Reviews

I am a lifelong learner with a background in systems engineering, information systems, student support, web operations, and project coordination. My professional path has given me the opportunity to work with students, academic teams, technology systems, and cross-functional business groups. My motivation for obtaining my TEFL certification was both personal and professional. I have a strong interest in China, Chinese culture, and Mandarin language learning, and I believe that living and working in China is the best way to gain a deeper, more respectful understanding of the country and its people. As some who has been trying to learn Mandarin with the use of apps and books, I can relate to the challenge of learning your non-native language. After completing this course, I am now qualified and confident that I will be able to use the skills I've gain and my professional background to obtain a meaningful one-year or more ESL teaching commitment where I can contribute, learn, and grow.

My experience with IVHQ was overall amazing, and I would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in volunteering abroad. The accommodation was lovely, the local team was incredibly kind and helpful, and I felt safe and supported throughout my stay. The volunteering itself was a really cool and meaningful experience, and I loved getting to experience a new country and culture. My favorite part was getting to play local games with the kids that are commonly played in Zambia but that I had never seen or played in my own country. It was such a fun way to connect with them and allowed me to get to know the kids on a deeper level. Being able to spend time with them, make them laugh, and hopefully help them feel loved and cared for was one of the most rewarding parts of the experience. I think two weeks was a great amount of time for the program I chose in Livingstone. After about two weeks, I felt like I had experienced most of what the area had to offer, so I think a longer stay could be difficult unless you enjoy a slower pace. I also wish the local team had given us a little more information about things to do during our downtime, such as local coffee shops, nail salons, affordable transportation options, and other things to do around town. I ended up figuring a lot of that out on my own, although I definitely could have asked more questions! Overall, I had a great experience and am very grateful I chose to volunteer with IVHQ. I left feeling like I had learned a lot, met some wonderful people, and had an experience I’ll remember for a long time.

first off i wanted to thank everyone that has acompanied me during my time on the malaga expanish camp. ive met dozents of new friends from all over the world and i couldnt have imagined my summer without them however there were some things that could be improved to a higher standard to make my and other future goers experience even better. the most crutial of these and the one im gonna start my critique with has to be the food. OMG the food was horendous(with some exaptions i must admit) that i barely ever ate it. IN FACT, although it could be argued that it is inaproriete to speak of I engaged in a ritual of release every 3 DAYSSS. The only other annoyance i have been aware of during my stay was the "suite" i was inhibiting. although it wasnt a complete dissaster it didnt live up to my expectations i expected more but maybe thats my fault. however i dont want anyone to think porly of this experience because of this review the bottom line is that i think very highly of this camp and everyone involved in it and i have to say that i remember every moment of it with joy in my heart.

My study abroad experience to Italy was incredible. I had met so many new amazing people and new connections. Our tour guide, Andrea, was very helpful, patient, and kind throughout the whole trip. I am very grateful to be chosen to attend this trip.

Hours of classes and mandatory communication every day, which was very helpful. The city itself is very peaceful and cute and has very beautiful nature. The facility is clean and you can even go get coffee and tea whenever you want. It was also very safe and I would recommend this for people of any age!

I had so much fun studying abroad in Costa Rica through Arcos. My program director Angie was super caring! The university professors and the rest of Arcos staff were super friendly as well. I learned a lot of Spanish, ate really good food, made some new friends and explored really beautiful places.The study abroad had excursions and activities planned throughout the weeks. There was enough structure to have something to look forward to, but also enough flexibility to do something on your own!

I had an unforgettable time in Italy with Molise Italian Studies. It was my first time visiting a country outside of the United States, so I was a little worried at first. However, the program was so well run and smooth that I soon had no worries whatsoever. Our guide, Andrea, was excellent and our trip would not have been what it was without him. I would highly recommend Molise Italian Studies to any one who is interested in Italian culture, history, or exploring another country.

I was originally very nervous about studying abroad. I almost backed out multiple times. However, immediately upon meeting the staff of USAC, I felt instantly better. The staff made me feel so safe and cared for. Any questions I had were answered promptly. Beyond that, the travel experience was amazing. I feel like I learned so much on this trip, not just about the world, but about myself too. I met some of my best friends on this trip, and we still keep in contact today. If you're considering traveling with USAC, go for it. Take the jump. Make it count.

I made lots of great friends, the accommodation was really nice. Food was very good and we did a good variety of activities. All the staff were lovely and supportive. Spanish teachers were very good.

