Language Programs

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with That's Mandarin! The school environment is very welcoming; regardless of language level and skill, every student is encouraged to interact with others to practice their Mandarin and make friends. The teachers are exceptionally mindful of class pace and difficulty, and make sure that every student has understood the unit before moving on. As classes are not too big, every lesson feels personalized, and language improvement is rapid. The class coordinators are very attentive as they check up on students periodically in order to confirm that they are enjoying their stay. Furthermore, they make sure students are not only compatible with their teachers and classmates, but that the topics their classes cover are interesting and of use. All in all, That’s Mandarin is a great Chinese language school for second-language learners who prioritize interaction, engagement, and improvement!

The program was better than I expected and I'm really thankful to the two Harrys for everything. They are so passionate about what they do and it was such a big part of what made my time in Mexico so special. I especially loved Las Estacas and the beautiful nature there, I have never been anywhere like that before in my life but have always wanted to. I have already started making a plan on how to hopefully come back again one day. I can't recommend Iguana Abroad highly enough, you won’t regret it!!

It was an unbelievable experience, and learning about the different cultures and how life is. I totally recommend this experience it was a pleasure taking part in The Lingua Compass progam it is a must try.

Lingua Compass Institute for Language and Cultural Exchange responded to this reviewAugust 17, 2026

Thank you

I am very glad that I spent in this school 2 month. If you want to learn chinese language, I would like to reccomend u to choose 2-month course, because my first month I tried to adjust to prounciation and new words. This school is the best decision if you only start to learn Chinese. Also in this school I met so a lor of cool guys from other countries. I am sure that we will continue our relationship.

Learning Mandarin is everything except easy but with That‘ Mandarin school you will get supportive and super friendly teachers，a bunch of international and like minded classmates and the perfect environment to learn this beautiful language. The classes are small enough to give you enough opportunities to speak and practice with your teacher and your classmates. That‘s Mandarin also offers extra activities during the breaks that keep you entertained. I am so happy that I have joined this school and got this experience. Everday practice with easy to follow content, important topics and good examples really improved my language skills and made it so much fun to learn.

I have been learning Chinese at this university for 2 months, and I would say that my oral ability is improved substantially. This school focuses mainly on practicing listening and speaking. If you only want to use Chinese in daily life, I would recommend this school. I think studying 5 times a week is exactly the appropriate amount of frequency. The staffs in this school are really friendly and you are not only going to learn Chinese, but also are going to explore the culture. every week there is an activity related to the culture. I would 100 percent recommend this school.

作为中文母语者，想要通过高阶的DELE考试是一项非常有挑战和困难的事情，因此我在考试前三周选择了Academia BA来进行强化练习。主要是口语部分，因为在中国很少有练习口语的机会。学校里的老师也针对我的薄弱点进行了强化，众所周知阿根廷的口音是众多口音里最难理解的，所以在这所学校进行考前强化确实对我的听力水平有极大的提升。这门preparación的课程也是完全严格按照DELE口语考试的Tarea123顺序来进行，在练习过程中，学校老师会进行速记然后在我结束发言后会精准地指出我的错误并且纠正，除此之外还会建议我使用哪些frasess hechas以及muletillas来让我的表达更地道和连贯。Highly Recommend! Especially for those students from P.R.China, R.O.China, South Korea and Japan!

I spent a total of 12 weeks at LTL Chengdu, and coming here was honestly one of the best decisions I've made. When I arrived I was around the beginning of a HSK 4 Level, and by the time I left I passed a HSK 4 test and was handling HSK 5 material with no great effort. The combination of intensive learning, and a homestay environment was powerful in pushing my Mandarin further. Without this combination, I sincerely doubt my Mandarin would ever have gotten to where it is today in such a short period of time I'd like to thank my teachers during my time at LTL, in particular my teachers Meng, Alex and Guo. I took a combination of group classes and 1:1, and my teachers always found a way to make the lessons both enjoyable whilst always pushing me into that next level of Chinese comprehension. The school environment itself is a great way of meeting other students, which was a highlight of my time at Chengdu. The school organises weekly events, which are also a great way of meeting both other students and local people as the school organises a "buddy" system to have locals at the events. I'd also like to thank teachers Pan Pan and Stiles for making the school environment so friendly and welcoming. Every weekend at Chengdu was spent with the friends I made at the school, and some great memories were made. These are friends I'll continue to be in touch with going into the future. Overall, I'd highly recommend LTL Chengdu to anybody considering it. I can testify to it's effectiveness in improving my Mandarin, and also to how enjoyable my time was there in general.

