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Our Culture |
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How are you different from other Chinese language schools? |
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Our school embodies a “Culture of Caring” for our students, our teachers, and our staff. We recognize that a school is much more than a business; it's a community of friends that come together to share knowledge and experiences. We befriend our students and welcome their feedback and suggestions. We appreciate our talented teachers, and reward their passion for teaching. We are the first Chinese language school in Shanghai to reward our employees with a profit sharing program. This enables everyone to partake in the success of the school, and creates the communal feeling that underpins our culture. |
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We can write a lot more about how we're different, but why not experience the difference yourself? Drop by for a visit or give us a call!
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Do you have a lowest price guarantee? |
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No. We do not compete on having the lowest price. We believe an education is an investment, and one of the most important ones you can make. How comfortable are you attending the lowest cost college or university, or sending your kids there? Why should your Chinese education be any different? We offer instead a great education and wonderful experiences at a reasonable price. |
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How do you measure your success? |
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We measure ourselves by posing a simple question to our students, “Would you enthusiastically recommend us to your friends and colleagues?” Our goal is to have every student answer with a resounding “yes”! If any student hesitates in answering “yes”, then we have no done our jobs properly. We are all human, and will make mistakes. Please please please, tell us when we do! We will do our best to correct it. |
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What is your policy on haggling? |
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We know that foreigners living in China quickly learn that unless they haggle for everything, they will get ripped off. We've adopted a different approach from the typical Chinese merchant. We don't quote inflated prices expecting them to be haggled down. Instead, we quote reasonable prices to begin with, and leave the haggling to others. We find the haggling process as frustrating as you do, and our time is better spent talking to our students about ways to improve our school and our teaching process. |
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Tuition, Fees, and Refunds |
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How do I pay my tuition? |
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We accept payment in cash or by bank transfer. All cash payments should be in RMB, while personal bank transfers can be in other currencies. Unfortunately, due to some quirks in the Chinese banking system, business bank transfers must also be in RMB. |
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When is the tuition due? |
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Students who register for private tutoring should pay the total amount for the hours registered before the first tutoring session. For students enrolling in a group class, 10% of the total tuition should be paid as a deposit to hold the spot. The remaining 90% should be paid by the first class.
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Will I be charged an extra fee for in-home or in-office tutoring? |
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I f the location designated by a student is inconvenient to access via subway , we charge a transportation fee to compensate the teacher for her extra time and travel expenses. |
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When do I need to finish my lessons by? |
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Students must finish their lessons within a specified number of weeks after the start date. This is to allow us to better schedule the time commitments of our teachers. If a student fails to complete the lessons before the expiration date, the remaining hours will be forfeited. We do give exceptions, but only in rare circumstances. The expiration policy is as follows: |
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20 to 39hours |
40 to 79 hours |
70 to 119 hours |
120 to 159 hours |
160 + hours |
26 weeks |
52 weeks |
78 weeks |
104 weeks |
130 weeks |
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What is the policy on transferring my hours or obtaining a refund? |
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You may transfer any unused hours to a friend or colleague. There is no additional fee for this transfer. Refunds may also be requested. If a refund is requested more than 2 weeks before the first class or scheduled lesson, the full tuition will be refunded, less a 500 RMB deposit. If a refund is requested less than 2 weeks before the start date, we will deduct 500 RMB or 10% of the total tuition from the refund, whichever amount is greater. If a refund is requested after lessons have already started, the refund is prorated for the unused time, less an amount equal to 20% of the total tuition. The deductions from the tuition amount are to compensate us and our teachers for their time spent in preparation and scheduling. The chart below provides a summary of the refund policy. |
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Refund Request Date |
Refund Amount |
≥ 2 weeks before start date |
Full tuition less 500 RMB |
< 2 weeks before start date |
Full tuition less greater of 500 RMB or 10% total tuition |
After start date |
Unused portion of tuition less 20% total tuition |
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Group Class |
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How big are the group classes? |
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We try to keep each group class small. The typical class will contain 3-5 students. |
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What happens if I miss a class? |
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Unlike private tutoring, we cannot reschedule a group class for a single student. However, you may make up the missing class by attending another class covering the same curriculum, or by arranging a private tutoring session. In the latter case, an extra fee will apply. |
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When do group classes start? |
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A new group class will start as soon as enough students express interest in attending such a class. If you are interested in joining a group class (check out our special rates), please let us know by phone or email , along with your current level of Chinese and schedule. We will coordinate with you and other interested students to organize a class. |
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Miscellaneous |
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How do I enroll for a class at iSpeak? |
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Students who are interested in enrolling at iSpeak should call or email us for more information. We want to find out more about your interests, and address any questions that you might have. Once we have a better understanding of your goals and you come to understand our unique culture, we can arrange a free trial class. |
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Are the trial classes really free? |
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Absolutely! The purpose of the trial class is to give you a way to meet and interact with one of our talented teachers. We are certain you will find our culture very warm and inviting, and the quality of our instruction to be top notch. There will be no charge of any sort to you. |
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What other services does iSpeak offer? |
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iSpeak offers its students other services, often as a favor and for no charge. However, if the tasks required by the students are large or time-consuming, we may charge a fee. These services include acting as a travel guide, arranging accommodations and lodging, visa renewal, and other translation / interpreting services. |
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When are the school holidays? |
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The school holidays are documented on our school calendar . No classes or lessons will occur on school holidays, and will be instead scheduled for the following weeks. |
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