About $510 per level

Prices as of October 2026. All amounts are in US dollars. Check each platform’s site for current offers.

What are the best Chinese classes in Singapore?

1. italki: best for improving your spoken Mandarin with one-on-one lessons

• Format: Live one-on-one video lessons
• Price: From $4 per lesson, no subscription required
• Location: Online, anywhere in Singapore
• Level: Beginner to advanced
• Ideal for: Working adults, parents and anyone who wants more time speaking Chinese than a group class allows

italki is a leading online platform for personalized language learning, with live one-on-one lessons from professional teachers and community tutors. Tell the teacher what you want to use Mandarin for, at work, with family or on trips to China, and every lesson is built on that at your current level

More than 10 million learners in 190 countries have used italki since 2007. Its Chinese teachers include native speakers from mainland China, Taiwan and Singapore, and you can filter them by price, availability, lesson category and the other languages they speak. The Mandarin tutors based in Singapore focus on spoken Chinese and practical daily Chinese for beginners.

Pros

• Lessons built around your goals. You choose what the lessons cover, from talking with relatives to meetings with colleagues from China, and your teacher prepares material at your level, so each lesson covers the Mandarin you need most.
• Speaking progress supported by research. An independent efficacy study by Dr. Roumen Vesselinov (Queens College, CUNY) and Dr. John Grego (University of South Carolina) found that 71.6% of italki learners improved their oral proficiency by at least one level after roughly two months of lessons (Vesselinov & Grego, 2018). For a learner in Singapore who wants to hold a conversation in Mandarin, those are the gains to expect from regular lessons with one teacher.
• Teachers who speak your language. If you want explanations in a language you understand, you can choose Mandarin teachers who also speak English and ask for a grammar point or a tone to be explained in English before the lesson returns to Mandarin.
• Flexible lessons without commuting. Book online lessons around your schedule and teacher availability, and pay per lesson without committing to a school term.
• Real-time corrections on tones and word choice. Your teacher corrects a wrong tone, a mixed-up measure word or an English word you slipped in while you are speaking, and explains the correction. The guide to Chinese tones covers what the teacher listens for.
• Personalized review with italki Plus. italki Plus that writes a summary of each lesson, turns new vocabulary into flashcards and builds practice exercises from what you studied.

Cons

• SkillsFuture Credit cannot be used on italki lessons, so the full fee comes from your own pocket
• No set term or classmates, so it is up to you to book each lesson and keep going

What Mandarin learners say about italki

Chinese learners on Trustpilot highlight several benefits of learning with italki:

• Better Chinese conversation skills. Reviewers credit regular lessons with the same tutor with helping them speak Chinese better.
• Noticeable learning progress. Learners report clear improvement in their Chinese since starting lessons.
• Flexible lesson scheduling. One learner in Singapore chose italki to book lessons at times that suited him.

“My tutor Isabell has been instrumental in helping me develop my Chinese conversational skills.”

— Trustpilot review

“…her name is June. My Chinese has really improved since working with her.”

— Trustpilot review

“I’ve always wanted to learn mandarin and at the same time have control over my own schedule.”

— Trustpilot review

Not sure who to choose? Read our guide on how to choose an italki tutor for further guidance.

How to get started on italki

1. Create a free account on italki
2. Browse Chinese teachers in Singapore by price, availability and the other languages they speak, and watch their introduction videos
3. Take a trial lesson with two or three of them to see whose teaching style suits you
4. Set a regular lesson time each week and book a few lessons in advance

Ready to begin? Find a Mandarin tutor in Singapore and book a trial lesson.

2. Linda Mandarin: best for frequent beginner start dates

• Format: Group classes of 10 two-hour lessons, in the classroom or on Zoom, plus private lessons
• Price: About $470 in the classroom or about $390 on Zoom per 10-lesson course, and about $1,350 for a 20-hour private package
• Location: 10 Anson Road, International Plaza, and online
• Ideal for: Beginners who want a group that starts within the next few weeks

Linda Mandarin is a Chinese language school for adults and children with conversational, business, HSK and IB Chinese courses. Each adult course is 10 lessons of two hours, with levels from Beginner 1 to Advanced, and a new Beginner 1 group opens most months in a weekday morning or weekend afternoon slot.

