This table is a Chinese learning progress benchmark, so you can know through immersion learning and deliberate practice, how long it’ll take to reach a certain level of Chinese.
| Levels | Standard Course | Intensive Course | What you will learn | What you will achieve |
| Beginner | 3 weeks | 2 weeks | 1. Pinyin and Chinese pronunciation rules 2. Fifteen necessary topics for traveling or living in China | Students who finish this period of study can use Pinyin and engage in simple dialogues with Chinese people. |
| Elementary | 6 weeks | 4 weeks | 1. Fifteen oral topics that will include most of Chinese’s basic sentence structures and grammar structures. 2. Written lessons will include writing Chinese radicals and some simple Chinese characters, as well as proper stroke order. | Students who finish this period of study will understand 500 words and be able to communicate simply and directly on daily topics with which they are familiar. They will also be able to achieve HSK level 2. |
| Intermediate | 8 weeks | 6 weeks | 1. A greater understanding of Chinese sentence structures and grammar 2. Different ways to express the same idea | Students who finish this period of study will understand 800 words and reach a level of basic communication regarding tasks in daily life, study, and work. Students traveling in China will be able to handle most communication tasks they encounter. They will also be able to achieve HSK level 3. |
| Upper-Intermediate | 10 weeks | 7 weeks | 1. Begin learning words and phrases regarding Chinese culture 2. Begin learning Chinese idioms 3. A basic understanding of Chinese history | Students who finish this period of study will understand 1500 words and be able to use Chinese to discuss a wide range of topics with native speakers. They will also be able to achieve HSK level 4. |
| Advanced | 36 weeks | 24 weeks | 1. A deeper understanding of Chinese history, including famous Chinese events and famous Chinese people 2. Basic business Chinese 3. A deeper understanding of Chinese idioms and Chinese customs | Students who finish this period of study will know 2500 words and be able to read Chinese newspapers and magazines, appreciate Chinese films and television, write and deliver full speeches, and communicate with Chinese people at a normal speed. They will also be able to achieve HSK level 5. |
| Proficient | 80 weeks | 60 weeks | 1. Chinese policies and economy 2. Lessons on ancient Chinese poetry and classical Chinese masterpieces 3. Advanced business Chinese | Students who finish this period of study will achieve a native speaker’s level of listening and reading comprehension and will be able to express themselves fluently in written and oral Chinese. They will also be able to achieve HSK level 6. |
| Notes: The above class hours are not cumulative. This schedule is only a guideline, actual results may be achieved before or after the given dates. Standard course=3hs/d comprehensive course=6hs/d |
