Gap Year Programs in Shanghai,China

As a total beginner, I love this school. I have one class per week lasting 80 minutes. We start from simple pronunciation and learn words about school admission step by step. There are relaxing card games to memorize phrases. The teacher treats every student gently, and I never feel nervous to speak broken Chinese in class.

My experience in Guangzhou was amazing thanks to my host family, surely not thanks to the agency, especially after getting to China, the agent following me was not interested in me and disrespectful. I was forced to anticipate my flight two days before my expected departure, not even a little bit of empathy or understanding, she was just forcing me to make a decision quickly, furthermore on the day of my departure and the following days, no one asked me about how the flight was, if I was home safe, she just texted me on the morning of the flight, no good morning or greetings, just telling me “don’t miss the flight”. Quite disappointing approach.

After just one semester at this Chinese school, my progress has blown me away. The teachers combine patience, humor and real-world materials, turning tones and characters from intimidating puzzles into daily joys. Small classes let me practice constantly, while weekend culture workshops—calligraphy, dumpling folding—anchor the language in unforgettable context. My Chinese coworkers now compliment my pronunciation and even my handwriting! The staff also use an amazing app that reviews every lesson with flashcards and audio, so waiting at the bus stop becomes study time. The tuition felt like an experiment; now it feels like the smartest investment I’ve made in years.

My experience abroad was a six-month immersion in the rhythm of Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was a lesson in learning to dance to a different beat, both literally and metaphorically. I went expecting to improve my Spanish and see tango shows. I left with a new understanding of community and time. The porteño rhythm is unique. Days started later, with cafes filling up past 10 AM. Dinner was an event that began at 10 PM and stretched into the night, filled with laughter, shared plates of steak and Malbec, and passionate debates about football and politics. The most profound moments happened in the in-between spaces. It was the weekly practice at a local milonga (tango hall), where my two left feet were met with infinite patience from elderly Porteños who believed everyone could dance if they just listened to the music closely enough. They taught me that tango is a conversation, not a performance. It was in my shared apartment, where my roommates, a Colombian artist and an Italian chef, turned our kitchen into a United Nations of flavours, arguing good-naturedly over the correct way to make pasta or the perfect ratio of ingredients for ajiaco. I learned the city’s geography through its protests—a common occurrence where streets would suddenly flood with people chanting for change, forcing a detour and a reminder that civic engagement is loud and alive. I learned the humility of making constant linguistic mistakes, and the incredible warmth that comes when a local gently corrects you and then buys you a coffee for trying. I returned home not with a checklist of sights seen, but with a new tempo in my heart. I learned that home isn't just a place you're from; it's a feeling you can create anywhere with open-mindedness, a willingness to listen, and the courage to step onto a dance floor, even if you have no idea what you're doing. The world feels smaller now, but my place in it feels infinitely larger.

That’s Mandarin’s curriculum is well-organized and effective. The HSK program provides a clear path to fluency, while the conversational classes help me apply what I’ve learned in real-life situations.

I have had such an unforgettable experience at LTL Beijing! A place really is its people and here I had a magical time feeling at home with the LTL family. Not only did I feel welcomed by everyone as soon as I stepped through the door- but even before I got to Beijing! My student advisor Ilaria and the school manager Linda patiently and diligently helped me to plan my trip and secure my visa before arrival. The school managers Jane and Linda are incredibly caring and light up the school. They would always be more than willing to give us recommendations to explore the city or help us out with anything at all like exchanging money. They would even go above and beyond to ensure we had a special experience like once we mentioned wanting to try out 功夫 and Linda would book this activity for us as a wonderful surprise. All of the staff are incredibly patient in using Chinese and helping us outside of the classroom too! Every morning and in breaks they engage in Chinese chats with us to help us practice and brighten up our day. Sometimes they would have to repeat things or speak incredibly slowly for us and they would always do so with a smile which really helped me to learn. For instance Masako even taught us how to play Mahjong in Chinese! I also felt incredibly close to Beijing thanks to my connection Carol who would ensure I did all the things that excited me the most and made sure I always felt safe. Since I am vegetarian, I was previously worried that I would struggle but Carol took me to a fully vegetarian (and very well priced) buffet close to where I live, ensuring I didn't miss out on anything! I couldn't be happier with my Chinese learning experience and am so lucky to have been taught by 王老师。 Lessons were so engaging, stimulating and interesting that I would remember them well and be able to incorporate phrases from class when interacting with the locals outside of class. I absolutely loved 王老师's teaching method as she was focused on ensuring we absorbed the crucial words and grammar to soar to a higher level while teaching us how to use the language as a natural 北京儿. So as well as advancing fast through the textbooks we often had activities like debates and topic discussions. 王老师 also taught us about culture as well as language- ensuring we ate like a local (with recommendations like the Durian pizza) as well as lived like one like practising our Chinese watching cinema recommendations. My friends would even ask me about my favourite times I'd had in Beijing and I would genuinely answer that lessons were one of the best! I am forever grateful for the memories I have made here with the LTL family in Beijing and look forward to making more! Sienna (好梦）