LTL Language School responded to this reviewAugust 17, 2026

What a 12 weeks it was, Conrad! Thanks for such a lovely review, it was such a pleasure to have you study with us and we're delighted the feelings mutual :) Keep up the great work back home. LTL Team

Taking a Spanish immersion course abroad was a new experience for me but I absolutely loved it. And I loved Iguana Abroad – thank you to the Iguana Abroad organizers for making what initially felt like quite a stressful experience so smooth and enjoyable. My experience started with an email or two to Iguana Abroad, followed by a video call with Harry, one of the British organizers. From then on the whole process was very smooth and straightforward. Iguana Abroad picked me up at the airport when I arrived and they accompanied me to my accommodation and introduced me to Mayra and Emilio – the lovely Mexican couple who would be hosting me during my time in Mexico. It was such a perfect way to ease myself into a new environment and get settled in. Cuernavaca is a beautiful city. I just loved how green and fresh it was. There are so many gardens and parks in the city that it really feels like you are surrounded by nature even though you are in a city. I also loved the beautiful little cafes and restaurants in the city center that serve delicious traditional food. On the immersion program we also did a cooking class, which was wonderful. I will never forget my evening with Chef Natividad cooking, eating and chatting in her kitchen – it is a memory I will cherish for a very long time. There were so many other wonderful moments on the course that I couldn't possibly list them all here. I just want to say a huge thank you to Harry, Harry and Fabiola for making this trip so fulfilling and worthwhile. Gracias.

the best program ever!! our guides were amazing, ensuring we had a lovely cultural immersion, making the most of our time, being kind and teaching us the culture! i left this place with a family forever

Lingua Compass Institute for Language and Cultural Exchange responded to this reviewAugust 17, 2026

Thank you for your review Ina. We hope to welcome you soon again in Morocco.

I started learning Spanish online with Academia Buenos Aires in January and then transitioned to in-person in July. The transition was seamless and one I highly recommend! The same immersive language experience and instruction carried over, together with passionate teachers who really cared deeply that we come to know, use, and appreciate the Rioplatense Spanish of the region. I wasn’t expecting to learn as much culture as I did, but I am leaving with a more profound understanding of the history and customs that have shaped Argentina. Each day was a joy to learn with La Academia! The office staff, the teachers, and my classmates made each day so fun! I was always greeted with a genuine smile, a “charla”, and timely or useful information whenever I needed it! I will definitely be continuing online as I prepare to write the DELE later this year. And I know Academia will continue to help me achieve that goal!

I booked a 60 hour, 1 week 1:1 mandarin class and I have to say that the experience has been fantastic. The school is well organized, convenienly located and all of the staff are extremely friendly and helpful. Best of all was my teacher Lily Laoshi who managed to really bring me forward in my struggles with the Chinese language. She is a very experienced teacher that can easily adapt to any specific topics or focus you request. She always was extremely well prepared and ensured that I kept motivated by combining by-the-book excercises with exercises covering topics closer to me (like work, family, fiends, weekend activities in Beijing etc). Highly recommended.

