Cantonese is recognized as an official language in the Chinese Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong, Macau, and Guangdong Province. It's one of the many varieties of Chinese spoken in various parts of China. Because written Chinese and spoken Chinese are so different, it is commonly assumed that learning a Chinese language is difficult and time-consuming. However, several variables must be considered.
Taking Cantonese classes could make learning the language worthwhile and meaningful. If you are busy, you will undoubtedly want to make the most of the little time you can spare daily to learn Cantonese as effectively as possible. You can take different Cantonese classes to help you become fluent in Cantonese in no time.
This guide will explain some of these Cantonese classes, where to find them, and how to make the most of them in your language-learning journey. Enjoy reading!
Beginner Cantonese Classes to Take
There are different beginner Cantonese classes you can take to master Cantonese basics within a few weeks.
This course is designed for students from the following three groups:
- Those native to Hong Kong but are expatriates, international students, or ethnic minorities.
- Those native to other parts of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) are expatriates.
- Those native to other parts of the world but are heritage speakers of Cantonese and plan to study or work in Hong Kong.
Anyone interested in learning Cantonese can take beginner classes. Still, the above listed describes people with little or strong ties to the language, who may even find the language learning process easier.
Take Beginner Cantonese Classes on Superprof
Online platforms like Superprof are great since they allow us to find teachers willing to go to us (figuratively speaking, of course). In addition, teachers (often individuals with prior teaching experience) and tutors (generally native speakers or those with extensive language expertise) are available through the website for one-on-one, digital classes.
On Superprof, you can pick a tutor who is a good fit for your learning style and communication skills, set up sessions at convenient times, and focus on specific topics or categories. While many Cantonese learning videos and other materials are available online for free, they are often disorganized and not as thorough as a credit-bearing course at a university.
Based on research on why people learn a second language online, Cantonese lessons from renowned platforms like Superprof offers unique opportunities that are commensurate with the university standard of education and even more.
Language lessons from competent linguistic tutors are usually structured to facilitate gradual linguistic competence in their participants.
See how to practice Cantonese with strangers on the streets.
Intermediate Cantonese Classes to Take
The more time you spend learning Cantonese, the more you'll realize it's a fascinating and lively language. So if you've taken Cantonese before and want to take it to the next level, or if you grew up speaking Cantonese at home but now need more structures to express yourself, an intermediate Cantonese course is for you. This course will teach advanced sentence patterns and the Cantonese language's more complex final particles for expressing tone.
Tones and Jyutping are one of the basic Cantonese Romanization methods used today. Most language learning curriculums are both topic and task-focused. In just eight weeks, you may go from knowing the basics to having sophisticated conversations with native speakers, composing short stories in paragraph style, and more.
Students who are already fluent in Chinese Cantonese should enroll in an intermediate-level course. However, students who have already studied Chinese grammar and vocabulary should have no trouble keeping up with the material in this course. It's meant for learners who articulate what they've done, seen, thought, and planned.
What to Do Before You Enroll for Intermediate-Level Cantonese Classes
Identifying your level is the first step to taking any intermediate-level language course. You will do well to ask yourself the following questions:
- Have you completed a beginner language course in Cantonese?
- Can you speak and write in Cantonese at the primary level?
- Are you confident in your language skills?
- Can you express yourself confidently in public using the language?
If you answered "yes" to these questions above, you are prepared to embrace intermediate Cantonese and take your learning a step further. Intermediate Cantonese courses are usually easier for many learners than the beginner learning stage. This is because they are probably now familiar with many vocabularies popularly used in Cantonese and understand distinctive differences between the language and their native language.
Advance Cantonese Classes to Take
Courses in advanced Chinese Cantonese are intended for those already fluent speakers. This course is designed for students with a solid grasp of standard Chinese Cantonese grammar, a large vocabulary, and a firm grasp of typical colloquial expressions and idioms. It's designed for kids who don't have to pause and think about the right words.
Advanced Cantonese courses are meant for you if you can hold a conversation for a few minutes without thinking of the right words to use or comparing words and phrases mentally before using them.
