Study Abroad Programs in Shanghai, China

I participated in a two week program at LTL Chengdu, and I had an amazing time while learning a lot! My instructor Wei was super friendly and dedicated, and I could not have imagined a better teacher. She tailored her instruction specifically to my goals and used real world situations to teach so I could have a more immersive and rich experience. Not only did my Chinese language skills improve, but I also learned a lot about the local culture, food, and lifestyle — things I could never get a chance to experience in a traditional classroom. I highly recommend LTL Chengdu and my teacher Wei!

I had a really great experience at this Chinese learning school! The teachers, especially Ann and Jamie, were amazing and genuinely helped me improve my Chinese. They were patient, encouraging and always willing to explain things when I didn’t understand. Their teaching made learning Chinese much more enjoyable, and I became a lot more confident in my speaking and understanding. You can tell that they really care about their students and want everyone to do well. I’m really grateful for all their help and would definitely recommend this school to anyone looking to improve their Chinese!

I spent 4 weeks in Beijing and I had an amazing time. LTL staff is very professional and helpful, great people to talk to, especially if you want to practice your Chinese. Ms. Alice was my teacher and her lessons were pure pleasure. She always made sure that everyone in the classroom understood everything and had a chance to speak. She was also very encouraging and patient. The other students were also very friendly so the whole school vibe was really good. Overall, great place if you want to learn Chinese and have a good time both at once!

LTL Language School responded to this reviewOctober 07, 2026

What a great four weeks it was, Karolina! Thanks so much for sharing your lovely story with us. Hope to see you back in China again soon :) Best wishes, LTL Team

I was in Chengdu for 2 weeks to study Chinese with Alex one-by-one. The laoshi helps me to improve my speaking skills and recommend me nice places to go. Thanks for good memory a had a very happy time in Chengdu, hope to come back one day x Also thanks to laoshi Pan Pan for good exchange of interesting music and fun time

LTL Language School responded to this reviewOctober 02, 2026

2 weeks just goes by too fast! Thanks for your lovely words Daria :) It was a pleasure to have you. LTL Team

My one-month HSK 2 Mandarin course at Silk Mandarin in Suzhou was an exceptional and highly efficient professional experience. The intensive curriculum seamlessly integrated advanced grammar structures with practical vocabulary. Utilizing their innovative "Slow Motion" teaching methodology, the instructors made complex linguistic concepts remarkably accessible, significantly accelerating my conversational proficiency and confidence. The faculty demonstrated a high level of expertise, and the small class size ensured tailored guidance. Additionally, Suzhou provided an ideal immersive environment to apply my skills daily within a professional context. I highly recommend Silk Mandarin for anyone seeking targeted, high-quality language training.

I studied Mandarin in LTL Chengdu for around 2 months starting with no prior knowledge of the language. But after my time here studying with Guo Xin Yue in one-on-one lessons, I have built a strong foundation in the language and can now communicate with other Chinese people and experience rapid progress in continuing to learn the language. Another aspect of LTL that I enjoyed was that there was a good balance between studying and also exploring and learning about the area, with people like Ying laoshi, Ilaria, Giulia, and others being responsible. I would recommend LTL for anyone who is interested in learning and immersing themselves in the language.

LTL Language School responded to this reviewOctober 01, 2026

We are thrilled Ying, Ilaria and Giulia helped make the experience so well-rounded too. Thanks so much for taking the time and keep up the great work studying Chinese! LTL Team

I had a great experience learning Chinese with Lily in Beijing. She is a very kind, patient, and professional teacher who always makes me feel comfortable and motivated during our lessons. Her explanations are clear and easy to understand, and she always takes the time to make sure I understand new grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation. I really appreciate how she adapts the lessons to my level and encourages me to speak Chinese as much as possible. Thanks to Lily, I feel much more confident when speaking Chinese and I have noticed a real improvement in my communication skills. Her lessons are interesting, engaging, and enjoyable, and I always look forward to the next one. I would definitely recommend Lily to anyone who wants to learn Chinese in Beijing, whether they are a beginner or already have some experience. She is an excellent teacher and I am very happy to have learned Chinese with her! Also wonderful arrangement of immersive school trips, which turn textbook knowledge into vivid real-life experience. On one warm afternoon, our guide organized the school trip to a local old Beijing alley near our learning site. Instead of staying in the classroom, she guided us to walk through the quiet hutongs, communicate with elderly local residents and practice the daily phrases we had learned in class. She carefully prompted us to greet passers-by, ask for directions and talk about daily trivialities, helping us apply our Chinese skills in authentic scenarios. This outdoor study trip was far more impressive than regular classroom learning. It allowed me to feel the charm of spoken Chinese in real interactions and understand the simple, warm daily culture of local Beijingers. I felt that my on-site expressions, colloquial slangs and polite usage that never appear in textbooks, and helped me overcome my nervousness of talking to strangers. Every conversation practice felt fresh and meaningful. This special school trip gave me a precious immersive learning experience and greatly boosted my oral fluency. Thanks to their creative teaching methods, I no longer learn Chinese mechanically. I can truly use it to observe life, communicate with others and feel local culture. Her dedication to combining classroom teaching with outdoor practice makes every learning session worthwhile. I am extremely grateful for their thoughtful guidance and highly recommend her to every Chinese learner! It was a very interesting school trip in this journey to Beijing!

