Language Programs

I am truly grateful for the wonderful time I spent in Beihai and would like to express my sincerest thanks to every aspect of this trip. From the warm homestay family to the well-organized school program and the breathtaking natural scenery, everything exceeded my expectations. This trip was not just a language learning opportunity, but a life-changing adventure that gave me new perspectives, lasting friendships, and unforgettable memories. First of all, my homestay family was truly amazing. From day one, they warmly welcomed me and made me feel like a member of their family. We spent many quality moments together and participated in many activities that I will never forget. One of the most exciting was surfing it was my first time on a surfboard, and they patiently taught me the basics and encouraged me to enjoy the waves instead of being afraid of them. Riding the waves under their guidance was both thrilling and exhilarating. In the evenings, we often watched movies together, shared popcorn and laughter, and discussed the plot and characters. The children in the family were energetic and adorable; we played basketball almost every day at the nearby court. Those matches were more than just sports; they were opportunities to strengthen bonds. We encouraged each other, shared new skills, and improved our game together. The family's kindness, warmth, and generosity made me feel a deep sense of belonging in a foreign land, making my stay exceptionally special. One of the most unforgettable parts of this trip was visiting their ancestral home in rural China. Unlike the bustling city, it was a tranquil haven embraced by nature. The scenery was breathtaking，lush green mountains stretched gently into the distance, crystal-clear streams meandered through the valleys, and a tranquil reservoir reflected the sky like a perfect mirror. The air was fresh and clean, and the sounds of birdsong and flowing water blended into a soothing natural melody. We took long walks along the reservoir, and I even tried fishing with my family for the first time. The scenery was picturesque, and I couldn't resist taking photos every few minutes. This experience allowed me to deeply appreciate the charm of China's natural beauty and gave me a rare glimpse into authentic rural life, a refreshing contrast to my accustomed fast-paced city life. Next, I'd like to talk about the school，Beihai School，which is equally impressive and professionally managed. The teaching team truly listens to each student's needs and tailors the curriculum accordingly. Whether I wanted to focus on improving my spoken fluency, grammar accuracy, or writing skills, they adjusted the course content to fit my individual goals. Homework assignments were meaningful, reinforcing classroom learning, and teachers provided detailed and constructive feedback on each assignment. What I appreciated most was the class recording system，they recorded the key points, vocabulary, and grammar structures of each lesson and shared them with us promptly, allowing me to review them anytime and never fall behind. The teachers' explanations were always clear, patient, and easy to understand, greatly boosting my confidence. The entire program was exceptionally well-organized, from the daily schedule to extracurricular activities and weekend outings. A perfect balance was struck between study and leisure, ensuring we learned effectively while also having ample time to relax and enjoy life. Furthermore, the administrative team, especially the sales department, performed admirably in every aspect. Whether via email or instant messaging, they responded to my inquiries almost instantly, never keeping me waiting. Before I even arrived, they answered all my questions about the program, accommodation, transportation, and even local customs with remarkable clarity and patience. Throughout my studies, they followed up regularly to ensure everything went smoothly and promptly addressed any minor issues I raised. Their professionalism, efficiency, and genuine care made the entire process completely stress-free, allowing me to fully immerse myself in my studies and enjoy my time. In short, this trip to Beihai perfectly blended cultural immersion, academic growth, and nature exploration. I not only returned home with significantly improved language skills but also gained lifelong memories and friends from all over the world. I highly recommend this program to anyone seeking an authentic, enriching, and truly transformative experience in China. Thank you to my host family, the school staff, and everyone who made this trip unforgettable. I will definitely be back!

High quality teaching is on offer, but it’s not consistent. One of our teachers doesn’t have good enough English to teach at a complete beginner level, as she doesn’t understand questions or explain things properly. Additionally, there’s limited flexibility with moving your lessons and/or switching to one-on-one on occasion, which is surprising given the cost of the course. Additionally, the school offers little opportunity for cultural immersion or group activity, and what it does offer is expensive.

