May Term Study Abroad Programs in Asia

I had an amazing time learning about the culture in Thailand while participating in therapeutic activities with amazing children. it was a life-changing experience and I’m so thankful that therapy abroad made it so special!

I spent two months studying Mandarin at Fudan University in Shanghai through GAC, and it was an unforgettable experience. My homestay family welcomed me like their own — we cooked together, watched Chinese dramas, and they patiently helped me practice every day. My teacher was engaging and focused on real conversation rather than just textbooks. By the end, I could confidently order food, ask for directions, and chat with locals. The GAC team also organized weekend trips to Suzhou and Hangzhou. I came home with real fluency and a deep love for Chinese culture.

I studied Mandarin at BLCU in Beijing for 4 months, and it was one of the best experiences of my life. My homestay family was so kind — they spoke only Chinese, so I had to practice every single day. My teacher was patient and always encouraged me to speak more. By the end of the program, I could comfortably order food, take the subway, and even have simple conversations with locals. The GAC team organized a weekend trip to the Great Wall and a traditional Chinese painting class. I left Beijing with real language skills and friends from all over the world. Highly recommend!

I spent three months studying Mandarin at Peking University through GAC, and it completely transformed my confidence with the language. My homestay family was incredibly welcoming — they spoke only Chinese at home, so I had to practice daily. My teacher made grammar and tones easy to understand with interactive lessons. By week eight, I could order food, take the metro, and even bargain at the markets. The GAC team organized a trip to the Great Wall and a traditional tea ceremony, which made the cultural side unforgettable. I returned to Spain with real fluency and a second family in Beijing.

I studied Mandarin at Peking University for 3 months through GAC. I arrived knowing almost no Chinese, but my homestay family was incredibly patient and kind. My teacher made classes fun and practical. By the end, I could hold conversations, order food, and even bargain at markets. The GAC team organized weekend trips to the Great Wall and Summer Palace. I returned to Japan with confidence and a love for Chinese culture. Every food was very tasted and appetite bringing and I would eat more than usual. Highly recommend.

I studied Mandarin at Peking University for 4 months through GAC. I arrived knowing only "ni hao." My homestay family was amazing – they only spoke Chinese, so I had to practice every single day. My teacher was patient and made classes fun. By month three, I could order food, take the subway, and have real conversations with locals. The GAC team organized weekend trips to the Summer Palace and the Great Wall. I came back to Belgium with confidence and a second family in Beijing. Highly recommend.

I spent 6 weeks studying Mandarin at Fudan University in Shanghai. My homestay family was wonderful — they took me to local markets and taught me to cook Shanghai-style dishes. My teacher focused on practical conversation, not just textbook grammar. By the end, I could comfortably order food, take taxis, and even bargain at the fabric market. The GAC coordinators organized visits to the Bund, Yu Garden, and a day trip to Hangzhou. This experience gave me confidence and a love for Chinese culture. Highly recommend.

I studied Mandarin at Peking University for 4 months through GAC. I arrived knowing maybe 10 words. My homestay family was incredible – they only spoke Chinese, so I had to practice every single day at dinner. My teacher was patient and made class fun. By month three, I could order food, bargain at markets, and hold real conversations. The GAC team organized weekend trips to the Great Wall and Summer Palace. I came back to Sweden speaking more Chinese than friends who studied for years. Highly recommend.

I studied Mandarin at BLCU in Beijing for 4 months through GAC. I arrived knowing only "ni hao." My homestay family was amazing – they only spoke Chinese, so I had to practice every single day. My teacher was patient and made classes fun and engaging. By month three, I could order food, take the subway, and have real conversations with locals. The GAC team organized weekend trips to the Great Wall and Summer Palace. I came back to Prague speaking more Chinese than friends who studied for years. Highly recommend for anyone serious about learning Mandarin.

One hell of an adventure! Japan felt like a roller coaster and it’s definitely hit a good spot doing my first travel to Japan not a busy city like Tokyo or Osaka. Sapporo was amazing and I loved my school a lot. The teaching was pretty smooth and the activities were my favorite. Be back in Japan soon. Peace

I studied Mandarin at BLCU for 4 months through GAC. I arrived knowing only "ni hao." My homestay family was incredibly welcoming and patient – they only spoke Chinese, so I had to practice every single day. My teacher made classes fun and engaging, not boring textbook exercises. By month three, I could order food, take taxis, and have real conversations with locals. The GAC team organized weekend trips to the Great Wall and Summer Palace. I came back to Denmark with confidence, new friends, and a second family in China. Highly recommend.

