As you have probably already read, Shanghai is a great destination to learn Chinese. The city has a good blend of culture both Chinese and Western, making it a comfortable learning environment for foreign students. Choosing a Chinese language school Shanghai can be quite confusing. This article gives you a synopsis on the kinds that there are and the type that you should choose. There are just two types, universities and private schools

University courses

If you want to learn Chinese language in Shanghai through a university, then Shanghai has a lot of good universities to offer. However you must keep in mind that the courses at these universities are designed for long term enrolment and therefore although some of the universities might allow you to enroll for a semester or two, your grasping of the language might not be up to your satisfaction. However if you are interested in learning Chinese over a period of a long term course then this is just the place for you.

Private schools

Most students, who want to learn Chinese, prefer to do it through a short term course or a summer program. Students who are looking for courses like these generally want to master the art of speaking the language and not really learning to read or write it. The ideal kind of Chinese language school Shanghai for a student like this is a private one. Private schools have short courses and enrolments on a bi-weekly or weekly basis.

The teachers

China is still a country that is steeped in communist rule. This trait is something that has left its mark on the educational system as well. It is because of this that you will find the teachers in any Chinese language school Shanghai a bit stifling. This is something that you will gradually get used to.