AMERICAN STUDENTS IN CHINA – TIPS FROM A FORMER US STUDENT
Contents
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:
- Read the student handbook
- Make sure your visa is in order
- Have enough funds to cover additional travel and shopping
- Know that many of the Chinese banks (Bank of China) will accept foreign ATM cards with a small additional fee
- 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.
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OVER 7000+ STUDENTS
HAVE STUDIED AT KEATS
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.
I think Keats is one of the best language schools I have ever been to. My teacher is such an amazing person. She is so good at teaching. She makes classes fun. I have learned a lot of vocabulary during my time here. I would really recommend coming to learn Mandarin Chinese at Keats School.
This is my second time coming. Last year, I also came for about 12 weeks. This time I came for 13 weeks of a summer program in China. The reason why I particularly want to come to this school was because of the one-on-one classes. I was able to increase my level and learn Chinese more quickly than in group classes. If I have a chance again to come next year, I certainly will.
I come to Kunming because I think the environment in Kunming is better and I heard that Keats School is better. I like the small group Chinese class because my classmates study hard and our teachers are very good. I like the teaching method of Keats because I like the activities at Keats. I think Yunnan is a particularly beautiful Chinese province.
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.
I’ve had a really great time here. I’ve studied a lot with my teacher who was fantastic. Keats School tried very hard to match its students with really good teachers that their personality works very well together. I really enjoy studying Chinese at Keats and I will definitely come back.
I can’t tell you how much I liked it. The thing I liked about the teachers and the teaching method is that there is so much flexibility. The other thing I liked about the teaching is the combination of classic textbook learning and going outside. I loved it! I like getting to know other students. Everybody shared the same goal and that’s making their Chinese better. Kunming is a big city, but it is very safe to live here. Another thing I liked about Keats is the idea that people here help you. I can’t recommend it enough. I think it was a valuable experience. Looking forward to coming back!
It is very comfortable studying at Keats. The teachers are very friendly. I welcome you to come to study Chinese in China at Keats.