help bg

Keats Blog

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

HOW TO GET YOUR EMPLOYER TO PAY FOR MANDARIN LANGUAGE SCHOOL

Traveling abroad to study Mandarin can be an expensive commitment. But, what if we told you that many employers help pay for the Mandarin course offered at Keats School?

While there’s no magic recipe for your bosses to agree to fund your tuition tab, taking into account these five steps will put the odds in your favour.

DECIDE WHETHER TO ASK


While you may want your company to fund your studies, you need to make sure it makes sense to ask. Since you’re looking to study Mandarin at Keats, consider how Mandarin would benefit your work.

But, if you were debating studying something that had zero on-the-job applicability, it’s probably not the smartest to seek employer funding.

FIND OUT WHAT YOUR EMPLOYER OFFERS

Many larger companies already offer education-funding programs. Before you go and ask them to pay for your trip, be sure you know what’s already in the books and get all the details.

If you’re not sure where to start, contact the HR department or look on your company intranet.

Some companies will set caps or limitations, such as a fixed dollar amount per employee, course, or department. Amounts may fluctuate depending on seniority and education level.

If your workplace doesn’t have a program in place, you’re free to propose terms of your own.

PREPARE AND NEGOTIATE


This is one of the biggest tasks and the one that will take the longest. Put yourself in your manager’s shoes. If an employee came to you and asked for time off work to study and for the company to fund it, what would you want to be given?

We suggest you prepare a document explaining why you’re requesting the time off work, where you’re hoping to study, the cost, and how it will benefit the company.

In addition to the proposal, put together a clear, organized presentation to show your manager. This presentation will contain some of the same information as your proposal but with visuals as well. This will give your manager an understanding of why you want the company to pay for Mandarin schooling and how it will benefit the company.

Align your education goals with corporate objectives, and show direct, specific benefits. Some examples are better performance, sharing information and Mandarin lessons with other employees, communicating with Mandarin clients, and easy travel ability to Mandarin-speaking cities and countries.

If you feel comfortable, make a deal with your boss or HR department. If education is paid for, you can negotiate reimbursement levels, travel time, or stay with the company for a set number of years.

IF THE ANSWER IS YES

If your employer signs off on the proposal you offered, this is when your work starts.

You must determine exactly how funding will work, how much your employer will pay, and what academic standards you’re going to have to meet. Are they looking for you to gain full fluency in Mandarin while away studying?

Make sure to get an agreement signed on paper and have any questions and answers written down. Questions could include:

  • What happens if you quit work?
  • What happens if you’re sick?
  • What happens if your academic standard isn’t what was required?
  • What time does any obligation to remain with your employer beings and end?

IF THE ANSWER IS NO

Find out why your employer didn’t agree to fund your language education. If your company cannot pay for your course because of the fee, suggest the course could be instead of another benefit, such as a promised raise.

Consider compromising. The timeframe may not have worked best with the company, which means you could request another length of time and travel departure date.

If you still receive a no, you may have to move on from it for now. Take advantage of your annual performance and bring up the possibility of studying abroad to learn Mandarin again.

APPLICATION AND FLIGHTS


Let’s say you’ve been approved and your employer is going to pay for your Mandarin lessons. Now it’s time to apply online to Keats School and pick your preferred language course. We have 8 different Chinese language courses, and each one has a customized start date and language study plan.

To get started, visit our website to apply.

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

Joep

Joep | Netherlands

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

I have been to Keats School to learn Chinese for 4 times now. The reason for coming back to this school is pretty much that the teachers I did work with were very good Chinese teachers. I make it a 5-year plan or even a 10-year plan to come back to this school.  All the teachers have methods of looking at what your skills are. They are aware of at what level you are. I think it is worth for everyone.

Aliza

Aliza | USA

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

I found Keats School and I am so glad that I did. When you learn Chinese in China at Keats, you are fully being taken care of. My teacher is really great and we become lovely friends.

Sarah

Sarah | USA

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

My name is Sarah Fish. I am 81. I knew very little Chinese when I arrived. How was I going to survive 2 weeks of intensive Chinese course? I have to laugh when I think of that now. What a positive experience this has been! I really wish we could be here a little longer. The teachers are extremely encouraging, evaluating first how much someone knows, and then starting from there.

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.

Liam

Liam | UK

HSK Test Preparation Course

Last year I started studying Chinese at University. The reason that I came here is that currently, I’m preparing for the HSK 5 test. Also, I heard that this is one of the best schools to study Mandarin in China. After I came here I realized that Kunming is a pretty cool city to live in and with regards to the teachers’ teaching methods, I think they’re very professional. And I think the language environment is good so now I’m ready to take the HSK 5.

Claudia

Claudia | Australia

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

I’ve been at Keats school and Kunming now for one month doing the one-on-one Chinese lessons with two different teachers. I really enjoy it. Both of my teachers are very friendly and patient. They really helped me to improve my Chinese, both of my reading and speaking. I really enjoy studying Chinese in Kunming as well. This city is really beautiful and the weather is nice, the air is clean. It’s one of the best cities in China to study Chinese.

Josephine

Josephine | Indonesia

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

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.

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.

Please use vertical scrolling on your mobile device.