Language Immersion Gap Year Programs

Spanish classes were good I’m definitely improving which is spectacular. The volunteering was really cool for turtle conservation - not much sleep but a whole lot of turtles. Haven’t finished program but am looking forward to Manuel Antonio.

Spent a month volunteering with the turtles in ostional. Such an incredible experience to see the arribada and all of the turtles in the night. Beach and sunsets were so beautiful and I met so many amazing cool people!

Looking ahead to my first year out of high school, I knew I wasn’t quite ready to head straight to college, but I was nervous about choosing a path that looked different from everyone else’s. Finding CIEE gave me so much comfort and excitement for what was ahead. From the moment I signed up, they made the process of moving abroad feel organized, welcoming, and safe. Living in Seville gave me the opportunity to truly immerse myself in the Spanish language and culture in a way I never could have from home. Between living with a host family, improving my Spanish, exploring a new city, and meeting some of my closest friends, I gained so much more from the experience than I ever expected. My time in Seville gave me a new sense of independence and confidence, along with friendships and memories I will cherish forever. I couldn’t be happier that I chose CIEE for my gap year!

I had a wonderful experience here in China 😁 the family were very nice and understanding. This experience really makes me want to come back to China some day. I learned more about the culture and the language, which was one of my reasons for coming to China. I had a very fun time with Lucas and greatly enjoyed everyone's company. I learned how some foods are made and hope to replicate them at home [Joyful] I really like Guangzhou. It's a beautiful city with amazing food and architecture. Thank you so much for this experience, it means so much to me. I am very very grateful for everything I've managed to enjoy here and hope to get another chance like this in the future. Thank you very much

I’m an Australian university student doing my gap‑year in China and studying at That’s Mandarin. Apart from improving my Mandarin, I’ve met incredible classmates — people from family‑run businesses, embassy interns, and international students from Tsinghua and Peking University. I really value these friendships. That’s Mandarin is not only for learning Chinese; it connects you with fantastic people. I’m so thankful for this unforgettable gap‑year experience. Highly recommend!

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.

Would absolutely recommend this program to anybody looking to experience Chinese culture! You’ve got to be able to roll with the punches, and learn to manage your time well, but the rewards are so worth it. Being an au pair is incredible for learning Chinese, as you get to learn as you teach. The friendship I made with my kiddo was the highlight of the whole experience!!! LoPair is amazing at finding great host families, on top of creating a great support system during your stay.

It has been an incredible experience. I was able to fulfill my dream of studying Chinese and getting to know this beautiful country. Also, meeting my "little friend," being able to teach her English and share time with her, has made me very happy. Being part of a Chinese family has been a challenge because of cultural differences, but it has been a beautiful experience.

I was in Quepos for 6 weeks did Spanish classes, surf classes and two volunteer projects (working with kids and teaching english). I made a lot of new friends, got more independent and experienced an amazing country like a local.

I strongly recommend LoPair for an experience as an au pair in China! The staff has always been helpful whenever i had questions, and they were extremely supportive throughout my experience. Not only is this an amazing opportunity to learn more about the culture, history and traditions of the country, but it’s also an excellent way to learn Chinese and make new friends. Every month the staff will also plan a cultural activity for all au pairs, giving us the chance to try different crafts and meet up together.

One thing I appreciate about this program is that you are able to focus on just living. Before taking the leap, I constantly made decisions around bills and working. For the time I have been here, I have met amazing people that have changed the course of my life and learned from teachers who taught me lessons beyond just Chinese. I am not saying that your experience will always be easy, but the plot is well worth it.

I came to Argentina with mente Argentina for the first time and it was a really good experience ! It’s perfect if you want to make friends and contacts really quickly, the atmosphere is warm, people are really nice and the activities are amazing ! I did the barman program during 1 month and it was really resourceful but I ended up staying in Argentina longer using Mente Argentinas apartment. Even if I was technically not with Mente anymore, I kept really good friendships from mente Argentina as I was in the shared apartment option. The apartment has everything you need to make your stay comfortable, it was also close to marketplaces, bars etc. This option is also really good if you want to make friends fast ! I recommend entirely !

