[shwetapershad]

Hi everyone,

I am interested in taking classes to learn Cantonese. So I went through the language classes page this site has. But I am not looking for anything expensive. Also, I would like to learn in a group. My question is, which language schools can be termed pricey and which ones reasonably priced? For a one month course, I feel HK$7600 is too much? Is there a better deal out there? I live on the island, and would appreciate your comments and information on this.

Thanks!

[discobay]

Did you look at the HK Language Learning Centre ?

[Sazzy]

I took Cantonese lessons at the YMCA. Cost of HK$980.
Check out their website. http://www.ymcahkcollege.edu.hk/PT_O...ge%2029-35.pdf

[shwetapershad]

Thanks you two! I like the fees of courses in YMCA. But, these are evening classes. I would prefer morning/afternoon classes. Even if it ends around 6pm is fine. Would you happen to know of any such classes?
I have another question. I see most language schools teach 10 sessions. Is that enough to learn a language? How much does one learn in 10 sessions?

[Sazzy]

Try the YWCA - they have daytime classes.
http://www.esmdywca.org.hk/

Obviously you are never going to learn a language in 10 lessons. I did a 10 lesson course (each lesson = 2 hours long). We covered greetings, numbers, time, taxi + directions, answering telephones, asking for the price and a discount, clothes.

It would be best to decide what you want out of this. If you want to learn the language, then maybe 1 on 1 would be better but if you are learning for fun then a group would suffice. Either way, I had the opportunity to practice my cantonese at work which helped a great deal. But in saying that, I never use my cantonese!

[discobay]

I found the best way was to date a fluent speaker.

[jayinhongkong]

Dating a fluent speaker would indeed be the best way. Alternatively, look in the classifieds, you might find someone in there....

[lychini]

HI I did the YMCA as well but I was travelling too much and couldn't keep it up continuously. Will defnitely the course again. It was not that academic (unlike a varisty course) and alot of people so very little personal attention, but extremely fun and a very cheap start - purely spoken at the beginner level.
Lots of people recommend getting a good tutor and then sharing the time with three other people, if you have a cd/book as your guide you can revise on your own, that could be an economical.xx am planning to do this after I finish a project

[shwetapershad]

I guess, I should take up a 10 session course for starters and see where it takes me. I too am for the group classes! Its fun that way.

Till now, I have found YMCA has the best rates. However, I have run into another problem....I will not be in HK for the most of november. So if I start a class, I am bound to miss some sessions. I really don't want to do that! Well I have to decide soon....

Thank you!!

Shweta

[PSMaverick]

The chinese universtity of hong kong(CUHK) has a cantonese class for foreigners.Look for their add in HK Mag. I'm interested too but never got around to picking up the phone and calling them