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4 BENEFITS OF COLLABORATIVE, SMALL GROUP LEARNING

Have you heard that studying in small groups is the way to go when learning a new language? Well, if you haven’t, we’re telling you that is is.

For the past several years, there is a theme of overcrowding in schools. For many classrooms, there are 30-40 students crammed into a room. Then when those students head to university, they’re one of the many hundred in the lecture hall.

This type of learning isn’t the most beneficial for many people. Instead of being merely a number, learning in small groups allows students to be an actual pupil.
We’ve taken that approach at Keats School in Kunming, China. We offer intensive one-on-one Chinese programs for students who wish to work with a teacher privately and offer small group learning. Our small group has no more than 15 students in one room with one teacher.

This allows the teacher to get to know each student and their study needs. Our small group Chinese class is four hours long from Monday to Friday for 16 weeks.

If you’re not convinced yet that small group learning is the future, here are four benefits of small classes.

FLEXIBLE LEARNING


One advantage of learning in a small group is that it can offer a more flexible learning curriculum. When the teacher has the ability to get to know each of their students personally, study patterns are formed.

The teacher will be able to develop and teach in a way that will work for their students. In addition to that, if one student doesn’t understand or is struggling with a concept, it will be easier to monitor and help that student. Not only can the teacher help, but another student in the class might be able to offer help too.

INSPIRES CONFIDENCE


We all know that inside classrooms, low self-confidence can form. It can be intimidating to raise your hand in class to ask questions or have the teacher repeat the phrase. You may think that your question is stupid, and the idea of speaking up is daunting. If you think that way, your confidence in class will lower.

It’s easier to be brave in a smaller setting, trust us. In smaller groups, an informal atmosphere can be formed, making students feel comfortable joining conversations. Not only that, but students tend to encourage each other when it’s a smaller, more intimate setting.

FEEDBACK IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE


Getting feedback may be an issue if you’re in a large lecture hall with 100+ other students. We all want feedback, especially when learning a new language. In a small group setting, feedback on work can go beyond an A+ or a red X. Teachers have the ability and the resources to spend extra time on learning materials and feedback.

You’re also more likely to receive instant feedback on pronunciation and classwork in a smaller setting.

BUILD TEAM WORKING SKILLS


The more intimate environment of a small learning group, the more team-building skills. While students may sink into the background or get distracted in a large group, small, tight-knit group learning results differently.

People have the ability and desire to work with each other and work towards the same problem or project. Collaboration and discussions are great when learning a new language.

Teachers are also much more likely to deviate from a rigid plan and allow students to work at their own pace and develop group learning strategies.

KEATS OFFERS THIS AND MORE

At Keats School in Kunming, China, we believe small classes are the way of the future. Every year hundreds of students fly to Kunming to study Mandarin at our school. We specialize in small classrooms full of educated and professional teachers.

To learn more about our small group classes, contact us today.

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PROGRAMS

Rients's Story at Keats Kunming, My Second Hometown

OVER 7300+ STUDENTS HAVE STUDIED AT KEATS

Sarah

Sarah | Dubai

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

My teachers are all excellent. They trained the teachers so professionally. I feel like I learn very quickly with my teacher. They are very serious about their students and I know every teacher is like this. I would highly recommend that you come to Keats if you are looking for the best Chinese school in China.

Ida

Ida | Italy

Small Group Chinese Class

I have studied at Keats for 2 semesters. I highly recommend Keats School. If you are very interested in taking a Mandarin course in China, I would suggest you come to Kunming. Kunming people are very friendly. The weather in Kunming is great. So I recommend that you study Chinese at Keats in Kunming.

Steve

Steve | UK

Small Group Chinese Class

I really enjoy coming here because it is like kind of a home for me. It is a great environment to learn Mandarin Chinese in China and meet great people from all over the world. Everyone here is extremely friendly. Kunming has a really nice climate. It is a very good mix of the modern city and also a lot of historic Chinese culture. Probably got the cleanest air in China and possibly the cleanest water too. I invite you to come to study Chinese in Kunming.

Mike

Mike | Australia

Small Group Chinese Class

I think Kunming is a great city, the weather is really good. I really like Keats school and found it is very organized. The teachers here are very good. They have a coffee shop and new classrooms, a new lounge area here now, so you can chill out with your friends and practice your spoken Chinese with natives. If you’re considering coming to Keats to study, I would really recommend it. It’s the best place to learn Mandarin and I think it will be a great experience for you.

 

SJOERD

SJOERD | Netherlands

Small Group Chinese Class

We use a lot of games to learn grammar and new words. We have really good teachers, really patient. She helps us a lot. Our class is really nice and we have people from all over the world, different countries. We often discuss topics in Chinese in our class. I live in the dorm of Keats. It is very convenient. I don’t have to spend time traveling. You can just focus on learning Chinese.

Martine

Martine | France

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

I really enjoy this place because we have private Mandarin lessons. I took the 6-hour program, 4 hours in the morning, 2 in the afternoon. Even though it is quite a lot, the teaching is complimentary. This is very helpful because I could review what I did before and learn new things. My 2 teachers are fantastic. We live in the school, so it is convenient. It is interesting to me to meet people from all over the world.

Matteo

Matteo | Italy

Small Group Chinese Class

I really enjoy studying Chinese in Kunming at Keats. The teachers are great and my classmates are awesome. It is an unforgettable experience for me. I also got the chance to travel to other places in Yunnan. Those places are amazing and you definitely need to visit these places when you study Chinese in China at Keats.

Judith

Judith | USA

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

Listening and speaking in the classroom every day has improved my communication skills. After three weeks, my new words and sentences became more and more natural and fluent. Now I am used to thinking in Chinese, and I understand better what other people say, to be able to have real conversations with other people.

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