I did a 8 month long gap year in Peru with Maximo Nivel doing various voluntary works. Each one of them was truly amazing, organized by great people and unbelievable hospitality. Special shoutout goes to Fanny, my homestay for all of my time here. She really made us part of her family and shared the Peruvian culture to us. The working staff at the Maximo Office are also super supportive and trying to max your experience the country (shoutout to Lucas!). I would recommend this organization to anyone.

My semester abroad in Nepal was one of the most influential and memorable three months of my life - even years on afterwards! This trip pushed me out of my comfort zone in the best ways - learning to bargain, figuring things out for myself in a place that was completely new to me, fumbling (but loving!) learning Nepali and the excitement of speaking to people in rural villages and learning about what their lives were like, pushing myself physically when it came to trekking, eating so many momos (delicious!), and feeling the extraordinary peace of days of silence at the Buddhist monastery. The instructors were also incredibly supportive and helped me make connections for my independent study project (theater in Kathmandu). I came back from Nepal with so much more confidence in myself and my abilities; I would not trade this experience for anything!

Going to Nepal changed my entire life. I wish I could go back. The experiences I had, the people I met, the food… I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to go. The trip was well organized and I always felt safe. I knew I could rely on my team leads. There were numerous opportunities to lean into activities that I was interested in, and I felt an appropriate amount of freedom and boundaries which are both very important when traveling to a foreign country!! I would recommend a dragons program to anyone. It’s not an experience you come to regret.

My gap program with Dragons in China and Southeast Asia was truly a remarkable experience. Doing homestays in Cambodia, Laos, and China are experiences that I'll remember for the rest of my life. The instructors were excellent and managed to both challenge the group and make sure that everyone was always supported and had everything they needed. I learned a lot from their instruction, but the full immersion in local culture was my favorite part.

I wanted a gap year that actually meant something, not just backpacking. This program gave me structure and purpose. I studied at Fudan University in Shanghai while interning at a finance firm. My Mandarin improved so much I could hold business meetings by month four. The support team was incredible — always there when I needed help. Now I'm working in international trade, and this experience is on every interview list. Worth every penny.

If you’re looking for a safe way to travel while earning some money, I think being an au pair is one of the best options. You get a great homestay, your meals are covered, and there’s a good balance between duty hours and free time. With LoPair in particular, you also have the chance to seriously study Chinese at one of China’s most popular universities, especially if you’re placed in Shanghai. It is an such an amazing opportunity for both personal and even professional growth. Shoutout to Alison and Erica, who have always supported us whenever we faced any kind of issue, from visa problems to host family situations.

Choosing an Au Pair agency is always a daunting task but I must tell you guys, Lopair really was there for me even when me and my Host family went through some tougher times! I do not think any other agency is as engaged as they are! So if you're looking for safety and security as well as a good agency that always has your back, you should definitely choose Lopair. Other than that, Lopair also is a really affordable option. They literally payed for almost everything. Flights and accommodation if things go wrong, really it’s great! So if you’re still unsure, this can be your push in the right direction! Also a shout out to Alison and Erica my Coordinators here in Shanghai, they’ve been so helpful and kind to me throughout the entire time I was here! Love them to bits!

Hi ! My name is Acha and I was Au pairing with Lopair from February to November 2025. To say this experience changed my life is an understatement, I had one of the best host family one could ask for and we definitely hit it off ! I traveled with them for months going to amusement parks with the kids and having the time of my life. My Chinese improved a lot and by the end I could maintained a full conversation! And after this I loved Shanghai so much I came back to work here with the help of my host family which I am still in contact with to this day :) Thanks to Alison for organizing very fun outings, always trust her for food, she knows her stuff ! And thanks to Erica for always being here when needed <3 Take a chance and come in China with Lopair !!! If you have any questions about my experience here's my insta: @acha_mint