Study Abroad Programs in Guilin, China

One of the best rabbit holes I’ve ever explored. I’ll explain. I’ve been living in China approximately two years, and during this time I’ve used tutoring, movies, TV, language apps and ease dropping on conversations to do my best to pick-up a bit of Chinese here and there. Some gains, but nothing great. Then, after two years of trying and looking, I came across an advertisement for Omeida while reading a WeChat article. Click, down the rabbit hole I went. After what seemed like hours of reading and watching everything available about Omeida, I thought, this is too good to be true, but it’s still worth pursuing. I contacted Omeida and my journey and relationship with them and their family of students began. The intake process is simple and efficient. First, they ask you about your background, goals and time commitment. Next, you’re scheduled for an online interview. After the interview, you’re asked to decide what program you will attend, Standard/Survival (15 hours - afternoon) or Intensive/Survival & University Course Work (30 hours - morning and afternoon). Finally, you finalize your arrangements for arrival and payment. Omeida is willing to schedule a car to pick you up, accepts cash and digital payment, are able and willing to provide a Fabio. These are notable points as all businesses do not provide them. In regards to course options, my experience and opinion is that both options are good especially together. Caveat to this for me was it didn't seem like I was able to process what I learned in time to apply it to the next lesson. This could be because my Chinese foundation was insufficient and/or too many other external commitments. Omeida Chinese Academy is exactly what you see in the videos open, student centered and accommodating. In the building, WIFI, lounge area, refrigerator, coffee, tea and mugs, restrooms with Western and Eastern style toilets, fitness room, roof top access with furniture and study rooms plus 24 hours access are provided. WHAT? That’s right, 24 hours access! Can you say commitment to success? Another small yet interestingly relaxing thing at Omeida is that instead of using bells to indicate period start/end times, they play classical music. It’s a different touch and quite nice. It further differentiates Omedia from others. Primary avenues available to greater develop your linguistic skill set can be accomplished by: taking advantage of the very low student to teacher ratio (1:2-3), language exchange (get a partner and elevate yourselves to the next level), weekly (Wednesday) cultural activities, quiz nights (Thursday), weekend excursions (Saturday), monthly dinner, interacting with locals and volunteering at Omeida English College. A word about volunteering – it’s in English. This is mentioned because if you want an all Chinese speaking environment this will not provide it, but it can provide an opportunity to help someone, make a connection and learn about Chinese culture. It can also help to offset some of your cost, such as meals etc., however, it will take at least one hour of your time, Monday-Friday from 17:00-18:00. Although it was enjoyable having conversations with English learners, it was, at times, in conflict with other interests. The accommodation I had was clean, adequate, affordable, secure and close to the academy. You can choose between a single or shared room. I chose to share a room hoping to benefit from having a roommate. A roommate can be a godsend for your sanity and language development. My roommate and I were separated by several generations, but we didn’t have any problem, just not much to converse about – different interest and priorities. The canteen doesn’t serve 5 Star meals, but it does serve meals on time. If going, go early! In the month I spent at Omeida as a false beginner, a solid foundation was created, I made improvements in pronunciation, grammar and speaking and I intend to continue my studies online. Going there wasn’t a choice for me it was chance and necessity. Omeida Chinese Language Academy is a good choice for the curious, adventurer and student. You won’t be disappointed with your choice. The administrative staff and teaching faculty are supportive, caring knowledgeable, experienced and flexible. And when your stay is up, it’s likely that the school, students, locals and enchanting picturesque Yangshuo and your experiences will have you wanting to return.

My 6 weeks of intensive Chinese in Yangshuo reminded me a lot of my time as a foreign language exchange student at Dalian University of Technology (DUT) almost 10 years ago, albeit with some notable differences. First off, the school has an absolutely terrific learning environment. Unlike DUT where the classes had between 15-20 students, the classes at Omeida are quite small, with around 1-3 students (perhaps less than usual due to COVID), which means that you get plenty of attention from your Chinese teacher. As well, the teachers are very knowledgable and willing to adapt their teaching methods to suit your needs. I came to Omeida with an already advanced level of Chinese, so I think my teachers, who were more used to teaching lower level students, had to figure out what worked and what didn't work with me as things went along. However, their willingness to try different activities and strategies is a testament to their flexibility and commitment. Omeida also has an English school which is adjacent to the newly built Chinese Academy building. Apart from your teacher(s), the Chinese students at that school will play a key role in helping you to improve your Chinese. The school has a language partner program, as well as a volunteering program which is useful in terms of meeting these students. However, even if you don't sign up to these, some of the less shy Chinese students will naturally get curious and approach you for a conversation when they see a foreign face in the canteen or during the various school events. Speaking of events, the school and students organise a range of things including class dinners, BBQ nights, quizzes , culture classes and excursions. I was doing one on one classes with no classmates, so these events were especially important in terms of meeting people and socialising. As some of the reviewers have already mentioned, the accommodation is nothing to write home about. It's acceptable, but don't go there expecting a 3-5 star hotel room. In terms of room mate, it can be hit and miss. Sometimes you will be paired up with someone with whom you have a lot in common (which was fortunately the case for me). Other times, you might end up with a room mate with whom you develop no special connection (which was sadly the case for one student that I met). But to quote a line from a certain movie: "Life is like a box of chocolate, you never know what you'll get." When selecting the type of program, you might also want to think about your priorities. If sightseeing is your priority or you just want to relax and socialise, then the standard or part-time course is probably best for you. If you're like me, and want to seriously improve your Chinese and don't mind staying up late in the evening to do your Chinese homework, then the intensive course is for you. Hats off to the administrative team as well for their willingness to lend you a helping hand regardless of how small your problem is. Special mention goes to Kyrie 老板 for her enthusiasm and eagerness to help! Overall, I would recommend the school to anyone who would like to learn more about Chinese language and culture. My first three weeks at the school was quite "typical" with large amounts of students coming in and a very lively atmosphere, however, by the end of week three with several COVID outbreaks in China, things started to get a little more quiet. Regardless, my experience at Omeida was largely positive, and it brought back some great memories from my days as a DUT international student.