Hi, my name is Mojca. I am from Slovenia in Europe and I and I work as a student advisor at our Shanghai school.Individual or Group Lessons When Learning a Language Online?
What’s Best for You when Learning Chinese Online? || Pros and Cons of 1-on-1 and Group Classes
Studying online isn’t a new concept, but the demand for online lessons has grown massively in the last 10 years – and especially since the COVID-19 pandemic.
When travel wasn’t allowed and many countries kept their borders closed for months, hundreds of language schools moved their courses online.
Even after the return of visa free travel, learning online became the only way for some students to attend language lessons.
Now, online learning is here to stay as demand continues to rise!
No matter what language you’re studying, joining a language class is an excellent way to improve your language skills, learn about different cultures and meet new people.
👉 Choosing the right online language class is important because it will help you make the most of your lessons and improve your language skills.
In this post, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of group and individual classes so you can decide which is the best suited to you.
Individual or Group Classes | Know Your Motivations
Individual or Group Lessons | Individual Lessons
Individual or Group Lessons | Group Lessons
Individual or Group Lessons | What Lessons Does LTL Offer?
Individual or Group Lessons | FAQs
Individual or Group Lessons || Know Your Motivations
First of all, think about why you want to take lessons.
Is it to meet new people? Is it to have someone help you with grammar or speaking? Or maybe you’re feeling bored of self-studying all the time.
It’s also important to factor in elements such as budget and motivation – does having classmates make you feel more or less focused?
Many students have specific needs when learning Mandarin. They may be a heritage speaker or need Business Chinese for work.
It’s also important to ask yourself the following questions:
- What level is right for me? – Advanced students generally fare better in individual classes
- How much self-studying can I do?
- Are there particular skills I need or want to work on?
The answers may help you choose which type of class is better for you.
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Individual or Group Lessons || Individual Lessons Pros and Cons
There are many positive reasons for taking individual lessons.
Not only is all the lesson time all for you and your needs, but you’ll get tailored feedback.
You’ll also have the chance to talk about your experiences and interests more than you would in a group setting.
Let’s take a look at the key benefits of individual language lessons.
5 Pros of Individual Lessons
- flexible schedule
- lots of speaking opportunities
- more focused learning environment
- lesson is tailored to you and your needs
- easy to ask questions and get detailed feedback
What are your experiences of group vs individual classes? Let us know in the comments section!
Unfortunately, individual lessons won’t suit everyone. Here are a few reasons why you might not enjoy joining a language lesson on your own.
5 Cons of Individual Lessons
- less social interaction
- all of the pressure is on you
- you might not ‘click’ with the teacher
- more expensive than group lessons
- lack of diversity in terms of accents, learning styles, etc.
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Individual or Group Lessons || Group Lessons Pros and Cons
Group lessons are the most common option if you attend a language school or university in person.
Students of different ages or nationalities could be learning together in the same classroom.
Depending on your personal preferences, this could be a good thing or a bad thing!
Joining lessons with other students can be great for many reasons.
You’ll meet students from different countries, get the chance to speak with them about different topics, and possibly even make new friends.
In most lessons, you will be learning with people of a similar level to you. At LTL, we offer Chinese language classes from HSK 1 to 6, with additional HSK 3+, 4+ and 5+ classes.
Q: Why the + classes?
A: Because we know how big a jump it is going between these levels!
There are many reasons why students love joining group lessons when they study a language. From making new friends to saving a few pennies.
5 Pros of Group Lessons
- cost-effective
- more regular schedule
- learn about new cultures
- able to meet new people
- collaborative learning opportunities
On the other hand, group lessons might not suit you if you have strict language goals, such as passing an exam in a short time period, or if you prefer maximum speaking time.
5 Cons of Group Lessons
- less individual opportunities
- less individual feedback
- limited flexibility with topics
- some students may be better at speaking or listening than others
- pressure to work with others – doesn’t always suit introverts or shy people
There are so many benefits to attending language lessons online, and whether you choose group or individual lessons will depend on what your learning needs are and what learning environment suits you best.
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Individual or Group Lessons || What Lessons Do LTL Offer?
At LTL, we offer a range of classes online.
You need to purchase credits to book any of our lessons, which can be done in several ways. You can buy a subscription as a one-off purchase or buy a package.
Monthly subscription: You have a set number of credits per month (between 4 and 40)
Packages: You have credits for a longer period of time (from 3 to 24 months)
With these credits, you can join individual or group lessons through our Flexi Class system. You can also sign up for a structured course with set days and times.
If you’re not sure what type of class you want to join, or what level you are, you can try a few classes with your credits before deciding what works for you!
Read more about the Flexi Class Credit System here.
Ready to start language lessons with LTL? Watch our video with founder Andreas on how to book ⬇️⬇️⬇️
DID YOU KNOW…? We also offer in-person group and individual Chinese lessons across Mainland China, Taiwan and Singapore.
FAQs
I’m a beginner. Should I take group or individual lessons?
This depends on you. Are you confident and not afraid of making mistakes in front of others? You could try a beginner’s group class. You’ll learn with other students and see that you’re not alone in being a beginner. However, if you’re shy or have a short deadline to learn some basics, individual lessons might be more suitable. If you’re not sure, ask to try one of each class and see which one you prefer.
I only want to practise speaking, what classes should I take?
It’s recommended that you learn grammar and vocabulary when learning a language, but if you only want to put your knowledge into practice there are lessons available to help. We have classes where students can practise ‘free speaking’ with other students and a native speaker. If you want individual lessons, you can request a ‘speaking only’ class with a teacher and explain your needs.
I don’t know what level I am, can you help?
Of course! Although testing your Chinese level can be difficult sometimes, we can definitely help you find the right course.
If you’ve never studied Chinese before, you want to start with an A1 introductory lesson.
Have you taken any exams? If yes, how much have you studied since passing? For example, if you passed HSK 3 but haven’t studied in a year, you might want to revisit HSK 3. If you have continued studying, you can try HSK 4.
It also depends on whether you have learned Chinese characters or not.
I don’t get a chance to speak in class, what should I do?
We keep our classes small at LTL.
The maximum number of students per class is 6, but the average size is 2-3 students. This should give you plenty of opportunities to speak. Don’t be shy about speaking up or raising your hand to answer a question in class – allow yourself to speak and get some practice. If you still don’t think there’s enough speaking practice after a few lessons, try individual lessons to increase your speaking opportunities.
Can I take both group and individual lessons?
Absolutely! At LTL, we offer a range of classes. We have courses with set dates and times, and we also have our Flexi classes. With LTL’s Flexi classes, you can attend group lessons (1 credit) or individual lessons (3 credits)
Ready to start language lessons with LTL? Watch our video with founder Andreas on how to book.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-FbjLKCumI&ab_channel=ChinesewithLTL
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BONUS | Want to study the local dialect known as Shanghainese? We provide Shanghainese Classes in person and online.
