Immersion Program - Learn Chinese in China

CLI is hard to describe in a review. In short, I have found my time at CLI so far to exceed my expectations and would recommend. If you want to read my longer take on the school, read below. CLI has a truly unique environment as you live in or near the school and are encouraged to fully immerse yourself. Many teachers live, work, and play in and near the institute and you're encouraged to join them and immerse yourself outside of the classroom setting. Every now and again you can take your class to a different location (museum, art gallery, coffee shop, etc.) and use that setting to further your studies. For example, I am a renewable energy engineer, and one of my classes we went to go see a wind farm. Although wind farms themselves are not that exciting, it was a great way to kick start conversation and learning. In term of teaching style, since there are so many teachers here it is somewhat hard to pin down an 'exact' teaching style CLI has. Overall though there are some common themes. I feel the technique is very effective, yet not for the faint of heart. Fully engaging in the institute and the countless activities is tiring and challenging. Many students experience fatigue. In addition the teachers nudge you to give it your all. Despite the challenge, I'm impressed with my own progress and that of other students. Don't come here pretending it will be easy, you absolutely will be putting in a lot of work outside of the class if you want to progress at the rate CLI encourages you to. CLI also offers lots of travelling and cultural activities at a extra cost each week. Guilin truly is an amazing city, and the chance to see all it has to offer while practicing Mandarin is a great opportunity. The activities are at a reasonable extra cost (at least from my perspective), and I would definitely recommended budgeting some cash to go on the excursions as a lot of students take part. How much cash you ask? No weekend activity has ever cost more than $100 USD once converted to RMB. The most expensive trips will include private transport, food, entry fees, hotel nights, and most everything else you will need. I found these experience to be quite fun, although at times a little 'fast' and wish we had a bit more time. Yet, after all, this isn't a vacation school, and we you will be back at a reasonable time in order to study and prepare for class Monday. As far as course materials, you are welcome to use their textbooks which are standard university textbooks, bring your own material, or ask them to recommend other material. Many students have unique textbooks which they are learning from, and the tutors will adapt to whatever you want to learn. Want to focus on speaking? They will adapt. Want to learn more how to write? The tutors will tailor it to your needs. Like movies? Let them know. Into renewable energy (--> This guy <--)...let them know. To cap it all off, the community and spirit of CLI is truly energetic. The teachers are enthusiastic, the students come from all walks of life, and it is overall a very welcoming and encouraging atmosphere. I've seen kids as young as 6 (with their parents, whom often are also learning Mandarin) and adults older than 60 from all over the world set foot and learn Mandarin here. CLI is truly unique, wonderful, and has an incredibly spirit of learning. One of my favorite questions to ask is, "Why are you learning Mandarin?" There will be some similar answers, yet many have surprised me. If anything, the people at CLI are simple interesting and amazing both the students and teachers. This is almost a reason alone to at least visit the school. The only down side is I believe a student should commit to at least a month to really get a solid learning experience. I will be here for 3.5 months (this is currently month 3 as I write this review), and I honestly felt it took me about 2 to 3 solid weeks to really get into the swing. Yes it is a commitment, but as I mentioned before I believe this school excels at pushing you and is not for the faint of heart. If you honestly can't commit to any longer, that's fine, come anyway. You will have a good experience, but might leave with a feeling of cutting it a bit short. It's not a matter of if I will come back to CLI, but more like when. I look forward to continuing my long journey of learning Mandarin and I'm glad CLI has been a part of that journey. As anyone who is serious about learning Mandarin already knows, it is a long journey, wrought with pitfalls and moments of discouragement. Meeting the people, engaging with the teachers, and being a part of the culture has allowed my inner fire and passion to learn to continue to burn. CLI has been fundamental in that journey. Come and experience it for yourself. Come with a heart ready to challenge yourself, mentally and culturally. Above all though, have courage despite your age, level, status, or whatever and just come, you won't regret it. James

I really liked studying Chinese at CLI :). The teachers I had were great and really helped me improve very fast, focusing on the things I was personally interested, but still providing a good general knowledge base too.

This program was really well-made and super educational, if you dedicate yourself to learning you'll improve really fast, especially with the really good teachers at the school. Also, the food and city are all really nice, with plenty of interesting activities and beautiful scenery

With only one month studying at Chinese Language Institute I improved my Chinese level faster than in one semester at my university. The one-to-one classes are really useful, as the teachers get to know you and adapt the classes to your needs. Besides, there are many organized activities and travels. Through those activities, you can learn different aspects of the Chinese culture. I definitely would recommend this experience to anyone interested in learning chinese.

The school , the teachers and everybody working in CLI is fantastic.A SPECIAL THANKS TO ALL OF THEM.They organize lots of activities and support us as much as they can. It's also a good opportunity to meet people from all over the world.

I studied in the immersion program at CLI for your weeks. When I arrived, my Chinese was very poor; I had only studied with an app and knew some vocabulary and could make a couple of sentences. In those four weeks at CLI, my vocabulary has grown so much, and because I was around Chinese speaking people at lunch as well, my listening skills got a lot better. I can highly recommend this school as well as their immersion program!

