GROUP COURSE
One-on-one instruction is the most effective way to learn a language. ShanghaiTutors.Com is the best portal to find private Chinese/Mandarin tutors. You will save 50%-70% using our service compared with school teaching of equivalent standard. If you are set on taking group course with a Mandarin school, however, there are a couple of options that seem above board and worth checking out:

MandarinRocks
Email: info@mandarinrocks.com
www.mandarinrocks.com
Mandarin House
Email: info@mandarinhouse.com
www.mandarinhouse.com
iMandarin
Email: study@imandarin.net
www.imandarin.net
That's Mandarin
Email: info.shanghai@thatsmandarin.com
www.thatsmandarin.com
Miracle Mandarin
Email: info@miraclemandarin.com
www.miraclemandarin.com
Mandarin Garden
Email: winnie@mandaringarden.org
www.mandaringarden.org
Han Yuan
Email: hanyuan@jjcsh.com
www.hanyuansh.com

BOOK SHOPS
You may find many Chinese learning books, audio and video programs in books shops.
Shanghai Foreign Bookstore
Add: No 390 Fuzhou Road
Open: 9:30-19:00 daily
Shanghai Book City
Add: No 465 Fuzhou Road
Open: 9:30-21:00 daily

SOFTWARE & APPS
Rosetta Stone
Rosetta Stone is the world's #1 language-learning software. You may find Mandarin pack in street DVD shops at low cost (around 100rmb for a set).
Sogou Pinyin
Best software to type Chinese on computer.
Download: http://pinyin.sogou.com
Youdao Dictionary
Best English-Chinese & Chinese-English online and on phone (no internet access is needed).
Download: http://dict.youdao.com

WEBSITES
Some recommended websites for learning Chinese.
Sina
Largest Chinese-language information and entertainment web portal.
www.sina.com
Youku
Largest video online website in China. News, entertainment, movies, music.
www.youku.com
Tudou
Second largest video online website in China.
www.tudou.com
ImproveMandarin
A great website with many Chinese learning resources and articles.
improvemandarin.com
HackingChinese
Another website with Chinese learning articles and tips.
hackingchinese.com