Lingoinn Teacher Homestay

I've had an exceptionally good stay in Dalian with Teacher Li N. She was truly an excellent teacher and had prepared everything perfectly. Also, her family (mother and son) were really nice and welcoming! I highly recommend her as a teacher and as a homestay. I can’t praise her enough! This is my 4th one week of Chinese immersion in the last 2 years, and this experience has been really the best!

What I loved most about this programme was the unique experience of immersing myself in a different culture, livelihood, and language, which offered me a completely new way of knowing life. Simply by staying with a host family, I learned so much about the culture through the daily habits and wisdom shared by the community. I was made to feel extremely comfortable and treated with such pure kindness, which is why I would highly recommend Lingoinn to anyone looking to expand their horizons.

My stay in Taiwan was a great experience. The first time in my life I spoke Chinese for hours. It was great to see into two very different families and be part of their daily life, eat tasty meals and try new dishes which I never ate before. I feel I could really improve my listening and speaking skills and also got thaught some new valuable methods about how to study. From the first day when I wrote to Lingoinn everything went smooth, I can really recommend it.

I stayed at a teacher’s home in Taiwan for one week. My teacher was very kind, and her family was warm and friendly. I only spoke Chinese while staying there, and my progress has been remarkable after just one week. The most enriching part was the fact that we were just immersed in Chinese when we weren't in lessons. I would definitely recommend a homestay for my friends.

My trip to Taiwan was great. I also spent a week in Yilan studying Chinese. The personalized program was extremely helpful, and my vegetarian dietary requirements were fully accommodated. Thank you for everything.

I had a wonderful week in Shenzhen. My teacher and her family were extremely accommodating, and I couldn’t thank them enough. I also learned a lot, both Mandarin and Cantonese. For anyone looking for a shortcut to improve their Chinese, I recommend this programme.

My homestay was very good. I had the opportunity to speak a lot and practice my spoken language, Chinese. The lesson quality was high and also the high level that I needed to learn. So, we went very fast so that I could learn more and more. Lingoinn really was very good in organising everything. I didn't have any trouble. Everything was clear before, during, and after the trip. So I think the service was very, very good.

My 4-week full-immersion experience in Taiwan has been incredibly fun and engaging. It has vastly improved my Chinese language skills through all areas, but especially through my speaking. I am now able to converse at a more confident level than I was able to when I arrived. I found Lingoinn to be very organised and supportive of me throughout the whole process. The information I received before travelling was very clear and helpful, allowing me to feel comfortable throughout my entire journey.

LingoInn run a 50% discount scholarship twice a year and in 2023, I won! With only a few months to prepare for the trip, I was nervous as a first-time solo traveller to China (my partner and mother told me not to go). However, LingoInn answered my questions patiently and kindly, and I over-prepared (big-time). As it turned out, everything went really well. My teacher, Wang Laoshi 王老师, met me at Shijiazhuang train station the night I arrived, and from then on, I was treated as her VIP guest. Everything was taken care of, with humour, patience and kindness. For instance, I had an unexpected, horrid toothache develop a few days into the homestay, that my travel insurance would cover (actually, it only cost $5 AUD so the insurance wasn't needed), but 王老师 herself took me to the dentist and acted as interpreter. She also coped beautifully with my liquids and soft foods diet when making all the meals (part of the homestay fee), took me to a pharmacist, and reassured me when I felt ashamed of my wussiness (I've heard Chinese people go without anaesthetic during childbirth!). As I settled in and my nerves eased, I began to enjoy myself. One of the two big reasons that I selected 王老师 was because I had a photo on my bedroom wall at home, of a beautiful temple suspended on an ancient bridge in a chasm. It turned out to be part of the Cangyan Shan temple complex --- near Shijiazhuang! We had a full-day tour walking around the mountain (lots of exercise) and her husband was chaffeur. The other reason was that she teaches 古琴 guqin, an ancient, beautiful, 7-stringed horizontally-played zither. I had three guqin lessons, besides daily Chinese lessons for three hours a day. When I had enough of study, we did 八段锦 baduanjin (a kind of tai qi) or took her mini German Shepherd, 老连 Lao Lian, for walks around the gated apartment community. 刘先生 Liu Xiansheng，her husband, also showed me gongfu cha, which is another passion of mine. It was, in summary, a wonderful experience, and a great way for a nervous first-time visitor to experience China.

