DOINELCHINESE ACADEMYFind your cohort

LIVE ONLINE CHINESE COURSES

Learn Chinese.
Prepare for HSK.

Stop guessing what to study next. Follow a structured HSK course with a teacher in China, live speaking practice and feedback on what you need to improve.

See courses & dates

HSK 1: €384 for 24 live teaching hours · Materials included

An imagined Chinese riverfront at dusk, with warm city lights reflected in the water
3–6 learners per cohortTwo live classes a weekExam preparation includedTeachers based in China

A HELLO FROM CHINA

Three siblings.
One invitation.

We’re Eve, Guillermo and Umberto. We’re three siblings living in China, and we want to share a little of the life we’re discovering here.

Eve and Guillermo are the founders of Doinel Education. Umberto has recently moved to Shanghai. We started this academy to share our interest in China and help more people get to know its language, people and opportunities.

Our invitation is simple: learn with people who are here. A teacher in China, a few familiar faces online, and a plan you can follow wherever you live.

Eve, Guillermo & UmbertoThe family behind Doinel Chinese Academy

See how we make a start together
Customers ordering drinks at a red teahouse storefront in Shanghai

MAKE IT PERSONAL

Why are you
learning Chinese?

Talk about everyday life.

Have everyday conversations with friends, family and people you meet.

Your first HSK 1 building blockStart with greetings, names and asking someone how they are.

Find a course for your starting point

THE BIGGER PICTURE

A changing China.
More reasons to connect.

China’s industrial reach spans electronics, advanced equipment, electric vehicles, clean energy and biotechnology. Learning the language is one way to get closer to the people behind it.

ElectronicsAdvanced equipmentElectric vehiclesClean energyBiotechnology

GLOBAL MANUFACTURING

A much larger share.

China’s share of world manufacturing value added

Source: World Bank. China ÷ world manufacturing value added, current US dollars; our calculation, rounded to one decimal. Historical figures, 2004–2024.

HIGH-TECH MANUFACTURING

More firms building what’s next.

Number of qualifying high-tech manufacturers, indexed to 2018

+57.4%growth between 2018 and 2023

Source: China’s National Bureau of Statistics, 2023 census. 53,000 high-tech manufacturing enterprises above the designated size in 2023. Index: 2018 = 100; covers firms with annual main-business revenue of at least RMB 20 million.

You don’t need to work in technology to have a reason to learn. Sometimes it starts with a person you’d like to talk to.

Give your learning a clear goal

WHY TAKE HSK?

Give your Chinese
a clear target.

HSK gives you a defined level to work towards and a recognised result to show for it. Use it to plan your study and support applications that require Chinese.

Study in China

Use your result for university and scholarship applications. Each programme sets its own requirements.

Document your Chinese level

Give employers a recognised record of your Chinese proficiency when the role calls for it.

Make progress measurable

Know what to study, practise regularly and see where you’re improving.

Read about the test and its uses at Chinese Tests Service . A score does not guarantee admission, funding or employment.

STARTING OCTOBER 2026

Choose your cohort.

Choose your starting level. Every course includes live teaching, materials, homework feedback and mock exam practice. One payment for the full course.

BUILD ON YOUR FOUNDATIONS

HSK 2

Keep the conversation going

Turn familiar words into longer exchanges and build speed and accuracy for HSK 2.

Starts
13 October 2026
Schedule
Tuesday & Friday
11:00–12:30 UTC
Duration
10 teaching weeks · 30 live hours
Entry level
HSK 1 knowledge or equivalent
480full course
taxes included

16 per live teaching hour · Materials included

Enrolment opens soon · No auto-renewal

TAKE THE NEXT STEP

HSK 3

More to say. More confidence.

Develop everyday communication while preparing for HSK 3 listening, reading and writing.

Starts
17 October 2026
Schedule
Saturday & Sunday
09:00–10:30 UTC
Duration
12 teaching weeks · 36 live hours
Entry level
HSK 2 knowledge or equivalent
576full course
taxes included

16 per live teaching hour · Materials included

Enrolment opens soon · No auto-renewal

Teaching materials, homework feedback and mock practice included.