Hi, my name is Reece, I am from the University of Newcastle, Australia. I am in my second year of studying Psychology and I chose to study abroad because I really wanted to see what it was like studying in a different culture and also for some personal and professional experience. I really enjoyed studying here with Cerca Abroad in the Iasis Centre, because it has given me such a good example of group therapy and it’s given me motivation to work in group therapy one day.

Everyone from The Intern Group was super helpful and easy to contact! Easy to meet other interns due to events and a welcome meet-up at the start. Really nice accommodation and good location with easy public transport to the city centre. Clear check-in / check-out process. The internship was a great learning experience, everyone from the company was really welcoming and willing to help me out. I always had something to do and was given clear instructions for tasks. Would recommend to anyone looking for more experience!

This tour was such a wonderful way to discover a different side of Ecuador. One of my favorite experiences was visiting the Barroquema Art Gallery in Tumbaco, where we watched a pottery demonstration and had the chance to make our own clay bowl, it was truly enjoyable, but above all, meeting local artists and seeing their work up close made the most of the experience. I also really enjoyed our time in Otavalo and Zuleta, we watched traditional weaving techniques, which gave me a much greater appreciation for the skill behind Ecuadorian handicrafts, especially the Zuleta embroidery, handmade by local women artisans, we learned about their traditional and intricate embroidery techniques, which we saw beautifully displayed on their clothing and fabric handkerchiefs. We also visit the Equator Line, it was fun, but the evening tour through Quito’s historic center and the craft beer tasting at the San Francisco Church made it very special. Spending those days learning more deeply about the work of artisans and artists (like Guayasamín) and learning about Ecuadorian traditions, left me with a emotional perspective when thinking about the country’s art and history. It is beautifu to experienced Ecuador through the people who keep its artistic traditions alive.

Hi, my name is Sophie, I am from Washington, U.S., and I go to Washington State University. I chose to do this internship because I wanted to have a hands-on experience in the area of medicine and I just wanted to see how it works in another country. I got to see some really cool surgeries and I also saw some interesting work with stray animals. I am very happy with the coordination of this internship by Cerca Abroad, they would always answer questions, there was always someone to answer them, there was a lot of support. I really enjoyed my stay in Thessaloniki, it was really fun to see some very cool restaurants and also go to the beaches and there were things to see outside.

Dear Expanish-Team, I am writing to provide feedback regarding the recent two-week Spanish summer camp that our son, Leonid, attended. Unfortunately, the experience did not meet our expectations at all, and we feel that the program does not justify its high cost. According to our son’s feedback, the camp was highly disorganized, and the actual learning outcome was minimal. Most importantly, the camp failed to create an immersive atmosphere. Instead of encouraging the students to converse in Spanish, the primary language spoken among them turned out to be English. It felt much more like an English camp than a Spanish one. Given the high price we paid, we expected a well-structured, educational, and immersive program. Since it was expensive, chaotic, and lacked educational value, we will unfortunately not be able to recommend your camp to other parents. Sincerely, Alexander

I studied abroad in both Pau, France and Madrid, Spain in the summer of 2015, and had a wonderful experience in both cities. Being that it was the summer, the university campus in Madrid was a little quiet, but I absolutely loved the classes I took with amazing professors. My Spanish improved immensely and the professors worked hard to challenge me in speaking, reading and writing. I lived in a small but nice apartment with a roommate from my home university, the University of Nevada, Reno (the USAC headquarters!). We lived right near Atocha, the main train station, making travel within the city and to other places in Spain convenient. Madrid in the summer is an incredible city, especially for a young person without a lot of travel experience, as it is quite safe and easy to navigate on foot and has quality public transportation. Madrid has plenty of nightlife for those who like to party, but plenty of high culture in the form of museums, historical sites and cuisine for the more bookish types like myself. One of my favorite memories is enjoying churros con chocolate with my friends at the famous Chocolatería San Ginés!

Mein Bildungsurlaub in Hokkaido oder genauer gesagt in Sapporo war wirklich wunderschön. Die Organisation der Schule war hervorragend und besonders die ganzen Aktivitäten waren eines der besten die ich seit langem erlebt habe. Der Unterricht war gut strukturiert aber konnte auch teils recht intensiv sein. Man muss hier wirklich den Kontext beachten, dass die Struktur vom Bildungsurlaubsprogramm sehr voll gepackt ist mit Pflichteinheiten die man einhalten muss. Hier kann man dafür wenig die Schule verantwortlich setzen, aber mein persönlicher Rat ist, hängt am besten noch eine Extrawoche Urlaub dran. Hokkaido hat einfach viel zu bieten! Meiji Team ihr werdet mich nicht so schnell los und wir sehen uns im Wintern wieder 😝 Grüße aus dem sonnigen Frankfurt!