My week in Chengdu was an unforgettable experience. Being immersed in the Mandarin language, staying with a lovely host family and an amazing teacher, and learning so much about the culture at the same time, it was a fantastic way to improve my language skills. I would recommend this unique experience to anyone who is interested in improving their Mandarin - as a language teacher myself, I know how valuable this is, and the team at Lingoinn make the whole thing extremely smooth and stress-free. I’ll definitely be doing it again before too long!

One of my favourite things to do in life is connect and meet with different people. This experience provided all of that and much more. My teachers helped immensely with understanding the culture and being able to fully immerse myself within Taiwan.

My favourite part of the program has been getting to know the family. I had lots of conversations with them about the differences, culture, and what is like to live in China and my experience in the United States. The lessons were very structured, and everything was meticulously planned. I ended up coming away with far more knowledge and completing a semester’s worth of learning in just 4 weeks. Lingoinn has been very supportive and made the whole process super smooth. I couldn’t recommend them enough.

Lingoinn connects you with the most authentic parts of the Chinese culture, with peace of mind. China is so different to other parts of the world that it can be difficult to know where to start and what to do, and this programme gives you a massive head start in this regard.

I stayed for a week at the home of Ms. Zhang in Dalian. Ms. Zhang patiently corrected my pronunciation and helped me understand sentence patterns. Her family was equally kind and I felt truly welcomed. I was there in June and the weather was perfect. I really enjoyed walking around the city and interacting with the local people, Lingoinn gave me lots of information about lessons, daily life and getting around the city.

I went to Shanghai in April this year and used Lingoinn’s homestay service for 1 week. My goal was to learn about Shanghai and improve my mandarin. The home I stayed was very nice and in a great location. My host Jill Laoshi was a very experienced teacher and a lovely lady. She prepared everything for me with great care. My lessons, room and breakfast were all made to my liking. We went to many places like the Shanghai museum, Bund, Jing’an temple to see the new and old Shanghai, it was a wonderful trip. My mandarin was more fluent by the time I left. I’ll definitely use Lingoinn’s service for my next trip.

I was learning Chinese for a while but never found a right programme to go to China until came across Lingoinn. The homestay private teaching was exactly I was looking for, so I enrolled on a 1-week immersion programme (3-10 Feb 2024) in Guangzhou. The programme was well organised and tailored to my needs. The host teacher Gu was very patient with me to correct my pronunciation and grammar mistakes. Her family was helpful and welcoming too. They introduced me to the tasty dim sum and showed me a few interesting places. Although my room was a bit small, the location was great. I enjoyed exploring the city on my own and practising Chinese with the locals. I found the homestay learning effective and enjoyable.

I recently took a Lingoinn homestay programme in Dalian thanks to my friend’s recommendation. I was there for a week in June brushing up Chinese before going to Beijing. My teacher Mr He was a great guy, supportive and fun. He made learning materials for my level and taught me the phrases that local Chinese people use. We watched a few great Chinese movies together. I could ask him any questions while watching, words, culture and people. It was a good fun and great way to learn. Most of days I travelled around the city on my own but the trip I had with Mr He to Lushun was wonderful. He was knowledgeable about the local history and took me to an amazing local restaurant. It was a unique learning experience for me.

I was hoping that taking on Lingoinn’s homestay immersion programme would be the ideal way to improve my mandarin and learn more about Chinese culture, but it fulfilled so much more than my expectations. I stayed 1 week in Chengdu and 1 week in Shanghai in May 2024. The two cities were so very different, and so were the two families I stayed with. My package included 2 hours of private Chinese lessons per day, a couple of cultural lessons and 2 sightseeing tours. In Shanghai, I stayed with Teacher Zheng who helped me with grammar and sentence structure. She spoke good English which proved really helpful. She also taught me how to make Shanghai Sweet Sour Pork Ribs (my new signature dish). I loved her home which was in a modern high-rise building in downtown Shanghai. This meant I could go everywhere by metro or bus. In Chengdu, my lessons with Teacher Li were mainly for conversation, and I even learned some words in the Sichuan dialect. As I was interested in local culture, teacher Li took me to a lovely tea house to watch a Sichuan opera. We then went to try an ear cleaning and a body massage, followed by a spicy hotpot for dinner! That tour was my highlight in Chengdu. Both teachers were professional and so helpful. They made sure I was comfortable and that the learning was enjoyable. I can’t praise Lingoinn’s organisation and planning enough. Everything went so smoothly. I highly recommend this programme to anyone wanting to learn Chinese and experience Chinese lifestyle in a more natural and casual way. Thank you Lingoinn.