LTL Language School responded to this reviewAugust 17, 2026

As intensive as it comes! It was a pleasure to have you study with us in Beijing even just for such a short amount of time. Hope to see you back again soon :) LTL Team

I recently completed my Mandarin course in Singapore with Teacher Chen. Although Singapore is known for its high level of English proficiency, the classes were highly immersive and conducted almost entirely in Mandarin. This approach allowed me to make progress much faster than I would have in a standard English-to-Mandarin class. In my opinion Singapore is very good choice for solo travelers as it is very developed and safe country. Based on my experience, I can highly recommend studying with LTL in Singapore, especially if you are looking for an immersive and effective way to improve your Mandarin.

LTL Language School responded to this reviewAugust 17, 2026

Love to hear it Sebastien! Thanks for your kind words. We're so happy you enjoyed learning Chinese in Singapore with us. Come back soon :) LTL Team

My 16-year-old daughter spent 4 weeks in Beijing with GAC's summer camp. She was nervous at first, but her homestay family made her feel at home immediately. She learned real Mandarin and made friends from all over the world. The weekend trips to the Great Wall and Summer Palace were unforgettable. She came back more confident and independent. Already planning to go back next year. Thank you GAC!

Before coming to Cuernavaca my Spanish was around an A2 (fairly basic). I could order food, ask basic questions and understand simple conversations, but like everybody else around that level - as soon as someone spoke naturally, I was completely lost and would want to switch back to English straightaway, and that was always kind of embarassing. After just a few weeks, I left feeling comfortably around B1 (intermediate), and, more importantly, I actually had the confidence to use Spanish every day. By the end of the program I was having conversations with my host family (who were amazing!), ordering in restaurants without thinking, chatting to locals around the neighbourhood and markets, and even making friends entirely in Spanish. It was the first time I'd ever felt like I was genuinely living the language rather than just studying it. Maybe one thing that sort of surprised me most was how much learning actually really does happen outside the classroom, and the lessons were excellent, really nice small groups, smart engaging teachers and lots of speaking—but probably the real magic was the immersion. Living with a Mexican host family, exploring Cuernavaca, visiting local markets, taking part in cultural activities and weekend trips meant I was constantly using Spanish in real situations. It never felt like a holiday with a few language classes; it felt like moving to Mexico for a few weeks. I also think Cuernavaca is the perfect place to learn Spanish. It's beautiful, safe, authentic and far less touristy than Mexico City, so you're surrounded by Spanish from the moment you wake up until you go to bed. That made a huge difference to my progress, and everybody else on the course said that as well. Harry, Harry (the two Harrys!) and the entire Iguana Abroad team (especially Fabi!) genuinely care about every student so much. From the airport pickup to the accommodation, activities and day-to-day support, everything was incredibly well organized, and I always felt looked after. That was really important to me. If you're serious about improving your Spanish, not just memorising grammar but actually becoming confident speaking with native speakers, I honestly can't recommend Iguana Abroad highly enough. It was one of the most rewarding experiences I've ever had, and I'd return in a heartbeat!

My experience on the immersion course at Pilar's home in Valencia was exceptional in every way. The classes went beyond what I had expected and the cultural visits were wonderful right from the very first day.Pilar is an excellent teacher. Her personalised approach and her genuine passion for teaching Spanish made the whole process feel easy and enjoyable rather than like hard work. I never felt like I was studying in the traditional sense, it just felt like I was living and learning at the same time.I would wholeheartedly recommend this immersion course to anyone and especially with Pilar as your host and teacher. She is a true professional who clearly loves what she does and that enthusiasm is completely contagious.

I stayed with Monica as part of the Spanish Homestay Immersion Program in Ciutadella de Menorca in December and it was a truly wonderful experience. I am from Texas and I love nature and the countryside and Menorca in winter turned out to be absolutely perfect for both.Monica made me feel welcome from the very first day. Living with her meant I was practising Spanish naturally all the time through daily conversations, shared meals and just the rhythm of everyday life together. I loved walking along the Cami de Cavalls which was so peaceful in winter and visiting the beaches which were quiet and beautifully unspoiled.The food was amazing, traditional Menorcan dishes made at home with fresh ingredients, and sharing meals together was honestly one of my favourite parts of the whole experience. What I appreciated most was the calmness of the island in December which made learning Spanish feel relaxed and genuinely enjoyable rather than stressful.Staying with Monica turned this programme into something truly authentic and meaningful. I would highly recommend SHIP to anyone who values nature, culture and a warm and personal homestay environment.