I attended CLI for 5 weeks and I truly loved every minute! Everyone from the Teachers, to the staff were fantastic! Everyone was very accommodating, warm, friendly and supportive of me learning Mandarin. Guilin was beautiful, even though it was winter and some times cold & rainy, it was beautiful. I loved the city, the local people were very nice and polite. The local food was fantastic and very, very inexpensive. The food was so good I am now a snob when in comes to Chinese food. Even the lunch's that the "Aunties" cook each weekday at CLI are amazing! I actually hated to leave! I will be going back!

The one-on-one teaching is an excellent resources. My comprehensive teacher identified my primary difficulty as pertaining to grammar. Currently preparing for the HSK 4 and hope to return to CLI in 2017 for work on the HSK 5. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and can not speak highly enough of the teachers and administration. Looking forward to my next month in Guilin.

My 3 children ages 12, 10, & 8 attended CLI this summer for 2 weeks and we all had an outstanding time at CLI. They all wanted to stay longer and we will definitely return! The teachers, interns, and administrative staff were excellent. They picked us up at the airport, arranged an apartment, showed us where to eat & shop, set up classes (dance/soccer) in the local community, and assisted us in planning sightseeing in the region. It truly was an immersion experience that we won't forget!

I have done two other intense Chinese language study programs in China - one in Beijing and one in north-east China. Both were very good. However, CLI's program in Guilin was the best in every respect. The management of the program is excellent: the admissions process is smooth and professional. The school arranges for someone to meet you at the airport or train station on arrival, and at the end of your program arranges a taxi for you back to the airport. The school is a fun, welcoming place! The teachers are excellent, well-qualified and very professional. Essentially every evening and every weekend there are cultural activities. Guilin is a lovely city and surrounding it is some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. I will return to CLI again this summer and am looking forward to the experience.

One of my best experiences with language learning. At first I was somewhat apprehensive but CLI had us well prepared before departure. I enjoyed myself greatly and the staff made sure our trip was uneventful. We went to multiple sites, interacted with students from various backgrounds and had time for daily lessons.

Chinese Language Institute is the best school for learning Mandarin that I can imagine. In just four months there I experienced more progress in my language skills than I had even hoped for, and through the many immersion opportunities in the community and trips that CLI organizes, I left with a wealth of meaningful experiences and a deepr appreciation of the culture and people. The one-on-one model that CLI uses is a high performance learning machine that you can fine tune to your own style and learning needs that allows your language learning to progress to your maximum potential. Academics: CLI is like a high performance custom learning machine. 1 on 1 instruction from experienced teachers means you learn at your own rate in the manner most effective and efficient for you. Living Situation: I chose to live in an apartment with two native Chinese grad students and could not have been happier with the immersion experience that afforded me. Cultural Immersion: The program does an excellent job exposing you to Chinese culture and taking you into the community to engage with the people and experience the rich culture first hand. Program Administration: The program is well run with a no-nonsense managerial style. If you ever have any issues the program will address them promptly. Health and Safety: I never felt unsafe. Social Life: In Guilin you can find all the same things (bars, cafes, restuarants, parks, etc.) that you can find in a major city but with a smaller community feel.

Summer of 2010 I had the opportunity to visit Guilin. The classes, my host family, and summer internship all had the local feel needed to gain insight into the Chinese culture and day to day life. Guilin is a beautiful city and offers tourists as well as locals a chance to visit the natural surroundings that other Chinese cities cannot offer. CLI was readily available to help and catered your experience to whatever you wanted to learn or see. Health and Safety: I felt very safe in my neighborhood. There was a local pre-school near my host family and kids walked home in groups all the time. Social Life: Tons of places to shop and eat late at night. CLI would plan weekend trips or provide trip details/information if you wanted to travel or plan a night out.

CLI works with students to identify what the student expects from a China Study Abroad program, and will provide the appropriate lessons and immersion experiences. Hence, students have the freedom to take advantage of a very unique study abroad experience in the beautiful city of Guilin. Academics: I thought the staff was excellent, very willing to work with students to deliver lessons best suited for one's experience in China. Living Situation: Clean, comfortable, and a very convenient location in Guilin! Cultural Immersion: Students were able to take advantage of frequent access to teachers, and the school planned many field trips outside of the school to the countryside around Guilin and Yangshuo. Program Administration: Very helpful and accomodating. Health and Safety: Never felt unsafe. Social Life: Guilin is a fun city.