LTL Language School responded to this reviewOctober 01, 2026

Chatting with elderly hutong residents and asking locals for directions in Chinese is real immersion right there! We are thrilled Lily made every lesson so worthwhile both inside and outside the classroom. Thanks so much for taking the time and keep up the great work studying Chinese! LTL Team

I really liked the teacher and the way the subject was explained. I learned a lot of new words and, at the same time, really enjoyed spending time with my friends. I visited many new places and know that this is a great opportunity. I spoke Chinese with people who didn't speak English, and despite the difficulties, we did our best and managed to understand each other in the end. The other challenge was getting used to the food, which was very different from ours, but over time we managed to adjust. I recommend this experience and think it can be truly beneficial.

LTL Language School responded to this reviewOctober 01, 2026

So pleased to hear you had a lovely tme with us, Maddalena. You overcame the challenges expertly and we hope to see you back in China some day! Best wishes, LTL Team

I thoroughly recommend LTL Beijing. The school is very well run, friendly and professional. My teacher, Lilia 老师, was absolutely brilliant: enthusiastic, patient and extremely knowledgeable. If I get the chance I'm definitely going back.

LTL Language School responded to this reviewOctober 01, 2026

So glad you had a great time in Beijing, Seb :) Thanks for leaving a great review and come back some day! LTL Team

i am italian and the time passed in this school was good, all because i had a teacher like Snow Laoshi, she is very good. i am italian and the time passed in this school was good, all because i had a teacher like Snow Laoshi, she is very good.

LTL Language School responded to this reviewOctober 01, 2026

Snow Laoshi will be so happy to read this! We are glad she made your time at LTL so enjoyable. Thanks so much for taking the time and keep up the great work studying Chinese! LTL Team

we spent about 10 days with Snow, it was a great learning experience, she taught us many things in a way which made learning easy and fun! reall apprecated of the experience in beijing and wish to come to china again!

LTL Language School responded to this reviewOctober 01, 2026

Thanks for your kind words Mattia! It's a pleasure to hear you had a great time with Snow 老师 for the two weeks in Beijing. Hope to see you back again some day. LTL Team

The lessons were right for my level of cinese and i enjoyed studing with my teacher. Remember to learn english before coming in China, and take the opportunity to go visit many turistic attraction. ..................................

LTL Language School responded to this reviewOctober 01, 2026

Giovanni! We are glad the lessons were the right fit and we hope to see you back at LTL again soon. LTL Team

I attended the language school for one week in May, and looking back, it was much more than just a language course – it was a really great experience. Even before arriving in China, I felt very well prepared and supported by the school. They provided me with lots of useful information and helpful tips for my trip and stay, and there was always someone available via WeChat whenever I had questions. Everything was very well organized from the beginning. I chose to stay with a local host family, which turned out to be one of the highlights of my stay. My host family was incredibly welcoming, warm and helpful, and they really made me feel at home from the first day. My classes consisted of a small group session with around 5–6 students, followed by 2–3 hours of private lessons. I really enjoyed both formats and learned a lot, even though I was only there for a week. I especially liked the combination of learning together in a group and then having more intensive one-on-one lessons. The experience outside the classroom was great as well. The group activities were well organized, everyone was very friendly, and newcomers were immediately welcomed and included. It was very easy to meet people and feel part of the group. My only regret is that I stayed for just one week! 😄 I honestly would have loved to stay longer. Overall, it was a wonderful experience and a great combination of learning Chinese, experiencing everyday life in China, and meeting new people. I would definitely do it again – next time, I would just stay much longer!

