We can help each other make sense of language

According to the Confucius Institute Headquarters, more than 40 million people are learning Chinese as an additional language around the world at the moment. As China's presence is increasingly felt on the world stage, it is only a matter of time before acquiring Chinese becomes an important goal within the international population, despite the fact that the language is seen to be one of the world's more difficult ones for beginners.

For those of us already in Beijing, there are a great number of methods to start learning Mandarin, or to continue where you left off if you've already begun. Many of the capital's universities offer courses at all levels, so you can start from the very basics or kick off at your pre-supposed level. Additionally, private schools often allow for a more flexible timetable and potentially smaller teaching circles if that is more to your taste.

If you're after a professional qualification or eventual entrance into a Chinese university course other than learning the language, the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK), otherwise known as the Chinese Proficiency Test, might be something to aim at once you've got going.