Group Mandarin classes meet at the school or on Zoom, and recorded lessons are available for revision. Teachers are native speakers from China with a degree in Chinese language teaching or a business Mandarin background. Private lessons can be arranged between 8 am and 9 pm, seven days a week.

Pros

• New Beginner 1 groups most months
• Classroom and Zoom options, with recorded lessons for revision
• Private lessons available from 8 am to 9 pm, seven days a week

Cons

• Group size is not published, so you cannot tell how much speaking time to expect
• No evening Beginner 1 groups are currently listed, so the only option outside office hours is a weekend class
• A 20-hour private package costs about $1,350, which is about $68 an hour

3. Elite Linguistic Academy: best for small conversation groups

• Format: Groups of 3 to 8 students, 12 weekly two-hour sessions per term, in person or online, plus private lessons
• Price: About $430 in person or about $350 online per beginner term, with no registration or materials fee, and private lessons from about $55 to $70 an hour in person
• Location: 110 Middle Road and 52 Chin Swee Road, and online
• Ideal for: Learners after a group of no more than 8 with a conversation-focused syllabus

Elite Linguistic Academy is a language school with Conversational Chinese and Business Chinese courses for adults. Public group classes have 3 to 8 students, and each term is 24 hours over 12 weeks, at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels.

Pros

• Small class sizes, capped at 8 students
• Textbook and materials included in the fee
• Free trial lesson before enrolling

Cons

• A term lasts 12 weeks, so you wait for the next intake if you miss the start
• Class times are not shown on the fee page, so you need to contact the school for the schedule
• Private lessons before 9 am, after 9 pm or on weekend mornings carry an extra fee of about $8 an hour

4. SCCIOB: best for business Mandarin with a certificate

• Format: A 30-hour beginner certificate course and 60-hour business certificate levels, classroom and online
• Price: About $440 before GST for Gateway to Mandarin, and about $1,700 before GST for Beginner 1 of the business certificate
• Location: 47 Hill Street, and online
• Ideal for: Professionals who need Mandarin for work and want a recognized certificate

The Singapore Chinese Chamber Institute of Business (SCCIOB) offers Mandarin courses for adults alongside its business programs. The Certificate in Gateway to Mandarin covers everyday conversation for beginners with no prior knowledge in 30 hours, 8 classroom sessions and 2 self-directed, taught in English and Mandarin in classes of up to 25.

The Certificate in International Business Mandarin has eight levels from Foundation to Advanced 2, each 60 hours with 42 in class and 18 online, and each ends with the Business Chinese Test, whose score report certifies business Chinese proficiency for two years. Entry requires a pass in O-Level English or equivalent and a placement test. Business Mandarin courses for banking, legal, insurance and real estate professionals are also offered.

Pros

• Certificate of Proficiency with 75% attendance and a passed assessment
• Business Chinese Test score report at the end of each business level
• Industry-specific business Mandarin courses

Cons

• Classes have up to 25 students, so speaking time per person is limited
• Schedules are not published online, so you need to contact the institute for dates
• Fees are quoted before GST, so the final price is higher than the listed figure

5. NUS Centre for Language Studies: best for a university syllabus online

• Format: Group classes of 30 hours over 10 weeks on Zoom, with a webcam required
• Price: About $510 per level, or about $275 with the National Silver Academy subsidy for citizens aged 50 and above
• Location: Online, from the National University of Singapore
• Ideal for: Learners who want a set textbook, assessments and a university certificate

The Centre for Language Studies at the National University of Singapore offers its Chinese program to external participants as an online course. Levels 1 to 5 each cover 30 hours over 10 weeks, with Level 1 on weekday evenings or Saturday mornings and Levels 2 and 3 on Saturdays.

Levels 1 and 2 follow New Practical Chinese Reader and Levels 3 and 4 follow HSK Standard Course 2. Each level ends with a pass or fail assessment. Self-sponsored citizens aged 25 and above can use SkillsFuture Credit, and NUS alumni, staff and students get 10% off.

Pros

• SkillsFuture Credit accepted for eligible citizens
• Set textbooks and an assessment at the end of each level
• Certificate of Completion with 70% attendance and a pass

Cons

• Registration closes about a month before term, so you may wait a full term to start
• Levels 4 and 5 show no dates, so progress beyond Level 3 is not guaranteed
• Material costs are listed as to be advised, so the full price is unclear

Online vs. in-person Chinese classes in Singapore: which should you choose?

