Parents, often those who have tried learning Mandarin Chinese themselves, worry about how difficult learning Chinese is. For adults we recommend the Michel Thomas method that promotes 'the learning of another language the way you learnt your first langauge'. The Mandarin Chinese CDs are new http://www.michelthomas.com/. Our pedagogy for Primary School Chinese uses how a child learns their first language to learn a second language before it is too late! So before the brain is hard-wired to think all langauges must work the same way their first language does. Our learning strategy is based on incremental vocabulary, repeating phrases and sentence patterns in different contexts and co-learning culture and language. Based on PhD work in meaning as the common denominator to all language. Our apporach works as it imitates what makes learning languages young easy. We advocate children learn face to face and combine that with frequent, great value online practice using our playground just for children learning Mandarin Chinese (www.mandarama.com).

This approach was recently recognised by The Guardian journalist and ICT Language Education consultant John Bald who recommended Mandarama for practising Mandarin. He also recommends Michel Thomas for adult language learning including Mandarin Chinese. Read his review of 6 May 08 in The Guardian.

This is the feedback we receive:

Children learning Chinese:

"We did so many activities that I enjoyed - especially the podcasting."
Pupil from Sion Manning School

• 'Mandarama is fun. I like the wiggle worms tones game'(Mandarama member)
• 'I did not know my voice could make those sounds - cool' (Bamboo after-school club)
• 'It is great to learn something so different.' (participant in Gifted and Talented workshop)
• 'I surprised my Dad in Shanghai with my Chinese'(Private client)

What Schools and Parents say:

About our Bamboo clubs - "Bamboo Learning makes running an after school club stress-free; they are very efficient, well organised and attentive. Working with them has made introducing Mandarin into our school a success."
Streatham and Clapham High School for Girls, Junior Department

About Mandarama - “Thank you for your correspondence to me and for following up. Jesse enjoyed the trial and when I get home from work, we will try a one year subscription. It's truly wonderful and entertaining and makes learning fun. He still remembers vocabulary from his Mandarama trial”
Mother of Jesse aged 13,California, USA

• 'The children are loving Chinese'
• 'I could not imagine they would pick it up so quickly'
• 'The teachers are intrigued, could we involve them too please?'
• 'The podcast idea has taken off and allowed parents to get involved'
• 'I am impressed you pulled off that challenging Summer Challenge Week.'

What our tutors say:

"I do enjoy working with Bamboo. They have a clear goal and are reaching it step by step. Moreover, Bamboo is a well-organised company. They have provided great support when I requested assistance and trust my professional judgement and teaching methods."
Miss Hsin Yi Huang

• 'The children are picking it up so much more quickly that my adult learners!'
• 'I am learning more and more about how to make learning fun. '
• 'The children absorb so much.'
• 'The boys thought their names in Chinese were funny so they learnt to copy them.'
• 'The girls really enjoyed the calligraphy.'