Frequently Asked Questions

Visit the Register page or click Register in the navigation menu and complete the registration form. You will typically receive a confirmation reply within 24–48 hours. You may also reach us through the Contact form if you have questions before registering.

We do not currently offer trial lessons. If you would like to sample our lesson curriculum before committing to a full session, you can purchase a single 1-hour private lesson at the current hourly rate plus the one-time registration fee.

If you have studied Mandarin before, we recommend completing our Placement Assessment to identify the most appropriate level. You are also welcome to contact us directly — we are happy to discuss your background and recommend a starting point before you register.

Current pricing for all programs is listed on our Pricing page.

Payment must be made in full before your first class begins. Late payments are subject to the following fees:

• A $10 fee applies if payment is not received before each class begins.
• An additional $25 fee applies if payment is not received within 30 days of the first lesson.

Students with an outstanding balance of one month or more will be placed on hold and may not attend additional classes until the overdue amount has been cleared. KaiXin will give scheduling priority to other students in the meantime.

For private lessons, we recommend scheduling and paying on a monthly basis to guarantee your preferred time slot.

We currently accept major credit cards through QuickBooks Payments. Payment instructions will be included in your registration confirmation email.

Group Classes

Students who miss a group class may sit in on another class at the same level within the same session (one sit-in per session). If no equivalent class is available, a private catch-up lesson can be purchased at the current private lesson rate. No refunds are issued for missed group classes.

Private Lessons

Students must notify KaiXin at least 12 hours before a scheduled private session to reschedule. If notice is not given within that window, no make-up class or refund will be provided.

Refund requests must be submitted at least 48 hours before the first class. Once a session has begun, no refunds will be issued. The $25 one-time registration fee is non-refundable.

All group classes are currently held online. Private and semi-private lessons are also available online, with scheduling flexibility across weekdays and Saturdays. If you have questions about a specific program format, please contact us.

We offer a variety of programs to suit different schedules, goals, and experience levels. Options include group classes, private and semi-private lessons, a kids program for ages 6–12, and corporate training. Visit our Programs page for full details.

Yes. Our Kids Program is designed for students aged 6–12 and focuses on foundational Mandarin through engaging, age-appropriate instruction. Private and semi-private lessons are also available for younger learners. See the Kids Program page for more information.

Private lessons are generally available Monday through Friday from 10am to 8pm, and Saturday from 10am to 5pm. There is no minimum commitment — you can schedule as many or as few sessions as you need. To register, visit the Registration page and select Private under the program field.

Group classes follow a structured curriculum at a shared pace, which works well for most students progressing through the standard course levels. Private classes are tailored entirely to the individual student's goals and schedule — with no fixed curriculum or pace. Private lessons are particularly suited to students with a specific focus, such as:

• Travel preparation (directions, dining, shopping)
• Business Mandarin (meetings, presentations, client communication)
• Job interview or professional terminology preparation
• Exam preparation (HSK, YCT)
• Advanced reading, writing, or translation practice
• Medical or specialized vocabulary

Group classes require a minimum of 3 students to run. The maximum class size is 10. In practice, most classes have between 5 and 8 students, keeping sessions small enough for meaningful individual attention.

Basic Level (Beginner)

Chit Chat Chinese — available for purchase on Amazon.

Intermediate Level and Above

Course materials are provided for an additional $10 program fee per level.

At the Basic level, classes focus primarily on spoken Mandarin — approximately 80% of class time is spent on conversation, tones, and the PinYin system. The remaining 20% covers simplified Chinese characters (reading and writing). As students progress through Intermediate and Advanced levels, the proportion of reading and writing instruction increases to approximately 30–40% of class time. If your goal is to focus exclusively on reading and writing, we can design a customized private lesson curriculum to match that objective.

A number of third-party tools can complement your studies. The following are commonly recommended by our instructors:

• Pin Pin Chinese — PinYin pronunciation practice
• Pleco — Chinese–English dictionary
• Skritter — Chinese character writing practice
• Quizlet / Flashcards+ — Vocabulary flashcards
• Zimo HSK — HSK exam preparation

These are independent tools not affiliated with KaiXin.