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-Our usual schedule is 1.5 hours per week for 8 weeks (12 hours total)
-Interested in more than one semester? Please look at our class bundles
-Get a discount on your next semester if you refer a friend / family member
-Check course details for more information on the textbook

Cantonese Classes

Cantonese Student Voices

The class is challenging yet fun and easy to follow. I feel like we're learning so much in such a short amount of time. I especially like learning with the group of people I'm in class with. I always enjoy coming to class!

MONICA T
This level exceeds all my expectations from a Cantonese course. The teacher is highly professional, the handouts are flawless and the material is organized in a way that is both educational and accessible. I think there is a correct balance between learning new grammatical structures and learning vocabulary.
DAN E
Easy going, non-stressful environment. Fun learning exercises. Good introduction for someone with no background at all. My teacher is a very friendly, pleasant teacher and makes learning enjoyable!
PAMELA K
I feel that the pace is good for me. I believe that the group conversation exercises are well utilized in the class. Because of this, I'm more confident in being well grounded in the material for each of the lessons.
RUSSELL M
My teacher is wonderful and doesn't rush me through the content. Also, she is very forgiving of my busy schedule with work and the family and will adapt the lessons to accommodate. I very much plan to continue my studies with her.
JASON B
I'm very happy with the class so far. My instructor is very actively pushing me in new ways and works well to address knowledge gaps as they come up. This is actually even better than I imagined since the class feels very personalized and tailor made to my progress rather than just progressing through a book.
KEVIN C
The class is very relaxed and it is a good learning environment. The class sizes are small which is great since it allows more time for questions that each individual student in the class may have. A lot of the times we deviate from the curriculum material because we all have questions that eventually lead to other aspects of Cantonese.
JONATHAN V
The teacher is very good at explaining why certain grammar and words are the way they are. Especially differentiating the differences between spoken and written language. I actually like that there is not too much homework and I really appreciate the weekly email updates and reminders.
PETRINA C
My language learning experience has been great. The teacher is wonderful. She provides real-life context to the lessons, which really help provide even more understanding of what I'm learning.
KAILIP B
I definitely notice a lot of improvement in my Cantonese since I started taking this class. Aside from learning from the textbook, I enjoy that we spend time learning topical subjects such as Chinese New Year greetings or if we just have a question about something it is answered. I have learned a lot and Cantonese has found its way into my day-to-day interactions and thoughts (thinking about how to say certain things, how to integrate what I learned this week into a Cantonese conversation I would have with my wife or family).
MICHAEL L

Cantonese Class Levels

There are multiple levels for beginner through advanced Cantonese students. We have developed our own curriculum based off of standards and best teaching practices.

Check My Level
Cantonese Classes NYC
Learn Cantonese NYC
Cantonese Language Classes NYC
Cantonese Language Classes for Credit

Cantonese Classes

for every level

  • Beginner
  • Pre-Intermediate
  • Intermediate
  • Upper Intermediate
  • Advanced

Beginner Cantonese students learn the basics of Cantonese such as greetings, classroom phrases and conversational skills. They also learn how to shop, order food and discuss in detail their schedules and activities. They can form basic sentences and also be able to read and write jyutping.

Adv Beginner Cantonese students go more in depth with everyday life skills in Cantonese. They start out by discussing one's home and giving commands, then traveling and giving directions, and finally they can discuss their experiences and hobbies. Students start to learn how to do more advanced discourse. 


1-6
 ACTFL Standards

   NOVICE HIGH

Pre-Intermediate students start out with phrases and vocabulary to discuss their travels in depth. Included in this is discussing experiences abroad, but also descriptors on recommendations and making appointments. Pre-Intermediate 2 enables students in depth to go shopping and go to restaurants, moving beyond basic vocabulary that was covered in Beginner 2. Pre-Intermediate 3 teaches students how to address needs in the doctor's office, and describing in general your body and feelings. Pre-Intermediate 4 is movies, Pre-Intermediate 5 is technology and change and how it affects daily life and Pre-Intermediate 6 is festivals.  

1-6
 ACTFL Standards

   INTERMEDIATE LOW

Intermediate students will work to expand their speaking, reading, listening and writing skills. Intermediate students can communicate about themselves fluently, have mastered all basic grammar and vocabulary from the beginner and pre-intermediate levels. Intermediate students learn how to navigate situations outside themselves, where they need to communicate and get around in all difficult situations. In the higher intermediate levels, students will challenge themselves to communicate outside of everyday situations. 


1-16
 ACTFL Standards

   INTERMEDIATE MID TO HIGH

Upper Intermediate students are trying to prepare to work and function like an advanced student. Students start to move beyond just speaking in concrete terms and instead get used to speaking in abstract terms about language. Topics such as community, current events, history, and other subjects are brought up and discussed. Students also start focusing much more on real world resources and materials, dramas, tv shows, music, and other materials created for Cantonese native speakers.  


1-16
 ACTFL Standards

   INTERMEDIATE HIGH to ADVANCED LOW

Advanced students are feeling accustomed to discussing difficult subjects in language. From current events to economics, students will be discussing abstractly on a variety of levels. It is assumed that all students can both discuss themselves thoroughly and also navigate all intermediate needs in language. Advanced students start out by really trying to get used to speaking abstractly, and then they move forward into discussing specialty areas using language. Most students at times will sound like native speakers and should be able to be understood by speakers of the language not accustomed to speaking to non-native speakers.  


MULTIPLE
 ACTFL Standards

   ADVANCED MID to SUPERIOR

Cantonese Lesson Types

GROUP

Maximum 7 students with over 40 levels of Cantonese curriculum. Please don't forget to see our class schedules on this page.

Group Classes

PRIVATE

Lessons at your own pace and schedule. There is also flexibility in curriculum. We have multiple instructors available.

Private Lessons

ONLINE

The ability to take lessons anywhere without a commute. Lessons are taught through zoom and recorded. We also have an online assignment system.

Online Classes

BUSINESS

Group or private lessons at your office or at our center near Grand Central. We can teach multiple employees and coordinate with HR Departments.

Business Lessons

FOR CREDIT

Lessons that transfer to your high school, college or university with their permission. We are a fully accredited institution and can issue transcripts.

For Credit Classes

KIDS

We can teach all ages but usually we have most classes for elementary, pre-teen and teen aged students. Private lessons are possible along with group.

Kids Lessons

Private Lessons

 

Private Lessons Inquiry

Hills Learning’s curriculum for Cantonese comprises both language and cultural instruction. For each class, we follow our SWIRL method, developing at least three of the five language skills per class. Our main goal for Cantonese private lessons is to develop conversational skills, but we also specialize in teaching Chinese characters, cultural etiquette, or just general language acquisition. And of course, we can meet student’s individual goals and requirements.

With this basic framework, each teacher creates and develops her own teaching materials based on student needs and goals. All teachers undergo a thorough review and testing process, and also must follow guidelines and best practices from Hills Learning when creating teaching materials for Cantonese class.

Private Classes for all ages

Are you (or your young teen) interested in learning about the Cantonese language and culture? How about you have children that would like to learn Cantonese either to develop skills to communicate with family or learn Cantonese to get credit at school?

Hills Learning offers a unique opportunity for teens and kids learning Cantonese in private lessons. We can not only teach them the basics of the Chinese characters, reading, writing, and conversation, but it’s also possible that the classes your teen is taking with us can be transferred to their respective high school or college for credit. Please see for credit for further information.

For more general information on our Cantonese classes for kids, please CONTACT US