This school was a real treasure to find! 🙌 And I’m happy to say I’ve had a lovely first experience with “That’s Mandarin!” 🥰 Right from the start they sent me marked location photos, making the school easy to find. My first lesson was great; the teachers are exceptionally patient, friendly, and encouraged me to speak—which made organizing my thoughts in Chinese feel much more natural. Their learning material matches daily life Chinese, with common phrasing and realistic usage—which for me personally, was a big relief, because learning textbook Chinese and sounding like a robot was one of my biggest fears. 😢🙏 The classrooms are modern, clean and perform well with their platform (nihaocafe.com). They setup my account for me and even uploaded materials beforehand, so I could have an easy start into my first lesson. Over five days, I took 10 classes with two different teachers. Rotating teachers was a surprisingly good detail that made it a lot easier for my ear to adapt to various speaking speeds and accents. Their online classes are just as smooth, connecting through their platform was easy, the connection was strong, and the whiteboard right below the video callmade it easy to follow along. The lessons center on everyday scenarios like ordering food or paying for a taxi, that balance listening and reading comprehension really well. Afterwards, you can easily review, and even preview for your next class, but also track your word count—which really encouraged me to learn more, because that score increases a good amount after each lesson.😊 The school and its teachers encourage a warm, home- like atmosphere, and I met some really nice people from all over the world during the breaks and after class, who learned Chinese just like me. “That’s mandarin” also hosts fun little events like playing games and having lunch together which makes the place really feel like home.💖 Highly recommended!😘

A happy returning customer here - i attended a longer course last year, this year they tailor made a shorter intensive course for me! You won’t regret enrolling, no one ever has! Basically it felt like visiting my old friends 🙂

A great study spot is all about the right vibecalm, comfortable, and distraction-free. Somewhere you can settle in, stay focused, and actually enjoy the process. When the atmosphere clicks, productivity flows naturally

A great study spot is all about the right vibecalm, comfortable, and distraction-free. Somewhere you can settle in, stay focused, and actually enjoy the process. When the atmosphere clicks, productivity flows naturally

I honestly wasn't sure what to expect about my time with IA and on the program before I came. I mainly booked because I wanted to improve my Spanish, but I ended up enjoying the whole experience way more than I thought I would. The classes were really good and the teachers were great, but I think what helped me the most was everything outside the classroom. Living with a Mexican family meant I was hearing Spanish all day, every day, and after a while you kind of stop overthinking everything you want to say. We'd go out into the city, visit markets, grab food, do the cooking class, weekend trips, all that sort of thing, and you're just constantly using Spanish without really thinking about it. One thing I really appreciated was how much effort everyone put into making sure we were having a good time. Harry and Harry were always around if anyone needed anything, whether it was recommendations, helping someone who wasn't feeling well, or just making sure everybody was included. It never felt like they were just running a business. You could tell they actually cared about everyone having a good experience. Cuernavaca was also a really nice surprise. I'd never even heard of it before finding Iguana Abroad, but it's such a relaxed place and feels really authentic. There aren't loads of tourists everywhere, so you end up speaking Spanish much more than you probably would in somewhere like Cancun or even Mexico City. I also made some really good friends on the course which I wasn't expecting. Even now we're still talking about meeting up again somewhere. If you're looking for luxury accommodation and cocktails by the pool every day, this probably isn't that kind of trip you are going to be looking for to be honest. But if you actually want to improve your Spanish, experience Mexico properly, and come home with some brilliant memories, I'd definitely recommend it.