Choose online Chinese lessons if you want to learn from home, avoid commuting, and find a teacher whose availability fits your schedule. On italki, one-on-one lessons give you personalized speaking practice and feedback.

Choose in-person Chinese classes if you prefer learning face-to-face in a classroom and can regularly travel to a school. Compare private and group options based on how much individual attention you need.

Factor	Online one-on-one lessons on italki	Singapore group courses in a classroom or on Zoom
Flexibility	Book each lesson when you are free and move it if work gets in the way	A fixed weekly slot for a 10 to 12 week term
Individual attention	Your teacher’s full attention	Teacher’s time divided among 3 to 25 students
Speaking time	The whole lesson is for your own speaking practice	Speaking time shared with classmates
Personalized feedback	Tones, grammar and word choice corrected while you speak	Feedback in class exercises and end-of-term assessments
Cost structure	From $4 per lesson, paid lesson by lesson	About $350 to $510 per term or level, paid up front, plus GST or materials at some schools
Social and classroom experience	Conversation with your teacher only	Classmates to practice with, and a certificate on completion
Commute	None	Travel to the school, unless the section is on Zoom

Online speaking practice improves speaking proficiency. A study of 90 novice English learners split into three groups of 30 found that four weeks of paired voice-chat or text-chat sessions each increased speaking proficiency, with anxiety falling in the text-chat group (Satar and Özdener, 2008).

The format matters less than the practice. Whether you learn online or in a classroom, your spoken Chinese skills improve with the amount of time you spend talking and the speed at which your mistakes are corrected, and a one-on-one lesson provides the most of each.

For a closer comparison, read the guide on italki private lessons vs. language school classes. If you’re ready to start, find an online Mandarin tutor offering lessons that fit your schedule in Singapore.

Which Chinese class in Singapore is best for you?

• Choose italki if you want to improve your spoken Mandarin with one-on-one lessons planned around your goals, corrections as you speak, and lesson times that fit your week.
• Choose Linda Mandarin if you want a beginner group that starts within the next few weeks.
• Choose Elite Linguistic Academy if you want a conversation group of no more than 8 students with the textbook included.
• Choose SCCIOB if you need business Mandarin and a certificate or Business Chinese Test score for work.
• Choose NUS Centre for Language Studies if you want a university syllabus on Zoom and can use SkillsFuture Credit.

Ready to learn Mandarin in Singapore?

Learn Mandarin one-on-one with a teacher who keeps you speaking Chinese for the whole lesson and corrects you as you go. More than 10 million learners have used italki since 2007. Book a trial lesson with a Mandarin tutor and have your first conversation this week.

FAQ

How much do Chinese lessons in Singapore cost?

One-on-one Chinese lessons on italki start from US$4 per lesson, with no subscription or term commitment, making it easier to fit personalized Mandarin practice into your budget. Group courses at Singapore language schools and universities typically cost between about $350 and $510 for a term of 20 to 30 hours, sometimes plus GST and materials.

What are the best Chinese classes in Singapore for beginners?

For a beginner, the best Chinese classes in Singapore are online one-on-one lessons on italki. The teacher begins with pinyin and the four tones, introduces common Chinese characters, builds up simple sentence patterns, and corrects your pronunciation as you speak. You can start as soon as you book rather than waiting for an intake. If you prefer a classroom, Singapore language schools also offer beginner group courses, with new groups every few weeks or every term.

Can my child take Chinese classes in Singapore?

Yes. italki has Chinese teachers who offer lessons for children, so your child can take one-on-one online lessons at home, matched to their age and level and timed around school. The best Chinese classes for kids guide lists what to look for in a children’s teacher. Singapore also has many Mandarin enrichment centers for children, from preschool to secondary level.

Can I learn business Chinese in Singapore?

Yes. On italki you can filter Chinese teachers by the business Chinese lesson category and book one-on-one lessons on meetings, emails and presentations in Mandarin, from $4 per lesson. The guide to the best business Chinese courses compares online options. Singapore also has institutes that offer classroom business Mandarin courses and certificates for professionals, usually in groups with fixed start dates.