Cost/Fee
Looking for a private tutoring solution that won’t break the bank?
Great! You are at the right place.
1-1 Mandarin tutoring used to be costly. You had to pay 200-250rmb "hourly" rate for a 45-50 minute lesson with Mandarin schools - they are universally set for high-end corporate clients. Don't believe it? see for yourself!
It is NO longer the case with us. ShanghaiTutors.Com brings tremendous savings to you. We have made it ridiculously easy for you to find great tutors at lower prices without compromising on quality. You will save 50%-70% using our service compared with school offers of equivalent quality. (find out how we make it happen)
PRICING
Tuition fee based on total booking hours plus a small one-time service fee make up the overall cost. Your tuition fee is guaranteed refundable for any reason as long as you notify us. (find out Money Back Guarantee)
1. TUITION FEE
All tutors fall into three categories based on qualifications (marked as A, AA, AAA). Different tutoring rates reflect their difference in experience, qualifications, and popularity. Check standard rates in their profiles for reference and select your best fit.
The final rate is a matter of negotiation between you and tbe tutor. It might vary according to the tutor's popularity, commuting distance, time and frequency of lessons (usually within ± 20% range).
Below is the average rate range for your reference. For 2 to 3 students taking lessons together, the rates may rise by 30% to 60%. It’s worth pointing out that while all Mandarin schools charge an "hourly" rate for a 45-50 minute lesson, an hour is always an hour - 60 full minutes at ShanghaiTutors. (find out how your time is stolen by schools)
| Tutor Type | A | AA | AAA |
| Hourly Rates | 90-120rmb | 130-160rmb | 170-200rmb |
1. Category A: amateur teachers/novice teachers (minimal experience)
Only recommended for non-beginners looking for extra listening & spoken practice as a supplement to formal learning.
2. Category AA: certified teachers/professional teachers (minimum 1, average 2-5 years experience)
A great alternative to formal school learning with comparable quality lessons.
Recommended for general purposes: conversation, academics, exam preps, career & personal growth, business, etc
3. Category AAA: star teachers (experience in universities, international schools, corporate training, etc)
The best Mandarin teachers - far exceed average teachers in any Mandarin school.
Recommended for: efficient learning & fast progress, business Chinese, industry-specific Chinese, group training.
Most tutors fall under Category AA (most popular choice by our clients), charging between 130-160rmb/hour (1-1). Note a minimum of 40 tutoring hours are required for us to handle any booking.
*Above rates are based on 2+ hours teaching per time. If you study ﹤2 hours per time, expect 25%-50% raise in rates or consider on-line tutoring.
2. ONE-TIME SERVICE FEE
400rmb for 1-1 private tutoring regardless of how many hours are booked at a time. This fee is charged one-time only for the successful matching of tutor and is to be paid along with tuition fees upfront before tutoring.
The small service fee helps us maintain the operation of this site, offline office work and guarantees you one-year continuous support from us. If something goes wrong with tutoring during the year (e.g. conflict of schedule, drop in lesson quality), we will change tutor for you free of charge with no limit in times (tutoring rates need to be discussed and confirmed with the new tutor). The service fee also validates Money Back Guarantee, ensuring your tuition fee is refundable for any reason. With this financial support from you, we are able to provide the best possible experience for you and our clients.
If you study in a group, there will be a 200rmb surcharge on the service fee for each additional student studying in the group. For big group and corporate bookings, service fee varies; please consult to confirm.
Note: service fee will be charged each time a new booking is made. (extending lessons will be deemed a new booking)
Frequently Asked Questions
1- Is it free to make a booking on ShanghaiTutors.Com? Can I meet the tutor in advance?
It’s absolutely free to make the booking on our site and to meet tutor for discussion before committing yourself to any lesson. We will recommend a neutral place downtown that’s convenient for both of you to meet up, or you can discuss and fix details over the phone or through WeChat. (If you want to have the meeting arranged in your place instead of a neutral location, we'll charge 50rmb if you are located within the inner ring of Shanghai or 100rmb outside inner ring.)
2- When and how much should I pay?
400rmb one-time service fee and full tuition fee (based on your total booking hours) are to be paid upfront, before the first lesson, once you decide to go with the tutor. E.g. if you book 40 hours of tutoring at 150rmb/hour, the total fee will be 6400rmb (400rmb service fee + 6000rmb tuition fee). If you study in a group, there will be a 200rmb surcharge on service fee for each additional student studying in the group. Textbook, if used, is to be paid separately at its actual price.
3- Can I pay the tutor directly, by week or month based on actual taught hours instead?
Sorry, but no. We need to eliminate potential problems for everyone.
1. For tutor
There is no guarantee for tutors to get properly and timely paid in case learners delay payment or conflicts arise over calculating hours taught.
2. For learner
There is no guarantee of your money back and continuity of lessons in case tutors refuse to make a refund for odd reasons when you want to pull out or quit right after getting the first week’s payment from you.
3. For us
As a tutor matching agency, we cannot bear responsibility if learners and tutors have conflict over money issues, but it still takes time and effort for us to help you if such a situation occurs. To avoid these potential problems, the full tuition fee is to be paid to us upfront and we will transfer your payment to tutor based on the number of hours taught each month on your behalf so that you can focus on learning. If you decide to shorten the instruction hours, it’s guaranteed that the prepaid tuition fee will be refunded proportionately. (read Money Back Guarantee)
4- What payment methods are accepted?
Payments should be made in CASH in RMB, Alipay, WeChat or bank transfer (only RMB transfer within China). Credit cards are NOT accepted.
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