I had a great time in my week long stay at Na'atik. I did a solo trip and was able to practice my Spanish for the whole week. My teacher Licey was incredible. So patient and persistent as I was learning. She kept the content interesting and conversational while also ensuring I learned the fundamentals for communication. The program coordinator Elizabeth was always on top of things and helped make sure communication was consistent and that all the plans were well coordinated. She was also really helpful with recommendations for the town and navigating being a foreigner in a small town. The school itself is beautiful and everyone there was really kind and welcoming. The activities offered were also really fun. It was great to get to learn more about the Mayan culture and I high recommend any of the excursions that include learning about the land, practices, and people. I went during a less busy time of year, so I was the only student around. If you like the one on one time, then I recommend going in mid-end of August. If you want to be around people, don't go then. Overall, I recommend this program!

รู้สึกว่าสภาพแวดล้อมในโรงเรียนดีมาก เหล่าซือและเพื่อนๆน่ารักและเป็นมิตร เจ้าหน้าที่คอยช่วยเหลือดูแลตลอด และใส่ใจรายละเอียดมาก ช่วงเเรกรู้สึกว่าสอนเร็วไปหน่อยแต่เริ่มปรับตัวได้แล้วและรู้สึกว่าสามารถพูดภาษาจีนได้คล่องขึ้น

Our daughter spent a month at the LTL School Summer Camp in July and August. Her stay went very well. The school is very well organised, whether in terms of airport transfers, the quality of the host families, or visiting Beijing and afternoon activities. The morning lessons were also very effective and my daughter made great progress in Chinese. We recommend warmely this school and would like to thank them for the high standard of their programme.

LTL Language School responded to this reviewAugust 25, 2026

We're so pleased your daughter had the best time with us in Beijing :) We'd love to welcome you all back next year!! LTL Team

From July 13th to August 8th, I attended an LTL Mandarin language course as part of their full-immersion program in Kunming, China. During my stay, I lived with a wonderful host family where I had my own private room. My host family provided me with breakfast and dinner every day. Furthermore, they often took me out to local restaurants, which allowed me to discover many authentic Yunnan dishes and delicious spices. I took the standard 1-on-1 individual course (4 hours a day, 5 days a week). Commuting to school was very convenient: the nearest metro station was located just 1 km from my homestay—an easy, walkable distance—and the metro ride itself took only around 15 to 20 minutes. Classes took place in a modern business center where LTL rents classrooms. Every room was equipped with air conditioning or a fan, making the study environment very comfortable. My lessons usually ran from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm, but I really appreciated the flexibility to adjust the schedule according to my preferences, which is ideal for anyone who prefers starting later in the day. For instance, a fellow student had her classes scheduled in the afternoon from 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm. On some days, lessons even took place in other locations, such as quiet and cozy local cafés. From a psychological and learning perspective, this change of scenery was a huge advantage, as switching up the environment helped me stay focused and retain new vocabulary much better. Speaking of the classes, I was extremely satisfied with the teaching quality. I was able to learn a tremendous amount thanks to my teacher, Yumi. She was always well prepared, professional, and created a warm, encouraging atmosphere. Yumi practiced Chinese characters, speaking, and reading comprehension with me. She also shared valuable cultural context for various topics, which helped me understand the language on a much deeper level. Outside the classroom, LTL organized fantastic extracurricular activities for students. Savannah, the head of the Kunming branch, arranged diverse events such as authentic Kung Fu training, a trip to the famous Flower Market, cinema outings, and traditional bracelet making. I truly appreciated the friendly and welcoming vibe; Savannah treated all of us like friends rather than just students, making everyone feel relaxed and at home. Additionally, whenever new students arrived in Kunming, the staff hosted a welcome lunch so everyone could easily connect with the newcomers. Kunming is an underrated, truly remarkable city for studying Chinese. Unlike megacities like Beijing or Shanghai where many people speak basic English, very few locals in Kunming speak English. This makes it the ultimate environment for a full-immersion program. The locals are warm, easygoing, and thrilled when they hear a foreigner speaking Chinese. They often strike up small talk, which helps immensely with building real-world fluency. For example, I got along great with the Kung Fu master whom I met during one of the after-class activities. Overall, I am thoroughly satisfied with my experience at LTL Kunming. I learned a huge amount of new things, boosted my language skills, and met amazing people. If you are looking for high-quality language teaching, dedicated staff, and an unforgettable adventure in China, I wholeheartedly recommend LTL in Kunming!