I studied Mandarin at Peking University for 4 months through GAC. I arrived knowing nothing – not even how to say hello properly. My homestay family was incredibly patient and made me feel like part of their family. My teacher was fantastic, making class both challenging and fun. By month three, I could order food, take taxis, and have real conversations with locals. The GAC team organized weekend trips to the Great Wall and Summer Palace. I came back to Sweden speaking more Chinese than friends who studied for years. Highly recommend.

I studied Mandarin at BLCU for 8 weeks through GAC. I arrived knowing maybe 10 words. My homestay family was incredible – they only spoke Chinese, so I had to practice every single night at dinner. My teacher was patient and made class fun. We learned through games, real conversations, and even Chinese songs. By week 6, I could order food, bargain at the Silk Market, and take the subway without getting lost. The GAC team organized weekend trips to the Great Wall and Summer Palace. I came back to Belgium speaking more Chinese than friends who studied for 2 years. Highly recommend.

I studied Mandarin at Fudan University in Shanghai through GAC. I arrived knowing nothing — not even tones. My homestay family was incredible; they only spoke Chinese, so I had to practice every single day at dinner. Classes were small and my teacher was very patient. Within 8 weeks, I could order food, bargain at markets, and have simple conversations with locals. The GAC team organized weekend trips to West Lake and the water towns. This wasn't just a language course — it was a life-changing experience. Highly recommend.

I studied Mandarin at Fudan University in Shanghai through GAC. My homestay family was incredible — they spoke zero English, so I had to use Chinese every single day. My teacher was patient and made the classes engaging. After 8 weeks, I could hold conversations, order food, and even bargain at markets. If you want real fluency, do the homestay program.

I studied Mandarin at Peking University for 4 months through GAC. Coming from Germany, I was nervous about living in a new country, but my homestay family in Beijing made me feel at home from day one. My host mum even taught me how to make dumplings! Classes were challenging but fun — my teacher was very patient and pushed me just enough. I went from knowing only "ni hao" to holding real conversations, ordering food, and even bargaining at markets. The GAC team organized weekend trips to the Great Wall and Summer Palace, which made the experience even more special. I made friends from all over the world and my Mandarin improved faster than I ever thought possible. If you want to learn Chinese and experience real life in China, this program is worth every euro. I'm already planning to go back for an internship next year.

Studied Mandarin at BLCU for 3 months. My host family was incredible — they treated me like their own family member. Classes were intense but fun. I went from zero to holding conversations. Highly recommend!

I spent five months at Peking University through GAC, and during that time, I stayed with a host family in Haidian. At first, I was pretty nervous. Moving in with people I’d never met, in a completely new country? That’s scary stuff. But right from the start, my host mum went out of her way to make me feel at home. She showed me how to make dumplings (mine always fell apart), helped me untangle my Mandarin homework, and brought me along when she went home for the holidays. The classes at the university were awesome—small groups, teachers who actually wanted us to get it, and a real sense that I was improving. But honestly, most of the real learning happened every night at dinner. Trying to talk about my day in Mandarin, stumbling through sentences while my host family laughed (always supportive, though)—that’s where everything started to click. I didn’t just come back with better Chinese. I came back with a second family. So if you want something deeper than a regular language course, go live with a host family. You’ll get way more out of the experience.

I stayed in China for five months with this agency. They helped me a lot with my visa documents and matched me with a lovely host family with an adorable girl. I still keep in touch with them and hope to come back to China one day. Being an Au Pair was an interesting experience. Sometimes it was a bit tiring, but I’m definitely happy that I decided to come here to improve my Chinese and become a more independent person. Thanks to Masons Au Pair Agency for supporting me all along the way!

I was an Au Pair in Chengdu for a year with Masons Au Pair Agency. The matching process was fast and easy, and they helped me a lot with settling in. They taught me how to use Chinese apps, the subway, how to pay for meals, and how to order food. Every time I needed help, whether with the host family or visiting a doctor, they were always ready to support me. The host family they matched me with was nice too, I didn't need to cook or clean and we traveled a lot inside of China. I really enjoyed my experience with this agency.