Leaders in Mandarin Classes

AP® Chinese Language & Culture

Take our fun and rigorous classes. Use our science backed memorization methods and get ahead in studying. Study smart, use less time, get better results.

Register And Save Starts Jan 11th!

Transcripts Provided

Get credit with your high school with a challenging course and look great on your college applications.

Increase your GPA and scores

Get high school credit and take a college level course. We're fully accredited by WASC.

Save time and money

We give the most mock exams and have the lowest price per hour in the industry. You'll get more time, help, and practice with our courses.

Award Winning Programs

Be more prepared here.

We're the leaders in Mandarin classes since 2020 with our progressive science backed methods in memorization.

  • 3X more mock tests than industry.
  • 2X more synchronous class times.
  • 5X more support offline.
  • 10X more practice problems.

STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?

    General Questions

  • Are there prerequisites for this course?

    At least have taken three years of intermediate to high level Chinese, able to write paragraphs or at least 800 characters, able to converse in Chinese, and ready to review AP Chinese core topics for testing. Native or heritage speakers are welcome to take this course. Please inquire with admissions for further informaiton and approval by emailing: [email protected].

  • Why us?

    We are fully accredited by WASC. In addition, our AP Curriculum went through a rigorous approval process and is on the approved list from the College Board. All our instructors for the course have all been approved by the College Board as well. Learn and prepare for this rigorous exam with the experts in teaching Mandarin. Our Mandarin program has multiple awards from University of Pennsylvania. We're efficient, funny, and will lead you to success with the least amount of pain. In addition, we'll give you so much practice, the actual AP exam will feel like a breeze.

  • What exactly do you get?

    In this course, you'll get five full mock exams plus hundreds of practice questions every week for each topic. In addition, you'll receive more than 400 minutes of listening practice so you'll rock it at the exam. We have professional teachers who will grade your essays you will practice writing weekly. You will have so much guidance and support you will never be lost. Please refer to our sample syllabus for the flow of our course.

  • How are you different?

    Instead of focusing on slow review, we believe in bootcamp practice throughout 16 weeks providing you with thousands of practice questions so that it would simulate real test sessions week after week. If you're looking for rigor and straight to practice with no wasted time, we're the program for you. Our jam packed 16 week study program will get you ready in the shortest amount of time. In addition, most programs out there are self paced with very little help. Our hands on easily reachable approach will be bar none. You will have access to two dedicated teachers and fast response times. 

    • Grading & Exam Questions

  • How do you grade?

    We are rigorous in coursework. We focus on iteration and learning from mistakes rather than getting things right the first time. If you do all the work with effort and iterate along the way, students will be able to earn an A. 

  • How do you take the exam?

    If your school offers AP, you can ask the AP Coordinator at your high school or neighboring high school to register to take the AP exam at your school or neighboring school. In addition, you can check the AP Course Ledger to find a school near you to take the test.


  • Will I get a transcript and college credit for this course?

    Upon completion of this course, you will get a transcript, and you can ask to have this transcript sent to the college of your choice for consideration for college level credit as part of your college application. Most students do not need to send these transcripts to their high schools if they're not using it to fulfill high school graduation requirements. You should ask your school counselor if they accept course credits and grades from another school if you need it in your high school transcript. 

  • Will colleges accept the grade I've received?

    Motherly Notes AP curriculum is directly approved by the College Board to offer this course. In addition. we are fully accredited by WASC. When applying for college, you can request for an official transcript of the grade and credit you received here to send. The college or university will then evaluate your coursework for applications. 

Course Overview (1/11 - 5/3)

  • 34 Hours of synchronous classes, 64 Hours of in home practice, 5 mock exams
  • Class Time: Saturdays 2-4 PM PST, weekly synchronous sessions, 2 hours each.
  • Homework and Review Time: 4 hours each week for assignments, quizzes, and independent study.
  • Additional Resources:
    • Recorded Lessons: Weekly synchronous sessions will be recorded, providing at least 6 hours of supplementary materials for review.
    • Homework Support:
      • Self-paced activities, including vocabulary practice, listening exercises, and reading comprehension tasks.
  • Class Listening Practice:
    • Each class will include at least 20 minutes of listening practice, simulating the AP Chinese exam listening section to improve students' listening comprehension skills.