LTL Language School responded to this reviewAugust 23, 2026

Great pics and a wonderful review! Thanks so much for sharing, Antek 🙂 We loved having you in Kunming and we hope you keep studying hard back home!! LTL Team

I chose LTL Chengdu and came here for two weeks only - sadly, because it should have been longer! I got the Homestay option and the Survival Kit. My homestay host was very welcoming and I enjoyed my time with her and her pets. I had 1on1 classes everyday, two classes per day. The school was very nice, there is a common area for all students. I had classes with teacher Guo Xinyue, who was really kind, and classes with her were a pleasure. The teaching materials were probided by the school, and the teacher explained everything in an understandable way. The school organized social activities - I personally did not participate because I wanted to explore the city, but it was an option. For most of my sightseeing I used the recommendations provided by LTL. In short, I had a great time and everything was very professional!

LTL Language School responded to this reviewAugust 23, 2026

Love to hear it, Zuzia! We really enjoyed having you in Chengdu with us and hope you keep up the great work with your Mandarin skills 🙂 LTL Team

My experience at LTL Language school was a wonderful one. Besides noticeably improving my Chinese skills, I was able to meet wonderful people both teachers and students and experience the local culture in a way I couldn't have otherwise. My respect and admiration lies in the workers and volunteers that make the school what it is.

LTL Language School responded to this reviewAugust 21, 2026

Love to hear it, Noah :) So pleased you had a great time with us and we'd love you to come back soon. Keep up the great work. LTL Team

I really enjoyed my time at that's mandarin! My teachers Yan laoshi and Wan laoshi were the best, kindest teachers. The people you meet at the school were all very lovely and we participated in many cultural activities at the school, like Mahjong night, singing and qing hua ci. Thank you for all the best staff and people for making my summer unforgettable.

I had a great time at the Shanghai location, the teachers were extremely helpful, giving us lots of opportunities to practice our speaking. All the staff were very helpful, and responded quickly to my requests. Would definitely recommend!

Learning Spanish in Mexico with Iguana Abroad was an incredible and unforgettable experience that truly deepened my knowledge of Spanish and my love for travel. I learnt so much during my time there – both with our teachers in our classes but also around the city during the “immersion” part of the program. I would say I learnt the most Spanish on my trip while I was talking to people around the city on the guided walks and tours with Iguana Abroad, as well as during the salsa dance class and the Mexican cooking class. The organizers of the program really encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and immerse yourself in Mexican culture as much as possible which I found so helpful for gaining confidence with my Spanish. The Iguana Abroad team is all really supportive and welcoming and the program directors and staff really went above and beyond to make sure our group of girls felt comfortable the whole time we were on the course. I highly recommend this program for anyone looking to fully immerse themselves in Mexican culture and learn Spanish in an exciting environment through cultural immersion.

My 15-year-old son spent 5 weeks in Beijing with GAC's summer camp. He was nervous at first, but his homestay family made him feel comfortable immediately. He learned real Mandarin and made friends from all over the world. The weekend trips to the Great Wall and Summer Palace were unforgettable. He came back more confident and independent. Thank you GAC!

I've really enjoyed learning Chinese over these four weeks. I've learned many new words and I'm remembering more and more vocabulary. This school is really great. My teachers teach very well, and my classmates are very friendly. Shanghai is a very interesting city. After class, I often go out with my classmates to explore and try Shanghai's local food. We also went to Suzhou and Hangzhou, and we had a great time. Thank you to all the teachers for your help over these four weeks! I hope I can come back in the future to continue learning Chinese. Finally, keep up the good work, everyone! Thank you all!

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!!