KeSong Chinese · 可颂中文
Chinese lessons in Amsterdam & online
Learn Mandarin with Zoey (Ziqiao Zang), a qualified Chinese teacher who has taught adults since 2011 and in the Netherlands since 2016. Chinese lessons in Amsterdam and live online lessons, one-to-one or in a small group: for beginners, HSK candidates, professionals and anyone who wants to finally speak.
By Zoey (Ziqiao Zang), Chinese teacher since 2011
15+ yearsteaching Chinese as a foreign language, 9 of them in the Netherlands
- 2011teaching Chinese to international students since
- 2000+students on programmes Zoey designed and taught
- 250+candidates at the official HSK online test centre she set up and ran
- HSK 1–6taught at every level, plus HSKK speaking
Chinese lessons with a real teacher
There are many ways to learn Chinese: apps, marketplace tutors, evening classes. What most adult learners are missing is not motivation but structure: someone who knows exactly which step comes next, who hears the tone you keep getting wrong, and who adapts the plan when your work week explodes. That is what KeSong is for.
KeSong Chinese is an independent studio for Chinese lessons for adults. Zoey plans every course herself, teaches every lesson herself and keeps track of your progress from the first 你好nǐ hǎo to the level you are aiming for. Whatever brought you here, you will find the same thing: careful teaching, honest advice and lessons that fit around a busy life.
Who the lessons are for
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Beginners
Start from zero: pinyin, tones, your first characters and real conversations.
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HSK preparation
Targeted preparation for HSK 1–6 and HSKK, including the new HSK 3.0.
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Business Chinese
For professionals and teams working with Chinese partners. In-company or online.
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Conversation classes
Speaking practice for learners who understand more than they dare to say.
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Private lessons
A personal plan, your pace, your goals. In Amsterdam or online.
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Online lessons
Live one-to-one or small-group lessons on Zoom, from anywhere.
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Culture workshops
Calligraphy, Chinese New Year and paper-cutting workshops for teams and organisations.
- Adult beginners who want to start properly, with pinyin and tones first, so nothing has to be unlearned later. See Chinese for beginners.
- HSK candidates preparing for HSK 1–6 or the HSKK speaking test, including the new HSK 3.0 format. See HSK preparation.
- Professionals and teams working with Chinese clients, suppliers or colleagues. See Business Chinese.
- Conversation learners: people who understand quite a lot but freeze when they have to speak. See conversation classes.
Why learners choose Zoey
Zoey is not a tutor who happens to speak Chinese. Teaching Chinese as a foreign language is her profession and her academic field:
- Master of Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (MTCSOL), Linguistics and Applied Linguistics, Zhejiang Normal University (2011–2014), after a bachelor’s degree in Chinese Language and Literature at the same university.
- University lecturer at Shenyang Ligong University (2011–2015), teaching Chinese literature to undergraduates and Chinese language and history to international students.
- Nine years at the Groningen Confucius Institute (2016–2025, based in Amsterdam) as language educator, curriculum developer and instructional designer. There she set up and managed an official HSK online exam centre, with more than 250 candidates since 2022, and ran 16 teacher-training sessions with more than 500 attendees.
- Chinese language instructor at UvA Talen, the University of Amsterdam’s language centre, since July 2025.
KeSong is her own independent studio: the place for learners who want a private, flexible programme, with more depth for HSK and business goals than a general group course can offer. Read her full story.
How the lessons work
Begin with your goals
An exam date, a business trip, a partner’s family, curiosity: your reason shapes the plan, the vocabulary and the pace.
Learn in context
Structured lessons combined with stories, literature, images and real conversations, so words stick because they mean something.
Make it your own
You use what you learn in your own sentences, about your own life, from the first week. Progress is checked and shared regularly.
Formats: one-to-one, small groups, online or in Amsterdam
- One-to-one lessons: the fastest route, fully built around you. Ideal for busy professionals and fixed exam dates. More on private Chinese lessons in Amsterdam.
- Small groups: learn with friends, colleagues or a few learners at the same level. Fees depend on the number of learners and are confirmed after a placement assessment.
- Online: the main format. Live lessons on Zoom, from home or the office, anywhere in the Netherlands or abroad. See online Chinese lessons.
- In person in Amsterdam: by arrangement, for individuals and for in-company training. If you live south of the city, see Chinese lessons in Amstelveen.
What a lesson costs
Private lessons are €60 per hour. That price includes the preparation behind each lesson, materials chosen for your goal and regular progress feedback: the parts that make an hour with a qualified teacher go further than an hour with a casual tutor. Group fees depend on the number of learners. You never pay online through this site; times, format and payment are arranged personally after your enquiry. All details are on the prices page.
What you can expect from your lessons
Rather than promises, here is how progress is made visible. In the first lesson you set a concrete target together: a level, an exam, or a situation you want to handle in Chinese. Every few weeks you look back at what you can now do that you could not do before: read a menu, introduce your company, follow a short story without pinyin. If the plan needs adjusting, it is adjusted. Learners preparing for an exam do timed practice under real exam conditions well before the test day.
Free guides to learn Chinese
Not ready for lessons yet? Zoey writes practical guides for learners at every stage, from your first characters to the HSK exam:
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HSK exam guide
Levels, HSK 3.0, test centres, dates, fees and registration in the Netherlands.
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How long does it take to learn Chinese?
Realistic hours per HSK level, what is hard, what is easy, and a 12-month plan.
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Pinyin and the four tones
A clickable pinyin chart, the four tones, tone pairs and the classic mistakes.
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Chinese characters
How the script works, radicals, stroke order and the 100 most common characters.
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Basic Chinese phrases
Hello, thank you, sorry, I love you: with characters, pinyin and audio.
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Where to learn Chinese in Amsterdam
Every option for adults compared: courses, tutors, online, free resources.
Or browse all articles.
Start learning Chinese with Zoey
Tell Zoey what you want to achieve. She replies personally to suggest a format, a schedule and a first step.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to learn Chinese?
It depends on your goal and how often you study. Most adults reach basic conversation (HSK 2) after roughly 160–240 hours of lessons plus self-study, and comfortable everyday Chinese (HSK 4) after 600–900 hours. With two lessons a week and regular practice, that is about a year to HSK 2–3. Read the full breakdown per level.
Do I need a level test before I start?
Complete beginners do not. If you have studied Chinese before, Zoey does a short placement assessment after your enquiry, a relaxed conversation plus a few reading tasks, so your lessons start at the right point instead of repeating what you know. Group-course fees are also confirmed after this assessment.
Can I learn Chinese online, or is in person better?
Online lessons work very well for Chinese, and they are KeSong's main format. Zoey teaches live on Zoom with an interactive whiteboard, shared materials and pronunciation feedback in real time. In-person lessons in Amsterdam are possible by arrangement, which some learners and companies prefer. How online lessons work.
Is learning Chinese hard?
Some parts are hard and some are surprisingly easy. Tones and characters take time, but grammar is simple: no verb conjugations, no genders, no plurals. With a structured method, most adult learners hold a simple conversation within a few months. The difficulty is real, but it is also very manageable with good guidance.
Who are the lessons for?
Adults: complete beginners, people preparing for an HSK exam, professionals and teams who work with Chinese partners, and learners who understand some Chinese but want to speak more confidently. Lessons are one-to-one or in small groups, online or in Amsterdam.
About the author
Zoey (Ziqiao Zang, 臧子乔) has taught Chinese as a foreign language since 2011 and in the Netherlands since 2016. She holds a Master of Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages from Zhejiang Normal University and set up and ran an official HSK online exam centre with more than 250 candidates.