I loved my experience studying abroad with USAC. They give you a lot of freedom to do what you want on your own time and take trips to other cities, you just have to go to class! They prepare you well for the experience and are very helpful if you need it. Verona is also a beautiful city and perfect home base. It wasn't too overcrowded, and there was a lot to do with everything being so close. Overall, I had a great time and would recommend it to friends and family.

I had a wonderful time during my internship and greatly enjoyed the experience. I made significant improvements in my Spanish speaking abilities, and I am very grateful for the opportunity. I truly enjoyed my internship and am very thankful for the opportunity.

Simply fabulous and full of culinary experiences were my two weeks in Osaka. The instructors were very well organized and classes were fun. My class was small with only three other students, which I personally preferred. The school location is within less than 10 minutes walking distance from Shinsaibashi subway station which made it super central. A lot of foodie spots around and yes I had almost every other day takoyaki or okonomiyaki! Osaka is really Japan’s kitchen hub No.1! And let me not start about the crazy karaoke and club nights I had😁 Highly recommend.

My experience with LTL has been great: fun, flexible and unforgettable. As a Chinese heritage speaker I went looking for a school that would offer an individualised learning experience with “live-action“ support in Taipei, and from the start LTL‘s team were attuned to my needs and wishes. My student advisor Josephine answered each and every one of my questions in detail, and she followed up with a structured plan within a few days. I decided on 1-on-1 classes for 2 weeks with 20 classes per week, 50% of them being safari classes, and the connection kit. Safari classes are outings into Taipei i.e. store or museum visits that are accompanied by your language teacher to give you real-life Mandarin speaking experience. The connection kit meant that I was set up with a Mandarin-speaker in Taipei to go out with. The online onboarding couldn‘t have run more smoothly thanks to highly detailed enquiries, to an online placement test and to a video call with Alin to get a feel for my actual speaking level and to answer any eventual questions I might have had before coming to Taipei. Additionally, LTL provided detailed guides on how to get through the airport and into the city itself, and they added me to the Line student group in advance. That way if I had had any questions I could have asked LTL Taipei‘s team any time. On my first day at LTL my teacher Issa took great care to check in with what I wanted to focus on including my interests for the safari classes. She then drew up a plan for both our textbook Chinese lessons and potential outings. I appreciate her gentle and flexible approach that encouraged me while being very clear on the areas that I needed to improve, in my case mostly the tones. She offered consistent corrective feedback on my intonation and introduced me to a method to acquire a more natural pronunciation. In the first week we focused more on the textbook lessons in MTU’s ”A Course in Contemporary Chinese“ to give me a starting point. At the same time Issa left plenty of room to go on tangents related to my stay in Taipei. I felt very well guided, though the pace was high with 20+ new vocabulary per day and short reviews. In the second week we focused more on Safari classes with pre-scheduled outings to a bubble tea shop, to the stationer‘s, to a day market, to a post office and to a tea house among others. Issa went above and beyond to prepare me for these outdoor assignments with individualised vocabulary lists and example dialogues. She also provided rich insights into Taiwan‘s everyday life and plenty of suggestions for places to visit and foods to try. While I felt quite a nervous to speak to shopkeepers with my basic Chinese skills Issa‘s support helped me to build up my confidence to go out to apply my Chinese even after the language classes were over. In addition to all these intensive classes the team at LTL Taipei made my stay unforgettable by organising frequent and diverse social events i.e. almost daily lunch outings, creative Taiwanese craft workshops, a museum visit, a KTV night, a Mahjong afternoon, etc. A shout-out to Sunny! Her infectious enthusiasm and inventiveness made my stay at LTL unforgettable. Plus other teachers and staff would join some of these events and even expand them at times. So even though I had 1-on-1 classes I still got to connect to other students every day. My only hiccup was related to the connection kit when my original partner became unavailable, but Riona and Sunny resolved it within 2 days‘s time. The administration at LTL Taipei is flawless! I can‘t recommend LTL Taipei enough! They provide such a comprehensive experience way beyond just language classes! So if you consider attending, make sure to leave enough room in your schedule to enjoy the full experience. Taipei‘s team guarantees that you will Live The Language!

LTL Language School responded to this reviewSeptember 01, 2026

This is super nice to read!! Bubble tea shops, day markets, post offices and a tea house all in Mandarin and with Issa by your side! We are thrilled the safari classes and social events made your two weeks so memorable, and Josephine, Alin, Sunny and Riona will all love reading this. Thanks so much for taking the time to share such a detailed review and keep up the great work studying Mandarin! LTL Team