I spent two weeks in Chengdu back in June 2023 with my teacher Diana, and I couldn’t have had a better experience! She was incredibly lovely and an amazing teacher, always ensuring I had everything I needed and cooking the most delicious dishes. Everyone in her family was nice too. I truly felt like part of her family. We explored various parts of the city together, the Wide and Narrow Alleys, Wuhou Temple and Jinli… and she explained a great deal about its history, which helped me connect even more with Chinese culture and learn A LOT of new vocabulary! I can’t recommend them enough. Thank you for the amazing experience!

I travelled to Shanghai in May this year for work commitments and decided to extend my stay by a week to explore the city and immerse myself in Chinese culture. I was delighted to discover that Lingoinn offers a short-stay immersive programme, including individual Chinese lessons. I have been studying Chinese for four years, and learning with a native Chinese teacher in China is a completely different experience. Ms Luo is very experienced, helpful and enthusiastic. Not only did she personalise the lessons to focus on my work-related topics, but we also visited several non-touristic places that I would never have found on my own. It was a shame I couldn’t stay longer. I highly recommend Lingoinn; the experience they provided was exceptional!

In the winter of 2023, I spent two weeks enjoying the well-organized cultural exchange program in Dalian that Lingoinn tailored to my specific wishes. It was my first chance to adventure beyond the southern Chinese city that I was teaching in, after the pandemic rules were eased, and it exceeded my expectations. On quite short notice, they found me two host families who were willing to include me in their family Lunar New Year celebrations. Both hosts were also happy to spend time with me as tutors in my Chinese language studies. I still correspond with these former hosts, now friends. If you have even a faint desire to explore the wonders of China, then I highly recommend Lingoinn for their ability to create a special trip for you in which you will experience the warmth and friendliness of the local people. Try it! As they say, you won't regret it! : ))

I spent one semester abroad in China and was initially quite nervous about my time there, as I didn’t feel confident in my Chinese language skills. I was staying with Guo Laoshi in Dalian for 2 weeks and the immersive programme was absolutely perfect! It not only helped me improve my language abilities much faster than traditional classes, but also gave me a deeper understanding and respect for Chinese culture. I didn’t have to worry about anything, accommodation, meals and lessons, Guo Laoshi was excellent! She was very patient and took good care of me. I’m very grateful I did this before starting university.

My one-week homestay in Shijiazhuang in Oct 2023 was extraordinary and wonderful. It was so hard for me to decide on my favourite part, I just loved all of it! My host Teacher Wang and her husband were extremely kind. They opened their home to me, so I could share their various life activities at any time. Teacher Wang is both a very experienced teacher and a kind person. I thought she would only spend the designated time with me for lessons, but she was very happy to introduce many aspects of Chinese life to me. I could ask her questions at any time, from eating, walking the dog, shopping, watching TV. I learned tons of vocabulary and my Chinese got improved so much. The tour with my teacher and her husband to Cangyan mountain was full of learning opportunities but was also very enjoyable. It was very interesting not only to see the landscape and typical rural lifestyles on the drive to and from the mountain temple complex, but also to study the infrastructure and discuss anything I saw with my teacher. Although it was a long walk and the completed tour was about seven hours, they cared for me like a family member, making sure I was always comfortable and safe. I also enjoyed the Chinese musical instrument Guqin lessons. I had no problems contacting Lingoinn for any questions. Ying (Academic Director) was always polite, responsive and very well organised. She answered every question patiently and in great detail, so I felt greatly assured that I could trust this organisation and have a successful trip. Thank you very much for the wonderful memories!

Overall, the hosting experience was great. The student learned a lot and participated in many activities, such as going to the dentist, supermarket, getting a haircut, etc. She also practiced a lot of speaking with local people. The course content I designed for her was suitable for her level and requirements. Whether it was Chinese lessons or Guqin lessons, the student learned very effectively. I was worried before meeting her, but the moment we met, we were like old friends. The student information that Lingoinn provided me in advance was very comprehensive. Thank you!

I spent 15 days in Dalian with two different, and extremely hospitable, host families under the auspices of Lingoinn for an amazing cultural and language immersion program at Chinese New Year. The experience was exactly what I was looking for as I expand my cultural awareness and linguistic skills as a professional newly arrived in China. I highly recommend Lingoinn for their warmth, professionalism and ability to create a bespoke vacation for me on short notice. If you are a foodie, you will also love the possibilities with Lingoinn. If you are looking for unique travel adventures, be sure to talk to this very engaging travel company.