Official exam registration and fees are separate. Class times stay fixed in UTC; local times may change with daylight saving.

HOW CLASSES WORK

You don’t have to
figure it out alone.

Get feedback while you speak. Your teacher is based in China. Ask questions, check your pronunciation and work through mistakes in class.

Practise with the same 3–6 people. Two live classes each week, with pair work and speaking practice from your first lesson.

Know exactly what to work on. Follow set lessons and homework towards your HSK level. Mock practice helps identify gaps before you book the exam.

YOUR HSK 1 WEEK

Two classes a week.
Practice in between.

  1. MON
    Learn it. Say it.

    90 minutes live with your teacher and group.

  2. IN BETWEEN
    Complete your set homework.

    Review sounds, practise vocabulary and prepare a short response.

  3. THU
    Use it. Get feedback.

    90 minutes of explanation, conversation and guided practice.

3 hours live + 2–3 hours of homework per week

8 weeks, 16 lessons. Set aside time for both classes and homework.

Three adults sharing books and conversation around a table

MORE THAN SOLO STUDY

People to
practise with.

Speaking needs practice. In a group of 3–6, you work with classmates, take turns in conversations and get feedback from your teacher.

You meet the same people each week, so you can get to know each other as your Chinese develops.

A real reason someone chose to learn

At a 2014 Tsinghua event, Mark Zuckerberg explained that he wanted to speak with his wife’s grandmother and understand Chinese history and culture. A personal connection can be a powerful reason to start.

Read Tsinghua’s account

An independent public example, not an academy student or endorsement.

QUESTIONS

Before you join.

Can I start with no Chinese at all?

Yes. The HSK 1 cohort starts with pronunciation, pinyin and your first characters. For HSK 2 and 3, you need the previous level or equivalent knowledge. We check your starting point before accepting an enrolment.

Which version of HSK do you prepare for?

The October cohorts target the established HSK 1–3 exam format. HSK 3.0 trial exams are also running in 2026. Your teacher will confirm the exam version and any speaking requirement with your chosen test centre. We won’t describe a course for one format as preparation for another.

How much time should I set aside?

Each cohort has two 90-minute live lessons a week. Allow another 2–3 hours of homework for HSK 1, 3–4 hours for HSK 2, or 4–5 hours for HSK 3. A few short practice sessions between classes can make the routine easier to maintain.

Will this course guarantee I pass?

No course can guarantee an exam result. These are focused preparation courses with homework, feedback and mock practice. Your starting level, attendance and independent study all affect readiness. Your teacher will advise if you need more preparation.

When and where do we meet?

Classes are live online on Zoom or Tencent Meeting, taught from China. Each lesson lasts 90 minutes. Course details list every date and a downloadable calendar. Times remain fixed in UTC, so check any daylight-saving change in your own country.

What does the price include?

Your full course includes all listed live lessons, teaching materials, set homework feedback and mock practice. Prices include applicable taxes. Official HSK exam fees and registration are separate and paid to your test centre. There is no subscription or automatic renewal.

What if I miss a class or need to cancel?

Tell us as early as you can. Missed group classes do not normally receive an individual replacement, but you still receive the lesson materials. You can cancel for a full refund before the first class. Statutory cancellation rights and remedies for service problems remain protected. The terms explain refunds after teaching begins.

Can I pay now?

Enrolment is not open yet. You can review the complete schedule and download the class dates. Secure checkout will be available when bookings open.

Who runs the academy?

Doinel Chinese Academy is a standalone brand of Doinel Limited, registered in England and Wales, company number 07563110. These initial cohorts are for adults aged 18 and over.

OCTOBER COHORTS

Choose your level.
Make a start.

Start from zero with HSK 1, or build on your Chinese with HSK 2 or 3. Check the timetable, workload and full price before you join.

Find your cohort
Photography credits

Shanghai street photograph: Margo Evardson / Unsplash. Study photograph: Monstera Production / Pexels. Used as illustrations of everyday life and shared learning; the people pictured are not the founders, teachers or academy students. The riverfront hero is an original generated illustration.