1- When should I make the booking?
Ideally, you should book 1 to 2 weeks before you plan to start lessons. Please note that we only handle bookings with a minimum of 40 tutoring hours that start within 30 days (you must begin your lessons within 30 days at the latest after making the booking).

2- What’s the booking process?
STEP 1. SEARCH
Browse through our selection of tutors categorized by qualifications: amateur/novice tutors, certified/professional tutors, and star tutors. Compare profiles, rates, reviews and credentials of tutors and check their availability by timetable. Select the best fit.

Step 2. BOOK
Book through book@ShanghaiTutors.com. If you cannot decide on your best fit on our website, contact us for our recommendations. We have many more great tutors who prefer not to have an online presence and are not listed on the website.

STEP 3. CONFIRM
Within a maximum of 48 hours (if we receive your request during office hours), we will put you in touch with the tutor. Discuss and fix tutoring details with the tutor over the phone or in person. Pay a one-time service fee with the full tuition fee, based on the total number of booking hours, upfront to start learning. (no charges will apply until you start your lessons)

3- How long should I wait for your reply?
Under normal circumstances, we reply to requests within 48 hours if received during working hours. We respond to every request and email. To ensure our emails don’t end up in your spam folder, please add book@ShanghaiTutors.com to your “approved sender list” or “whitelist.” You can also add us to your “address book.” If you do not receive a reply from us within 2 working days, we may not have been able to reach you, so please contact us again.

4- Who are the tutors? What are their qualifications and experience?
We have an unrivaled network of independent Chinese/Mandarin tutors. Only the best are included in our community (about 20% of the applicants). Each tutor undergoes a credentials verification, resume evaluation, and interview screening process to meet our criteria. Our tutors come from diverse backgrounds, including professional Mandarin teachers from universities, international schools, Mandarin schools, freelancers, part-time tutors, and college students. Some tutors offer private sessions to supplement their income, while others work exclusively as freelancers. Most tutors possess relevant certificates, educational degrees, or extensive experience.

5- Do I get to choose and meet the tutor before starting?
Yes, you can request a specific tutor from the listings on our site or ask for our recommendations. We encourage every learner to speak with the tutor before beginning lessons to ensure a good fit. We will suggest a neutral location that is convenient for both of you to meet, or you can discuss details over the phone or via WeChat. If you prefer to meet at your location instead of a neutral spot, we will charge 50 RMB if you are located within the inner ring of Shanghai or 100 RMB if you are outside the inner ring.

6- What’s the price for tutoring?
Price varies. Tutors are independent. We do not employ or manage tutors. You will discuss rates with the tutor directly and employ the tutor as an independent contractor. All tutors fall into three categories based on qualifications (marked as A, AA, AAA). The different tutoring rates reflect their difference in experience, qualifications, and popularity. Check standard rates in their profiles for reference and select your best fit. While the final rate is a matter of negotiation between you and tutor, below is the average rate range for your reference (for private 1-1 sessions). They may vary depending on the tutor’s popularity, commuting distance, timing, and frequency of lessons. For groups of 2 to 3 students taking lessons together, prices may increase by 30% to 60%.

Tutor Type	A	AA	AAA
Hourly Rates	90-120rmb	130-160rmb	170-200rmb

Category A: amateur teachers/novice teachers (just starting out)
Category AA: certified teachers/professional teachers (usually 2-5 years of experjence)
Category AAA: star teachers (top trainers with experience in universities, international schools, corporate training, etc)
Most tutors fall under Category AA (the most popular choice among our clients), charging between 130-160rmb/hour (for 1-1).
*The above rates are based on sessions of 2+ hours each. If you study for less than 2 hours per session, expect a 25%-50% increase in rates, or consider online tutoring.

7- How much is the service charge? What service do I get? 
The service fee is 400 RMB for 1-on-1 private tutoring, regardless of the number of hours booked at a time. This fee is charged only once for the successful matching of the tutor and must be paid along with the tuition fees upfront before tutoring begins.

This small service fee helps us maintain the operation of our site and offline office work, while also guaranteeing you one year of continuous support. If any issues arise during the year (e.g., schedule conflicts, drop in lesson quality), we will change your tutor free of charge, without any limit on the number of times. (Tutoring rates will need to be discussed and confirmed with the new tutor.) The service fee also validates our 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 is a 200 RMB surcharge on the service fee for each additional student studying in the group. For large group and corporate bookings, the service fee varies; please consult us to confirm.