Weekly Schedule

Weeks 1–4: Family and Community

  • Dates: January 19, 26; February 2, 9
  • Theme: Exploring family structures, roles, community life, and cultural values.
  • Class Activities:
    1. Discuss common family-related vocabulary and member titles.
    2. Interview family members to learn about their occupations, roles, and personalities, and write a report.
    3. Compare Chinese traditional festivals (e.g., Spring Festival) with students’ cultural traditions.
    4. Listening Practice: Listen to an audio clip about family structures in China and answer comprehension questions.
  • Homework:
    • Complete vocabulary practice.
    • Read an article on Spring Festival customs and answer comprehension questions.
    • Write a 200-word essay describing family traditions.
    • Complete a reading quiz.
  • Assessment:
    • Unit Test: Administered in Week 4, covering vocabulary, grammar, and cultural themes.

Weeks 5–8: Education and School Life

  • Dates: February 16, 23; March 1, 8
  • Theme: Comparing Chinese and American educational systems and school culture.
  • Class Activities:
    1. Write a 300-word essay on "Differences Between Chinese and American High School Life."
    2. Discuss the value of education and its impact on students and families.
    3. Listening Practice: Listen to an audio clip about a student’s daily school life, extract key information, and answer questions.
  • Homework:
    • Complete vocabulary practice.
    • Read an article about the Chinese education system and summarize key points.
    • Write a 300-word essay comparing the two systems.
    • Complete a reading quiz.
  • Assessment:
    • Unit Test: Administered in Week 8, covering reading, writing, and speaking skills.

Weeks 9–10: Daily Life and Customs

  • Dates: March 15, 22
  • Theme: Understanding the daily lives, social norms, and cultural customs of Chinese-speaking communities.
  • Class Activities:
    1. Practice conversations in common daily scenarios (e.g., at restaurants or on public transport).
    2. Compare daily routines in Chinese culture with those of other cultures.
    3. Listening Practice: Listen to a dialogue about daily life scenarios and complete listening comprehension tasks.
  • Homework:
    • Complete vocabulary practice.
    • Analyze a cultural artifact (e.g., 郭雪湖’s South Street Festival).
    • Write a 250-word essay titled "A Day in the Life of a Chinese Teenager."
    • Complete a reading quiz.
  • Assessment:
    • Unit Test: Administered in Week 10, covering vocabulary, practical conversation, and listening comprehension.

Weeks 11–12: Science and Technology

  • Dates: March 29; April 5
  • Theme: Exploring advancements in modern technology and their societal impacts.
  • Class Activities:
    1. Discuss the impact of mobile payments and e-commerce on society.
    2. Please write an article on high-speed rail technology and its economic impact.
    3. Discuss how technology can solve everyday challenges.
    4. Listening Practice: Listen to an audio clip introducing China’s high-speed rail technology and answer related questions.
  • Homework:
    • Complete vocabulary practice.
    • Read an article on Chinese technological innovations and answer comprehension questions.
    • Write a 200–300 word essay on technological applications.
    • Complete a reading quiz.
  • Assessment:
    • Unit Test: Administered in Week 12, covering vocabulary, reading, writing, and listening.

Weeks 13–14: Global Issues

  • Dates: April 12, 19
  • Theme: Discussing environmental protection, public health, and China’s role in global affairs.
  • Class Activities:
    1. Debate the Belt and Road Initiative’s impact on global trade.
    2. Write a letter discussing environmental issues and exchange feedback with classmates.
  • Homework:
    • Complete listening practice.
    • Research an environmental challenge in China and write notes.
    • Write a 300-word essay discussing international issues.
    • Complete a reading quiz.
  • Assessment:
    • Unit Test: Administered in Week 14, covering vocabulary and listening comprehension.

Weeks 15–16: Arts and Entertainment

  • Dates: April 26; May 3
  • Theme: Analyzing traditional and modern Chinese art forms (calligraphy, music, film, etc.).
  • Class Activities:
    1. Watch a movie like Coco and write a reflection (150–200 words).
    2. Research and present the history and evolution of Chinese opera.
  • Homework:
    • Review key vocabulary.
    • Watch an opera performance and write a summary.
    • Write a 150–200 word film reflection.
    • Complete a reading quiz.
  • Assessment:
    • Unit Test: Administered in Week 16, focusing on cultural themes and writing skills.

Summary

  • Total Weekly Study Time:
    • Synchronous Classes: 2 hours a week.
    • Homework and Review: 4 hours per week.
    • Supplementary Materials: Essay grading, over 400 minutes of listening assessments, hundreds of practice questions, and five full mock exams. 
  • Assessments:
    • Weekly reading quizzes (self-paced).
    • Unit tests at the end of each theme.

This plan balances in-class learning, independent study, and regular assessments to ensure comprehensive language development and thorough preparation for the AP Chinese exam.