LTL Language School responded to this reviewSeptember 30, 2026

Longer next time, Cenk! 1 week just flies by but it was still such a pleasure to have you with us, even just for a short time. We're delighted to have left such a strong impression on you and we're excited to do it all over again. LTL Team

I just wrapped up three weeks studying Mandarin at LTL Beijing, and wanted to share my experience, especially since between the homestay and my teacher, it ended up being way better than I expected going in. I did the homestay option, which I'd recommend without hesitation. My host family was genuinely amazing — the food was great every single day, and beyond that, we'd end up having long conversations in the evenings that I really looked forward to. What made it work was that they were good about adjusting how they spoke so I could actually follow along, rather than just talking at normal speed and leaving me lost. That probably did more for my listening and confidence than anything else during the trip. Classes with my teacher, Summer, were the other big highlight. She was just really nice, and the classes were joyful and funny, and full of chances to actually speak rather than just sit and listen. Time genuinely flew by in class, and by the end I'd made amazing progress, way more than I expected in just three weeks. On top of that, everyone at the school was just really nice, which made the whole experience feel welcoming rather than intimidating. If you're weighing whether to study Mandarin in Beijing, I'd genuinely recommend LTL.

LTL Language School responded to this reviewSeptember 30, 2026

We're so happy you had a blast with us, Bennet :) It was a pleasure to host you in Beijing and we loved the progress you made. Time really does fly when we're workign together!! Come back some day. LTL Team

Today I finished my 4 week study program in Kunming and i must say it really exceeded my expectations! The city itself is very relaxed, the temperature is comfortable and the scenery here is stunning. Aside from that the LTL staff as well as Host family I have stayed with made a positive impression on me and I am really satisfied. My 1 on 1 teacher 董老师 proved herself to be very competent. I had achieved my set language level easily within the time frame. She seemed to always know what I my strengths and weaknesses are and created a personalized learning program for me. I‘d also like to thank Savannah and Alex K. for taking care of me and my wellbeing throughout my stay in Kunming!! It was really refreshing to get to know the Kunming LTL staff. I would totally recommend this program for anyone who is interested in learning chinese, good food and a wonderful city! 10/10 experience!!

LTL Language School responded to this reviewSeptember 28, 2026

Was so fun to have you learn Chinese in Kunming with us, Colin :) It was great to see your progression in your time with us. 10/10 for us too!! Let's do it again some time. LTL Team

I've been having a great experience at the Suzhou school! The staff are very helpful and encouraging, particularly my teacher Sisi who is always friendly and patient, listening carefully and helping me with my spoken Chinese. I recommend this school to anyone wanting to learn mandarin ☺️

Ive been learning with Lily from LTL for the past 3 weeks and my Chinese has come on so far since the first lesson. Aside from language lessons, Lily also organised trips outside to sightsee which have been fun and informative and improved both my language skills and knowledge of Chinese history. I’m really glad I chose to do this course, I don’t think many other courses could’ve improved my Mandarin this fast.

LTL Language School responded to this reviewSeptember 23, 2026

So glad to read your review and kind words, Jessica :) We're delighted you've had a great time with us and we hope you keep improving! LTL Team

I spent three weeks in Chengdu and had such a good experience. Starting with the pre-arrival call with Ying 老师， everyone was super friendly and helped whenever they could: my suitcase was lost by the airplane and Ying as well as my teacher Panpan helped getting it back. Also, the team helped me book tennis lessons and had a lot of tips for exploring Sichuan (thank you @Ying @Panpan @Guilia @Ilaria). Regarding the lessons: I had group lessons with Panpan, the class was very small (3 to 5 students) and Panpan is an amazing teacher (and great dancer and cat mom:)) and so much fun! Not only did I learn a lot, we also had such a good time in- and outside of class. Shoutout to Alex and Stiles as well :)

LTL Language School responded to this reviewSeptember 23, 2026

Tennis lessons, a lost suitcase rescue and Panpan's dancing, quite the three weeks! We are thrilled Ying, Panpan, Giulia, Ilaria, Alex and Stiles all played their part. Thanks so much for taking the time and keep up the great work studying Chinese! LTL Team

