help bg

Keats Blog

Keats Blog offers great information about Chinese language learning, Chinese culture, Mandarin Chinese, and information about China.
Go Back

AMERICAN STUDENTS IN CHINA – TIPS FROM A FORMER US STUDENT

Many Americans visit the Keats School website searching for information about American students studying in China.

It’s a big decision moving to China from the US to study Mandarin at a Mandarin language school. There’s a lot of questions that need to be answered before applying to your preferred course, that’s why we’ve reached out to a previous American student named Fred.

Fred is from New Jersey and studied at Keats in 2016 for three weeks. Then in 2017, he studied at Keats for another 3 weeks.

Here’s what an American student learned while studying Mandarin at Keats School in China.

EXPERIENCE AT KEATS


Before applying to Keats in 2016, Fred had traveled to China many times and was interested in the culture and country. He knew enough Chinese to be able to get around but wanted to dive deeper into the language. He knew it was time to study the language.

Like many American students wanting to study in China, Fred took to the internet to learn more about formal classes offered in China. While browsing, he saw an advertisement for “Mandarin Day” and found himself on the Keats School website. Fred was impressed with the information provided by Keats and liked the one-on-one Mandarin instruction and the room and board features offered at Keats.

He signed up for three weeks of intensive-one-on-one Mandarin, where he was in the classroom for four hours a day.

In 2017, he decided to return to Keats School like 40% of our students do. This year Fred took two weeks of intensive one-on-one Mandarin lessons for four hours a day and then one week of Study + Tour China lessons.

“My experience at Keats was extremely positive. I was picked up at the airport and shown to my dorm room. The teacher assigned to me was very competent and dedicated. She was able to tailor the lessons to my level and needs. I think Keats is more than just a “school.” To me it’s an international community where you can meet and make friends with people of all ages and from all countries and cultures bound by a common interest in Chinese culture and language,” shares Fred about his experience abroad.

WHY PICK KUNMING & KEATS?


There are many different ways to learn Mandarin. In our last blog post, we talked about how the best way to learn Mandarin is by moving to China from the US (or your home country), living in a Chinese city, and attending a Mandarin language school.

Fred picked Kunming as his city to learn Mandarin in because of the research he found on Keats School.

“Keats and Kunming are very comfortable places to live and study. I chose Keats because of the flexibility of classes and the convenience and price of the accommodations.” – Fred

WHAT DID YOU LIKE ABOUT THE CLASSES?


As a potential student of Keats, you probably want the down-low on how good the classes are. You know that in the intensive one-on-one, our most popular course, you can study for four hours a day or six hours a day.

But, what do American students in China really think of our classes?

We asked Fred what he would change about the Keats learning experience if he would ever return for the third time. “I think that since the classes are tailored to the student’s individual needs, there is little reason for a systematic change.”

TIPS FOR FUTURE AMERICAN STUDENTS IN CHINA

One of the best things about interviewing Fred about his experience at Keats is giving future American students hoping to study in China tips.

So, here are Fred’s tips:

  1. Read the student handbook
  2. Make sure your visa is in order
  3. Have enough funds to cover additional travel and shopping
  4. Know that many of the Chinese banks (Bank of China) will accept foreign ATM cards with a small additional fee
  5. Explore the local area restaurants and shops in Kunming on the weekends

APPLY TO KEATS SCHOOL


If you’re an American student who wants to study in China, Keats School is for you. We have a start time schedule, and our teachers will help you reach your Mandarin language goals.

In addition to everything Fred has said in this article, he also mentioned that the cost of living in China is less than in America.

Related Articles

Which Chinese Language Program
is right for you?

PROGRAMS

Rients's Story at Keats Kunming, My Second Hometown

OVER 7300+ STUDENTS HAVE STUDIED AT KEATS

Ramji

Ramji | USA

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

The best part of the school is the patience the instructors had and the time to focus on the fundamentals like pronunciation. I think it is very easy to skip over those and go to vocabulary. But by learning the pronunciation, I feel like it helped me gain a better understanding of the language.

Kim

Kim | UK

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

I’ve had an amazing time at Keats. I am amazed at how much I’ve learned over the last 3 weeks and I will be really sad to go. We are already planning on our next trip of coming back because we had such a fantastic time here. They really tailor the Chinese language course to you and your individual needs.

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.

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.

 

Viktor

Viktor | Switzerland

Small Group Chinese Class

My school is amazing. I recommend Keats School because it is a more convenient way to learn Chinese in Kunming.

Shihori

Shihori | Japan

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

In the one-to-one intensive Chinese course, you can choose the learning method you like. The small group Chinese class in China at Keats follows the HSK textbook. Teachers often collect feedback from the students, teachers listen to our requirements and opinions. I felt that my oral level is better than before .

Amauri

Amauri | USA

Small Group Chinese Class

The teachers at Keats know how to read the students and how to help students learn Chinese language easily. They know the level of the students. I am a slow learner, but they managed to adapt to my learning. They made the class very fun, very exciting. I am pleased that not only I got to learn the culture and the language, but I also got to make amazing friends, really unbelievable, Chinese friends and European friends, American friends, from all over the world.

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.

Please use vertical scrolling on your mobile device.