LTL Language School responded to this reviewJune 27, 2025

We couldn't be happier to read your kind words, Sienna. It fills us with joy that you had such a fulfilling time with us, and we can only hope you hold onto those memories and make some more with us in the future! Thanks for leaving such wonderful words. We will share them with all our Beijing staff :) COME BACK SOON!! LTL Team

Hello, I am currently doing the LTL Chengde immersion program after successfully completing two months of LTL classes in Beijing. It has has been a month since I joined this course and I have to say that I am completely satisfied with it and here are the reasons why: Home stay: I am currently staying with a lovely family of four (parents and two kids). The children love to play and enthusiastically help you practice your speaking skills. Two meals a day are offered. Everything is delicious nourishing and a deep dive into Chinese cuisine. Most of the home stays are located in the very centre of Chengde, so you will be at the popular hangout spots and bustling areas in no time! Classes: I currently have four hours of class, five times a week. They alternate between morning and afternoon class and therefore offer a lot of variety regarding time management. Classes are also completely customisable. You will generally follow the book that LTL will provide you with (said book is split into chapters each containing listening speaking and writing parts), but you can always make suggestions to your teacher if you want to make changes. You will have 1-on-1 class, therefore everything is super flexible. You are also not limited to a traditional classroom. As the Chengde program does not have a central school. In theory any place can turn into a study space. Coffee shops are most popularly used, but I have also experienced parks, supermarkets, shopping malls, a roof terrace and strolls around the city. Also at this point a shout out to my lovely teacher Ida, who is so patient with me every day and inspires me to continue to study hard. Thank you! Immersion: The program offers a lot of different extracurricular activities. Throughout the week there will be calligraphy and tea classes, badminton, swimming, cat cafe hangouts… the list goes on way too long for me to count all of them. That’s all thanks to Chengde’s School coordinator Zhongwen (中文), who is not only super creative when it comes to planning and organizing an unforgettable experience, but will also help you with and minor and major issue that you might encounter. So you will be in absolutely capable hands here ;) Regarding the weekend you can explore famous places with a language partner all day long! As for the daily life here you will find that, in fact rarely anybody can speak English. So you will be pushed out of your comfort zone daily. But, I find that my Chinese has improved more rapidly in this past month here in Chengde, than it has in those two months I spent in Beijing. As for the people here I can say that everybody I have met so far is friendly but more so very curious. You can also prepare yourself to have some pictures taken. Food is widely available. From small stalls along the road to full blown restaurants offering all kinds of delicacies. All in all a one in a lifetime experience, which I can recommend to basically anybody who wants to try something new and exciting. As I am currently doing a gap year in between Highschool and University, I can especially recommend this option for other fellow students. Chengde is a great spot for young people to visit!

LTL Language School responded to this reviewMay 16, 2025

Thanks so much for your wonderful review about your stay in Chengde and Beijing with us, Lia. We're thrilled you've had the best time and seen amazing progress with your Mandarin skills. We'll be sure to pass your kind words onto Zhongwen who'll be delighted! Best wishes, LTL Team

I stayed in Beijing LTL location for two months. I really enjoyed my stay. Any issues that I encountered where taken care of and you can reach the student advisor any time. I did encounter a problem with my first home stay, but the school handled the situation very professionally and I was able to switch. During my stay I met different people from all over the world and made lots of new friends as well. My teacher (Alice) did a great job as well. She is very patient and you can really tell that she loves her job! I can definitely recommend! ;)

LTL Language School responded to this reviewApril 20, 2025

So happy to hear you enjoyed your 2-month stay with us in Beijing, Lia. Hope you enjoy the rest of your gap year. Hope to see you soon! LTL Team