Since 2005, ChinaFriends has been teaching Mandarin Chinese and
Chinese culture to both children and adults. ChinaFriends, orginially named ChinaKids started out in a living room helping
mom's learn simple Chinese phrases preparing them to meet their daughters for the first time in China. The community quickly
expanded and moved into a multi-classroom facility in downtown Chicago. In 2007, ChinaKids became a non-profit organization
to better fit the school's mission. Classes continue to be offered 7 days a week and taught by our experienced and talented
staff of native Chinese teachers. We are unique as a language school in Chicago in that we specialize just in Chinese.
Our curriculum, methods, and materials are tailored to meet the specific and varied needs of our students. We take a
systematic, spiral-up approach aimed at building up capabilities and internalizing the language through practical application
and consistent usage. We believe this approach is key to building a foundation for success in Chinese language study.
Although ChinaKids (now ChinaFriends) was originally founded with the focus on providing language classes
at our center, over the years we have branched out to provide off-site private and group instruction, as well as Skype classes
for remote students. In addition, we have enjoyed several productive partnerships including providing complete in-school
Mandarin programs at Lycee Francais de Chicago and after-school programs at The Latin School of Chicago and Near North Montessori.
Since 2008, ChinaFriends has enjoyed a long standing partnership at Lycee Francais de Chicago, a private French immersion
school, providing their in-school middle school program, after-school program, and Chinese summer camp.
In
2012 with our expanded services and goals, ChinaKids was renamed ChinaFriends.
Our
future plans include adding more cultural classes and activities to help broaden the ChinaFriends family and further build
a community connected to each other and to the richness and beauty of China.