Questions to Ask Before Booking a Mahjong Lesson

A useful mahjong lesson matches your starting point and gives you time to practise. Before booking, ask what you will actually do during the session, not only how long it lasts.

Confirm the version and level

Tell the teacher whether you have never handled tiles, know another mahjong variant or have already attended an introductory class. Ask which card and rules they teach. “Beginner friendly” can mean a first-ever lesson or open play with occasional help; those are different experiences.

Check whether the advertised session assumes prior homework. A card-reading workshop may be excellent but unsuitable as your first contact with the game.

Ask how teaching time is shared

Find out the group size and how much supervised play is included. If many tables share one instructor, ask how questions are handled while a game is underway. You want enough guidance to correct misunderstandings before repeating them.

Also confirm the equipment provided, accessibility of the venue, cancellation terms and any required purchases. Do not infer these from a photograph of a fully equipped table.

Look for a next step

Ask whether there is coached practice or an appropriate group after the lesson. A clear route to a second session can be more useful than a promise to learn everything in one afternoon.

Use Café Mahjong's first-lesson checklist to prepare once the class is chosen. You should finish the booking process knowing what to bring, what the lesson covers and where to take your remaining questions.