I went to Beijing with my classmates from school — all of us Italian, so we were in the same boat. I want to write about my experience because I read other reviews before going and they helped me a lot. So maybe this can help someone else too. I won't lie, the start was hard. The flight was long and the time change really hit me. For the first day or two I was just tired and confused, and I did not feel like doing anything. But after that, things got much better and I started to enjoy everything. I think this is normal when you travel so far. The classes were in the morning. I have to say, I did not expect to like them so much. Our teacher was really funny and she never made us feel stupid for making mistakes. She would explain words by acting them out, so sometimes she was running around the classroom or making faces, and we were all laughing. We played games too, like one where you describe a word and others guess it. My friend tried to describe "panda" by pointing at herself and looking sad. Everyone was laughing so hard that the teacher had to wait for us to stop. Because the mood was so relaxed, I was not afraid to speak, even when my Chinese was wrong. That is a big thing for me, because at school at home I usually stay quiet and never put my hand up. Here I actually wanted to answer. I still mix up the tones and I know I say many things in a strange way, but it did not matter. Nobody was judging. That feeling is hard to explain, but it made me want to learn more. The afternoons were for activities. We went to markets and saw a tea ceremony, which was more interesting than I expected. We also tried calligraphy, and I learned that I hold a brush very badly. The teacher i sthere was patient with me, which I appreciated. We walked a lot, so my legs were always tired, but in a good way. I liked that every day was different and we were never bored. About the food: it was different, but good. Some dishes I loved and some I didn't finish. That's normal, I think. I'm Italian, so I have strong opinions about food, and even I found things I liked. Things I did not love: the metro at rush hour is really crowded, and sometimes it was too loud and too much for me. By the end, being with the same group all the time was a bit much, and I needed some time alone. But I think that happens to everyone on a trip like this. What I will remember most is the small moments. One night a few of us sat outside and talked until late. One morning I walked alone before class and just watched the city wake up. Those are the things I will keep. So, my opinion: I'm happy I went. It was not a perfect holiday, but it was a real experience, and I think that is better. If you are thinking about it, I would say yes. Go.

LTL Language School responded to this reviewSeptember 23, 2026

We are so glad the relaxed atmosphere helped you find your voice and want to answer, even when the tones were not quite right. Thanks so much for sharing your story and we hope Beijing stays with you for a long time. Also great picture!! LTL Team

Two weeks. Fourteen days in a city I never see before, with people I never meet before, in a language I don't really understand. And now I think... wow. This was one of the best things in my life. I am 16, from Italy, and this is my little story about Beijing with LTL. Before I go, I was a little nervous. Two weeks is long time, and China is so far from everything I know. My friends say, "Why China? Why not the beach?" But I want something special, something vera — real! And now I can say: brava, me! It was the right choice. The first thing that surprise me about Beijing is... it is HUGE! Mamma mia, really really big! The roads are so wide, the buildings go up and up, and there are people everywhere. It's loud, it's busy, full of energy. Sometimes it was too much and I need a quiet moment still love it But most of the time I love it. I love to walk around and just watch the life. And Beijing is beautiful too. Not like Italy — we have old churches, small streets, the sea, il sole. Beijing is beautiful in a different way. It mixes everything: old temples next to glass towers, tiny shops next to big malls, bicycles next to cars. I really like this. Bellissimo. The LTL school is in the centre of Beijing, very close to the subway. I love this because after class we can go everywhere so easy. And the school organise so many activities for us! In the afternoon we do things together — we go walking in the hutong. we visit the Temple of Heaven , we see the 798 Art District. Amazing Great Wall! One time we even do tai chi and caligrapgy, very traditional. Every day is different, sempre qualcosa di nuovo. And the food! The school give us different food every day for lunch, and I really appreciate this because in Italy we are very very serious about food, so I was a little worried. But it was fun to try new things every day. Some dishes I love, some I don't understand at all, but I always try. This is part of travel, no? Of course, I miss Italy. I miss my mamma's cooking, my bed, my friends, and just speaking Italian without thinking. There are days when I feel a little sad. Ma passa presto — it passes quickly, because there is always something new or someone new to talk to. What I remember most are the people. I meet students from many countries, and we become like a little family. We laugh, we get lost together, we help each other. I also learn that I am stronger than I think. I can be far from home. Che bello! Two weeks go by so fast. I come back to Italy with a full heart, a lot of photos, and a lot of new words. If you think about this program — go! Non pensare troppo. Just go. You will come back different.

LTL Language School responded to this reviewSeptember 23, 2026

Coming back to Italy with a full heart, new words and the confidence to know you are stronger than you think - at 16, that is pretty special. Thanks so much for sharing your story and we hope Beijing pulls you back one day. Non pensare troppo! LTL Team