Note: the service fee will be charged each time a new booking is made. (Extending lessons will be considered a new booking.)

8- When and how do I pay?
You’ll need to pay a 400rmb one-time service fee plus the full tuition fee (based on the total number of hours you book) upfront, before your first lesson, if you decide to go for it. For instance, if you book 40 hours at 150rmb/hour, that’s a total of 6400rmb (400rmb service fee + 6000rmb tuition fee). If you’re in a group, there’s a 200rmb extra fee for each additional student. If there’s a textbook, that cost is separate.

You can pay in cash (RMB), or through Alipay, WeChat, or a bank transfer(only RMB transfer within China). Credit cards are NOT accepted.

9- Where do I take lessons?
You and your tutor can choose any location convenient for lessons. Many students prefer to have lessons at their homes or offices, while others meet in public places such as libraries or coffee shops. The location should be safe and healthy, and if you choose a coffee shop or restaurant, it’s best to agree in advance about who will cover the cost to avoid any awkwardness.

10- What should I do if I have any trouble with tutoring? Can I change tutors?
If you encounter any issues with tutoring during contracted hours, please notify the tutor immediately. If the tutor is unavailable or the issue cannot be resolved, contact our staff or the Emergency Complaints Number provided in your contract. If any issues arise during tutoring (e.g., scheduling conflicts, declining teaching quality), we can arrange for a new tutor (tutoring rates must be discussed and confirmed with the new tutor). There is no limit to the number of times you can change tutors within one year.

11- Do you make a refund if I shorten tutoring hours or decide to stop learning?
Definitely yes. The tuition fee associated with unused hours is refundable for any reason, whether you want to shorten the hours or stop learning totally, as long as you notify us within the service time (1 year).

Conditions:
1 A 10% processing fee will be deducted from the refunded tuition to cover administrative costs.
2 Requests must be made in writing and sent to moneyback@ShanghaiTutors.Com within the service time (1 year).
3 Refunds will be processed within 20 working days after receiving the request.
4 Refunds are not applicable if the learner has previously breached the contract or engaged in illegal or improper behavior.
5 Resuming lessons with the same tutor without notifying us will invalidate Money Back Guarantee.
6 Accepting a refund will automatically terminate your one-year service agreement, and the one-time service fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.

12- What about the quality of lessons from private tutors VS Mandarin Schools?
Tutors in Category AA are totally comparable to their counterparts in Mandarin schools (and often better!). Tutors in Category AAA, on the other hand, far exceed the average teachers from any Mandarin school. They are truly top trainers with considerable experience and a proven track record.

Many tutors at ShanghaiTutors also work part-time or full-time in Mandarin schools, and they are here to get more students like you to supplement income. You might bump into the same tutor if you opt for a private course at Mandarin schools, but you will end up paying 60%-200% more for the same lesson…so that they can pay the bills for ads, sales staff, rent, utilities, etc.

13- Why are the tutoring rates on ShanghaiTutors.com much lower than those at Mandarin schools?
The rates on ShanghaiTutors.com are set by the tutors based on their pay expectations and prevailing market conditions. When you enroll in a private course at a school, much of your tuition funds the school's high operating costs, which include marketing, advertising, staff salaries, rent, and utilities. As a result, teachers often receive less than half of the tuition fees collected.

14- What are the advantages of finding tutors via ShanghaiTutors.Com VS finding tutors by myself?
The simple answer is tutor qualification and full support.

We’ve been involved in tutoring service for over 10 years and our knowledge is second to none. We know what you expect from tutors and only select the best fit. We also follow up in terms of quality and progress and provide continuous support throughout, so that we can always propose a good deal of quality and assurance to you.

While it’s possible to find a tutor independently, it can be risky. Learning Chinese is not easy, and teaching it requires significant expertise. As a learner, it can be challenging to determine whether a tutor is teaching the correct material or whether they speak Mandarin without an accent. Choosing the wrong tutor can result in wasted time and frustration. We have seen many individuals give up on learning Chinese because of poor experiences with self-selected "tutors". Why risk your time and money when you have our support as an option?