We sent our 14 year old son on this camp from Australia to China, all on his own (out of his own wish)! We dropped him off to the airport, and hugged him and trusted someone will be there to look after him when he landed! And I can tell you from personal experience that I was definitely very nervous before I booked the camp with RICH, but they answered my every question and concern to keep me reassured every step of the way, and looked after him from the minute he landed right up until he waved good bye at the boarder gates at the Beijing airport! All while still giving him the opportunity to be independent, make friends, learn about Chinese language and culture, and supporting him to grow up a some more to become the young teenager! He loved RICH so much he convinced his 12 year old sister to go with him again next year!

Before taking classes at Nihao Cafe, I tried online platforms for chinese however I could not find a school that was a good fit for me. I have been taking one class a week for a little over 3 months and so far they are best option for learning chinese online. I really like the way classes are structured and that I have the option to go back to review material from past classes. The teachers at Nihao cafe are very professional and encouraging. I’m really happy with my experience so far and would definitely recommend Nihao Cafe to anyone looking to learn Chinese online.

I spent six weeks at LTL Taipei taking a 1-on-1 Chinese course. From the beginning, everything was easy and well organized. Communication before my arrival was smooth, the classes were great, and there were plenty of activities outside of class. Even though I had 1-on-1 lessons, I still got to know other students and teachers quite easily. The atmosphere at the school is very friendly and relaxed. There are many international students speaking English, and many people in Taipei speak good English as well. But if you make an effort to meet locals and use Chinese in everyday life, there are still plenty of opportunities to practice. Taipei itself is also a great city to study in—very convenient, easy to get around, and there’s always something to do. Just be prepared for the VERY hot and rainy weather in June/July! I had Jessica 老師 as my teacher, and she quickly understood my level and asked what I wanted to achieve. Although I had learned Simplified Chinese before, that wasn’t a problem at all. LTL Taipei teaches both Simplified and Traditional Chinese, and I got used to Traditional much faster than I expected. Since my main goal was to refresh my Chinese and improve my speaking, Jessica adapted the lessons to me instead of just following the textbook. From day one, we spoke almost entirely in Chinese, which helped a lot with my listening and speaking. I had classes every morning from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., but I never felt overwhelmed and the four hours always went by surprisingly quickly. Jessica was also very kind and supportive—she even brought me breakfast a few times! After six weeks, I could really feel that my Chinese had improved. There were different activities every week, such as Mahjong, karaoke, museums, cultural activities, and group lunches near the school. Sunny and Riona put so much effort into organizing everything. They were always friendly and approachable, and they definitely made the course more enjoyable! Alin organized my classes and found a teacher who was a really good match for me. Greta was also very helpful before and during my stay. I had some issues with my original homestay arrangement, and she took my concerns seriously and really tried to help find a solution, which I appreciated a lot. The only thing I think could be improved is the homestay program. From my own experience and from talking to other students, the quality of host families seems to vary quite a bit. It would be helpful to have more consistent standards regarding things like cleanliness, distance from the school, and how involved the host family is. I also think it would be better to get information about the homestay earlier. Considering the price, renting a private room or apartment nearby can sometimes be a better option. Of course, I’m sure there are also many great host families—it may just depend a little on luck. Overall, I’d definitely recommend LTL Taipei to anyone thinking about studying Chinese in Taiwan. I learned a lot in six weeks, met some really nice people, and had a great time. If I come back to Taipei, I’d definitely consider taking another course at LTL.

LTL Language School responded to this reviewAugust 10, 2026

Thanks for your kind words and feedback Jerry! We're so pleased you had a great 6 weeks with us in Taipei :) Hope you keep pushing forward with your Chinese. Come back and visit us soon!! LTL Team