The overall feedback for the hosting was very good. The student and I could complete teaching activities in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. The most satisfying part of the hosting is that I received the student’s information well in advance, which was important for understanding the student's Chinese proficiency and the topics to be discussed in lessons. The student I received this time, got along very well with my family. Whether she came to my house to make dumplings or went out to eat together, we were like a family.

I loved the hosting experience. Lingoinn supervised me with careful preparations and detailed arrangements that allowed student to experience as much Chinese culture and food as possible within a limited time. I was satisfied with the content planning for lessons, meals and activities, and got to know the student very well. I’m happy to recommend Lingoinn to my colleagues.

I stayed 1 week with a Lingoinn teacher in Chengdu. I liked many things about this programme, but I liked the most was the fact that I could do homestay with professional teachers. So the actual learning time I felt was much longer than just 2 hours per day. I had great chance to experience Chinese culture and had interaction with family members on the daily basis. The teacher prepared learning materials by herself which was contemporary and up to date. It can be used on the streets or at work. The 2 hours one to one lesson could be a bit long, but the teacher kept it very fun and interesting. I work in finance industry which is quite busy. Even during my homestay, I had to spend a lot of time doing my daily work. The teacher volunteered to help me preparing my meeting with the Chinese company. It showed her passion to help students learn Chinese language and culture. I found Lingoinn’s staff and support in general very professional and helpful. In most cases, we communicated via emails and the responses had been very quick. I also got introduced to the local manager and talked with her over Wechat which was helpful. This is a very useful immersive programme. I can definitely recommend it to my friends and anyone who wants to learn Chinese.

The whole organisation of the programme was orderly and efficient. My student had good foundation in Chinese, so teaching was quite easy. She was polite, respectful and interested in Shanghai’s culture and scenery. The textbooks Lingoinn recommended were so useful and practical, the student enjoyed the learning. I had no problem contact Lingoinn for teaching and hosting advice.

I have stayed two weeks in Shanghai and one week in Chengdu. Lingoinn has been super useful in helping me prepare for the homestay, whether that was emailing back and forth with Ying and having conversations surrounding what to expect when I get there, to what to pack and what to expect from the teachers. Lingoinn was very helpful in preparing me as much as possible before I embarked on the journey because even though there are friendly faces waiting for me on the other side, they were faces I didn’t know yet so having someone in London to prepare me and be there for me, checking on me throughout the entire process has been super supportive. I got tons of amazing information from Lingoinn and everything was so easy, even the process of obtaining the Chinese visa which is notoriously difficult, I found to be a breeze. There was a step by step guide on Lingoinn’s website and I just followed it and got my visa so easily even my Chinese friends were surprised. I really appreciated that. I’ve loved the organisational skills of Lingoinn, from how quickly they got the invitation letters and organised everything, to the constant reassurance before my trip and throughout it, like wishing me a good flight, asking how my first day has gone and how my first week has gone. I really appreciated the one to one support I got from Lingoinn. The teachers were absolutely amazing and I learned a lot, not only Mandarin but also the culture and how to interact with people. The personal care and kindness I received was unlike any other homestay programme. I had a truly amazing time!

Due to the change of requirements for the student's own work, the programme content and itinerary had to be changed. It was last minute arrangements and Lingoinn helped me re-organise the course content, hosting plan and outings. I was pleased that the programme in the end went smoothly. The student was very happy with the Business Chinese content, sightseeing tours and the interaction with my family.

Dedicated, warm and considerate, I did my best to host the student. The best part of the experience was using student-centred approach for teaching, learning and outings. Lingoinn provided me with a lot of information and excellent support before and during the programme. I enjoyed the hosting.

I couldn’t take the one week homestay in Shanghai as my travel plan was changed, but I agreed to write this review because of the services I received from Lingoinn for my inquiry and planning. I was impressed by the professionalism of Lingoinn teachers. I talked to teacher Ying in London who sounded very knowledgeable and friendly. After our phone conversation, she made a detailed learning plan focusing on my speaking and gave me a lot of information about the host teacher and family. She helped me decide the activities that could improve my Chinese. When I requested to learn some business expressions for my work, she recommended a business Chinese book and made a list of useful topics for me. She even offered me a Skype meeting with the teacher in Shanghai to discuss it further! I was very disappointed when I had to go to Seoul directly without a stopover in Shanghai due to work. I will definitely make another homestay plan with Lingoinn soon.