How Are Teachers Selected at AllMandarin?
Updated
AllMandarin selects each instructor individually based on qualifications, and every teacher has completed the company's special training program. According to the site, each hired teacher holds the necessary certification and has at least three years of experience teaching Chinese, and all instructors are native Chinese speakers. These criteria apply to the one-on-one online lessons delivered via Skype.
The Selection Criteria
AllMandarin describes a three-part standard that every instructor must meet before teaching on the platform.
| Criterion | What the site states |
|---|---|
| Individual selection | Each instructor is "individually chosen based on their qualifications" |
| Training | Every teacher has "completed our special training program for teachers" |
| Certification | Every teacher "has the necessary certification" |
| Experience | "At least three years of experience teaching Chinese" |
| Native speaker status | Lessons are taught by a "Native Speaking Chinese Teacher" |
The combination matters more than any single item. Certification alone does not guarantee teaching skill, and experience alone does not guarantee current methodology — AllMandarin's stated model addresses both by requiring credentials plus a minimum experience threshold, then adding its own training program on top.
Why Native Speaker Status Is Listed Separately
The site presents native speaker status as a distinct qualification rather than an assumed one. For Mandarin specifically, this affects two things:
- Pronunciation and tones. Mandarin is a tonal language, and learners benefit from hearing and imitating a native model from the start.
- Cultural context. AllMandarin states its courses "also teach important information about Chinese culture, preparing you to more fully interact with others while in China." A native speaker can supply that context directly rather than as a secondary subject.
What This Means for Choosing a Teacher
Because instructors are matched to a customized curriculum, the selection criteria above are the baseline — not a ranking. If you want to verify fit before committing, the site offers a free trial session, which lets you assess a specific teacher's style against your goals (regular Chinese, business Chinese, survival Chinese, Chinese for kids, Chinese for teens, or HSK preparation).
A practical way to use the trial:
- Book the free trial session.
- Bring one concrete goal — for example, handling a business phone call or preparing for an HSK level.
- Ask the teacher how they would structure the first month around that goal.
- Judge whether their explanation matches how you prefer to learn.
Scheduling and Teacher Continuity
Teacher selection is only useful if you can keep working with that teacher. AllMandarin states its schedule is flexible and you learn at your own pace, with one constraint worth noting: for rescheduling or canceling an appointment, you need to give 12 hours' notice before the scheduled session. Plan around that window if you have a fixed weekly slot with a specific instructor.
Quick Answer
AllMandarin teachers are individually screened, certified, trained in AllMandarin's own program, native Chinese speakers, and have at least three years of Chinese teaching experience. The free trial session is the point at which you can confirm whether a particular teacher's approach suits you.