Incorporating technology into the school’s Mandarin-language programs in the past decade is one of the key drivers of its remarkable growth as well as what distinguishes the school from its competitors, said the operations director.

The school’s online platform NihaoCafe, first put into use in 2010, epitomizes such efforts.

A responsive website that looks good on all devices, NihaoCafe features copious online materials, such as videos, articles, comic stories, exercises, and whiteboards. The platform is also where all classes, online and offline, are held without using Skype or Zoom.

“If you miss a class, they have a great app that allows you to always study even on the go. This combination is extremely unique,” reads an online review by Bianca Teti, a student with That’s Mandarin in Beijing.

Peter Willis, a Serbian living in Beijing who has studied Mandarin with the school for three years, also spoke highly of the platform. “With a very good user-friendly interface, NihaoCafe contains everything a student needs to test and practice their language skills. It is very useful in class as well and teachers are using it to support their lessons,” he told the China Daily website.

Thanks to their consistent efforts to optimize its digital platform, That’s Mandarin has stayed afloat during the pandemic and has remained unscathed.