If you hire a Cantonese tutor, they will help you break down these levels into different phases and help you analyze them in terms of language learning objectives and achievable goals.
What Are the Skills Required to Learn Cantonese?
You need to know enough basic Cantonese to get by in terms of speaking and listening. In addition to learning how to introduce yourself, order meals, greet people, and ask for directions, you should also brush up on the basics of conversation. So, it would help if you mastered the most actual words and phrases used in regular Cantonese communication.
Unlike Romance languages, there is no need to memorize a verb conjugation chart or pay attention to gender when speaking this language.
Since written, Cantonese is difficult for beginners. You will need to learn the Jyutping Romanization system for reading and writing. Discover the various resources for learning Cantonese.
How Long Can You Learn Cantonese at the Beginner Level?
Spending at least an hour a day studying Cantonese will get you fluent in about two to three years. Knowing Mandarin will shorten your time to fluency in other languages.
You can benefit from flashcards because you will study foundational vocabulary and phrases. In addition, digital flashcards and apps like Ling App offer an alternative to the tried-and-true method of creating your flashcards using pen and paper.
Keeping a notebook where you can record new Cantonese words is also helpful. Learning a language by writing is an excellent method of memory retention. So, make an effort to absorb that. Pronunciation of Cantonese words is easy to pick up. There's no need to memorize Chinese characters or rely on educated guesswork. Without remembering many characters, you may jump into studying Cantonese phonetics.
How Long Can You Learn Cantonese at the Intermediate Level?
The intermediate level corresponds to CEFR Level B1. Since much more is expected of you at this stage, the process will likely be drawn out.
Learn to have more extended conversations with native speakers, use a broader range of sentence structures, and pronounce words appropriately using all nine tones. This can help you become a fluent Cantonese speaker much more quickly.
You'll need to increase your Jyutping knowledge, but your reading and writing skills will likely remain weak.
If you dedicate an hour daily, learning Cantonese should take about six months. However, you can get by in about three to four months if you know Mandarin.
Find a language partner or talk to people who speak Cantonese to improve your communication skills. You may find a Cantonese tutor online or join a forum where people speak different languages and help each other.
Look for a native or near-native speaker when choosing a language partner. For example, it would be much simpler to gain feedback and make corrections on tough Cantonese terms if you had a language partner who was a native speaker.
Understanding that it's acceptable to make mistakes is essential at this level. Do not feel discouraged or frustrated; this is normal when learning a new language. Instead, consider it a challenge to overcome and a chance to grow.
How Long Can You Learn Cantonese at the Advanced Level?
Getting to the advanced level is the pinnacle of difficulty. It is assumed that you can communicate easily at this point. This corresponds to the CEFR Level C1 standard.
Confidence and ease in speaking with native speakers are expected at this point. You also need to be able to give persuasive speeches and talk in Cantonese proficiently.
You should also be able to read between 2,000 and 3,000 Cantonese characters (including Jyutping) and have advanced listening and speaking skills. You can use this to read newspapers and other printed things.
At this level, if you dedicate at least an hour a day to studying, you can become fluent in Cantonese within two months. However, if you want to study the writing system at an advanced level, you should spend at least two years on it.
Deep immersion is required at the higher level. This goes beyond simply using a variety of tools. The best thing you can do is to make friends among the locals or to immerse yourself in local culture. Go to Hong Kong or anywhere where people speak Cantonese if you can.
How to Find the Best Online Cantonese Lessons for All Ages
It's never too late to broaden your horizons or give your child a head start by learning a new language.
Superprof Cantonese tutors offer a wide range of Cantonese classes for kids that focus on helping them learn the language thoroughly, including vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar. As a young child, it might be extremely challenging to grasp the nuances of this Chinese accent. Because of this, our instructors design activities to facilitate this process for students of all ages. These Cantonese lessons also help adults prepare for standardized tests and provide business and professional Chinese training. Learn more about Cantonese tutors.
The best online and in-person Cantonese lessons are available on Superprof. See the best self-study tips for beginners.
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