Mandarin Chinese Lessons in Melbourne

Melbourne has a big community of foreign-born residents that account for 40% of the total population. Among these, the second-largest group comes from China, with an estimated 155,998 Chinese people who have chosen to live in the city. With such a big Chinese presence in Melbourne, it’s hardly surprising to find all sorts of stores, restaurants, bars and cultural activities that celebrate the Chinese culture. There’s even a Chinese museum, a local Chinatown and many temples where you get the chance to learn about their traditions and get in contact with members of their community.

If you are interested in exploring this fascinating culture, the best thing you could do is learn their language. According to the 2016 census, Mandarin Chinese is the most spoken language in Melbourne after English, with 184,977 estimated speakers. What’s more, Cantonese is also among the most popular, with 76,283 speakers. As you can imagine, learning either of these would be great for your social and professional life in the city, as you’ll get access to unique opportunities that are exclusive to Chinese speakers, so what are you waiting for?

Learn Mandarin Chinese for Work and Travel

In a competitive job market like the one in Melbourne, being able to speak more than one language is essential to stand out. Fortunately, if you choose to learn Chinese, you’ll be eligible for positions that require you to be bilingual like Mandarin Speaking Regional Payroll Analyst for Adecco, Mandarin Speaking Mortgage Broker for Ironfish Melbourne and Chinese Speaking Relationship Manager for Ethos BeathChapman. Because the local Chinese community is so big, you’ll find that speaking Chinese will impress most employers in the city, as you’ll be able to help them attract a bigger number of clients among foreign-born groups. What’s more, if you have your own business in Melbourne, speaking Mandarin or Cantonese can help you build valuable business relationships that can help your business grow and even reach international Asian markets, which might be the thing that makes the difference in order to become a successful business person in the city.  

Learn Mandarin Chinese for Social

Anyone who wants to learn more about the local Chinese community should visit the Museum of Chinese Australian History, located at 22 Cohen Place, at the heart of Melbourne’s Chinatown. The main aim of this institution is to preserve and showcase Chinese culture and Australian history, while also recognizing and celebrating the identity of Chinese Australians. Here you’ll be able to learn all about the Chinese migration to Australia, as well as explore important periods in Chinese history like the Han Dynasty. The museum also has an impressive collection of art and material that will help you understand the cultural and historic interactions between the Chinese and the Australian people from the Gold Rush times to the present and many educational programmes to expand what you know about this ancient culture.

While in Chinatown, you shouldn’t miss the opportunity to taste traditional Chinese food and visit some of the wonderful restaurants you can find there. China Red, located at 206 Bourke Street, stands out in the local dining scene because of the mouth-watering dishes it offers that are a perfect mix of traditional and modern Chinese cuisine. You’ll be able to enjoy dumplings, Chinese noodles and delicious duck dishes in a pleasant atmosphere decorated by beautiful red lanterns, dark-wood tables and ornate latticework. Whether you’re looking to get a quick bite in the area or you want to immerse yourself in Chinese culture, this place is just for you!

Learn Mandarin Chinese for Culture

If you want to work on your Chinese skills while also socialising, the Melbourne Chinese Language & Culture Meetup Group is exactly what you’re looking for. This language group organises weekly meetings in casual settings where you can meet other Chinese language enthusiasts and native speakers who will teach you Mandarin in exchange for you helping them with their English. These events are relaxed and involve movie nights, BBQs, picnics and fun language exchanges in local bars. Whether you’re a complete beginner or you’re an advanced learner, this group offers a perfect chance to chat with people from all over the world and take your speaking skills to the next level.

Where to learn Mandarin Chinese in and around Melbourne?

Any Melburnian that wants to find free resources and language materials in Chinese should visit the State Library Victoria, located at 328 Swanston Street. Here, in addition to finding useful books like Mandarin: phrasebook and dictionary by Tim Lu, there are interesting reads that will help you understand different facets of the Chinese culture. A great example is Classical Chinese Medicine by Liu Lihong, which will help you understand the way Chinese medicine evolved throughout the years and how it is used nowadays. On the other hand, if you’re interested in Chinese literature but don’t know where to start, a great book you should check out is A Guide to Chinese Literature by Wilt Idema and Lloyd Haft, which offers a great introduction to the most well-known authors in Chinese Literature. However, these resources alone won’t help you become fluent. If you truly want to be able to communicate seamlessly in a language as challenging as Chinese, you should book a language course at Listen & Learn. Our lessons are completely flexible and based on our student’s interests and goals, so no matter the reason you have to study Chinese, if you contact us today, we’ll make sure you find a course that fits every single one of your requirements. All you have to do to start learning is send us a quick enquiry now and one of our team members will contact you within the next 24 hours!