My plan had always been to study abroad for a semester in Ireland or the UK. And up until the last week of the deadline that was going to be the case. But then someone at the Virginia Tech study abroad office told me to look into CLI and I was immediately struck by the appeal. I took the plunge into a language and culture that was completely unfamiliar to me. CLI did not disappoint. My semester spent abroad in China completely changed my outlook on life because I began to see two completely different perspectives. The teachers at CLI not only taught me the basics on the language, they opened up on Chinese society which puzzled and wondered me all at once. The friends that I met, the knowledge that I acquired, and the perspective I gained while living in Guilin have completely changed my life for the better. Academics: The one on one time with CLI teachers were an invaluable tool and allowed me to progress in the language far more than I did in a classroom setting at Virginia Tech. Living Situation: I always felt safe and at home in my one person dorm. It was far better than any dorm I stayed in back in the States. Cultural Immersion: CLI made a huge emphasis in learning outside of the classroom in addition to inside the classroom. There were two excursions that were included in my semester abroad and I never missed a chance to explore around Guilin and beyond. These experiences of traveling around China and getting a firsthand look on the culture was the most memorable part of my semester abroad. Program Administration: I cannot say enough regarding the CLI staff. Starting with Bradford and Robbie and on down; I was always comfortable and included on sorts of events at CLI. Every teacher, whether my own or not, treated me like family. Health and Safety: There was never a time in Guilin or China where I felt unsafe. Social Life: I had most everything that I would use back in America including restaurants, bars, movie theaters, gym, and basketball courts.

I honestly went into a fun withdrawal when I came back to the States after a semester in Guilin. In four months, I picked up more Mandarin than I ever thought possible, shattering my initial expectations, and I made friendships that surpassed distance and culture. Choosing to live with a homestay family was the decision I am most proud of. I ate the most native food that you can't find anywhere else and had the privilege of getting to know my homestay mom deeply. We had many talks after dinner about family, China's history, and Guilin - half of which I understood. But it was nonetheless a beautiful experience. CLI was truly a family, inside and outside the building. The teachers worked hard to cater to the things I wanted to learn and often went beyond their regular requirements to help me understand. Meeting the diverse students was another rewarding experience - people from Germany, France, Spain, Australia, the United States, and Tahiti. it was great learning, growing, and making mistakes together. It's been a year and half since I came back and I still miss Guilin dearly. I know reviews like this are common but believe me when I say that going to Guilin will be a decision that you will treasure. Academics: wonderful teachers, they were always prepared for class with material that I specifically asked for, always pushing me while encouraging me. Learning from the teachers not only came from within the CLI building but also from outside its walls while eating travelling together. Living Situation: The best experience of my trip was living with my homestay family. My homestay mother truly became my second mom while I lived in the house and we became great friends. Also ate the best native Chinese food that you can't find in the States. Cultural Immersion: CLI helped connect me to many opportunities that immersed me into the culture - through CLI, I tutored a middle school student and had the chance to meet the family and eat with them as well. Tutoring also required me to ride the local bus and truly experience everyday life of Guilin, China Program Administration: always quick and responsive to my needs (I didn't have very many) Health and Safety: I was very safe the entire trip. Social Life: Many students at CLI who live in the school building and nearby, don't have to worry about being lonely.

I thoroughly enjoyed my stay at CLI and only wish it had been longer. The staff and students were all wonderful, and everyone did their upmost to make sure my experience was a positive one. I would highly recommend CLI to anyone considering studying Chinese in china. Academics: I was really pleased with the pace and content of the lessons- as I wasn't there very long I wanted to learn as much as possible and really felt that the teachers helped me do that. Living Situation: The room was very comfortable and I had everything I needed for a two-week stay. Cultural Immersion: I had hoped that the might have been a little bit more organised by the school. My teachers, especially fei fei who took us for Chinese massages and to eat Chinese food, were excellent at filling me in on Chinese culture, and i was lucky enough to be there for the yangshuo trip whichcwas fantastic, but there didn't seem to be too much on a school level-except for the weekly Chinese culture class. I had hoped for instance that the film night would have been a Chinese film and a chance to learn a bit about Chinese cinema. Program Administration: Everything ran incredibly smoothly and I'm so impressed by the way the program is administered to such a high standard Health and Safety: I never felt unsafe at CLI, on the contrary I felt that there were lots of people around ready to help if you needed anything Social Life: I loved the social life at CLI and made some good friends, but a lot of it did seem to be organised by individuals rather than the school.

CLI is a great and unique program and you are guaranteed to improve your Chinese language skills if you attend. The community at CLI is close-knit and friendly. And its location in Guilin is great for immersing yourself in Chinese culture. Guilin is a smaller city and the foreigner population is much smaller than in Beijing or Shanghai, so there are plenty of opportunities to interact with Chinese culture and use what you learn first hand. Academics: Classes were challenging, and teachers will helpful, knowledgeable, and knew how to teacher foreigners. Living Situation: Rooms were clean, comfortable and well stocked. Cultural Immersion: Teachers are all Chinese nationals and CLI organized different excursion on a regular basis. Program Administration: Administrators were wonderful! Efficient, friendly, professional and quick to respond. Health and Safety: CLIs facilities are locked at night and there are several entrance codes needed to gain full access. Social Life: The community at CLI is relatively small and close-knit, which is great. There are plenty of common areas at CLIs facilities so there are lots of places to hang out.

I really enjoyed the fact that you lived and studied in the same cozy building. You don't just go to class and go home. You go to class, hang out with your teachers and classmates, meet lots of other people from all over the world who are also eager to practice their Chinese, and explore the city and travel together. Accommodations are very comfortable. Everyone is super helpful. Rob is an awesome guy. Social Life: So many interesting people from all over the world. Made a lot of friends very quickly.

The Chinese Language Institute is probably the best Chinese Language School in China. Three separate instructors, Western person ownership and administration.