01/16/19

Our new Chinese courses are starting!

My Chinese language center in Guangzhou, called Expat Chinese, is starting a new semester right after the Chinese New Year. Now is the time to take a look of what kind of Chinese courses we are offering here in Guangzhou.

At Expat Chinese we teach Chinese the Western Way!

Founder, Sara Jaaksola

Chinese courses at our Zhujiang New Town Center

Chinese Courses at our Clifford Wonderland Panyu Center

No matter at which level you are, we have the right option for you.

New to learning Chinese? Choose our Beginners Chinese and HSK 1 characters courses. Also welcome to our beginners Chinese Corner!

Have you studied Chinese for half a year and/or passed HSK1? Then go for the Chinese 2 course and HSK 2 characters course. Also join our Elementary conversational class!

Have been studying Chinese for a year and been learning characters as well? Have passed HSK level 2 test? Then enroll to our intensive HSK 3 comprehensive course.

Whant to improve your spoken Chinese? Our conversational courses and Chinese Corner are for you!

For more information about us please see: About Expat Chinese

For more information on our Spring 2019 courses please see: Spring 2019 Chinese Courses

01/1/19

Highlights from 2018

Happy New Year 2019 to everyone in China and abroad! On the first day it’s time to look back to the highlights of last year 2018 before moving forward.

Started the year with a tour to Shenjing Village with Expat Chinese students. Showing the historical side of Guangzhou.

Celebrated 4th wedding anniversary at the Ritz-Carlton buffet lunch.

Welcomed the year of the dog.

Finally visited Kaiping with my family! A must historical destination to visit in Guangdong province.

Rented a second classroom at Zhujiang New Town, hired our first full-time teacher.

Attended Women’s Empowerment event and joined Global Friendship, an organization that plans meaningful events in Guangzhou and nearby cities.

Went to the GWIC charity gala and attended many other GWIC events through the year. In this photo with my first Chinese language student who I met in September 2014.

Had our first cultural workshop organized by Bowtie History.

Went to the beach of Yangjiang with family.

Had delicious dim sum with Expat Chinese students.

Second workshop with Sinellia Tea dived into the history and culture of Chinese Tea.

Went to Finland to attend my brother’s high school graduation. In this photo with my (from the right) brother, mother, brother-in-law, sister, brother and my husband and daughter.

Family trip to Tallinn!

Company dinner! At this point we employed one full time and three part time teachers.

Gave a DU Talk about international marriage.

My husband’s first gym opened, the second is about to open later this month (January 2019).

Our daughter started first grade of Chinese kindergarten.

Started attending Entrepreneurs Roundtable events organized by Global Friendship.

During National Week in October led three tours to explore different parts of our island and Xiaozhou village.

Joined the K2Fit fitness community to surround my self with active and positive energy!

Went to Canadian Chamber of Commerce launch party, as we Finns don’t have organizations of our own here.

Our daughter turned 3 years old.

Expat Chinese had a booth at the yearly GWIC Holiday charity Bazaar.

Started Mette’s amazing Learning Leader program to learn more about important soft skills that help me to lead my self and my business better.

Went camping with my daughter to Cliffhaus.

Started regular company training on topics of education, teaching, self development etc. Started offering weekly English lessons to our staff with an American teacher.

Workshop on Chinese Medicine with doctor Roxana.

Started 66 days study challenge with 20+ students studying Chinese everyday.

Had our second workshop with Sinellia Tea learning how to serve Chinese Tea properly.

Anna’s first performance!

Christmas Party with Expat Chinese students and staff at our home.

Opened our second location in Clifford!

To kick off the 2019 let’s meet at our new center to learn about Chinese language, culture, travel and tea from three foreign experts!

To join scan the flyer or add my WeChat: yaxuefang.

Happy New Year 2019!

08/30/18

Chinese courses in Guangzhou – Expat Chinese Autumn 2018

Chinese courses in Guangzhou

 

Autumn 2018 is here! This time of the year is always very exciting time at my Chinese language center, Expat Chinese. Meeting new students again after Summer holidays and making new friends with our new comers. New courses are starting and all of our teachers are eager to get the Autumn rolling.

When I started teaching Chinese back in 2014, and even when I officially started Expat Chinese in January 2017, I would never have known that it would grow to be such an excellent Chinese learning center as it is now. And this is just the beginning! Expat Chinese is definitely my dream come true.

Our Autumn semester starts next week and some of our courses still have spots available. Please see the picture above for more details.

08/5/18

View to modern Guangzhou – Huacheng Square

Liwan district is my favorite part of old Guangzhou, but for modern view I head to Huacheng Square and the long park that runs North to South between Zhujiang New Town and Liede. Luckily my office is right next to the park!

The park is beautiful during the day and magnificent after dark when all the lights are lit!

Huacheng Square is a must place to visit for anyone traveling or living in Guangzhou. You can find the Opera House, new library and Guangdong Museum at the South part of the square. With a beautiful view of the Canton Tower.

On the photo above, taken from the Four Seasons Hotel at 72nd floor, you can see the library on the left, Guangdong Museum is the black building and the Liede bridge n the background. I cross that bridge everyday to work.

The Guangdong Museum has a great exhibition on the history and culture of the province.

In the evening there are water, light and music shows, but they can be very crowded so be careful.

All in all, Huacheng Square is a great place to visit and take visitors as well.

07/29/18

Where to go with kids in Guangzhou – Aoti Utopa Mall

New shopping malls made for kids are popping up all over Guangzhou. Aoti Utopa Mall used to be a furniture mall, but it has transformed into a kid’s paradise.It isn’t a fancy mall and looks old on the outside, but it has pretty much everything you need.

Address for taxi or GPS: 广州市天河区奥体南路12号优托虭·奥体店

So what does Aoti Utopa Mall include?

Outside there are amusement park rides, two water parks, wall climbing, diving training and other activities. Outside there is also two big slides for free that kids and climb and slide on.

Inside you find many indoor playgrounds, trampoline park, swimming playarea, shops, restaurants and a Auchan supermarket. The restaurants are more for the Chinese taste, but does have Pizza Hut as well those wanting western food.

Pictures from our visits:Carousel ride 20rmb or buy a set of tickets for 300rmb so each ride is 10rmb.Rentable stroller with airplane functions for the kid to enjoy. 3rmb per 15 minutes.Waterpark with a shallow pool for younger kids and deeper pool with more obstacles for older kids or adults. We bought a discounted ticket on 亲子周末 app and paid only 29.90rmb for both of us.Ball pit in the middle of the shopping mall. There is a “tree” climbing activity next to it as well for older kids.小Q indoor playground. This is a chain with locations all over Guangzhou. It doesn’t has as many climbing or slides, but has a lot of games, cars, role play, supermarket toys. One time ticket is around 80rmb.

This is just a small portion of activities and play areas that Aoti Utopa Mall offers. Go and see your self!

Parking is free for two hours. During weekends the huge parking lot gets full, so better to arrive early. This Saturday at 10:30 there was lots of space left, but at early afternoon when we left it was almost full.

All in all it’s worth to visit with kids!