LTL Semester

During my stay at LTL I participated in the Chinese Semester Program, which is 18-weeks of intense Chinese language study. In my opinion, this program is fantastic for absolute beginners and those with a minimal knowledge of Chinese. Each day of studying Chinese is satisfying and rewarding because the results are tangible once you are outside of the classroom. The teachers are fantastic and classes are always interesting and fun. The first time you understand someone speaking Mandarin to you is a glorious moment!

Alana In The Forbidden City

Small group class is great because of the engaging and fun atmosphere it provides. Each day you have the same classmates, and sometimes new ones who only stay for a short time. This creates a fun dynamic, and in my class we were laughing every day. Studying Chinese can be difficult and frustrating, and some days you think your brain is exploding with information. Being able to have fun in class is a true blessing.

By the end of the semester we were regularly using inside jokes (in Mandarin) to describe certain situations. On a more studious note, often a classmate will ask a question that you wouldn’t have ever thought of, which is one of the main reasons I found group classes so valuable.

Alana With Friends

Out of the classroom, the semester program is great if you are also new to China itself! Having never visited China – let alone Asia –  I found it a real struggle to assimilate into the culture, society, and day-to-day life of the Chinese people.

Unusual circumstances, and problems are always bound to pop up in the chaotic city of Beijing (it’s what makes it so memorable).

Sometimes things became too overwhelming, and I often wondered how I could keep going, but having the time and the support from the friends I made at LTL is what made my experiences all worthwhile.

– Alana

First of all, it’s important to make sure you know, that this is not my first experience in a language school in China, and not the second either. Both were absolutely horrible. I don’t even know what they were thinking. Letting a thirteen-year-old kid study without them giving me any sort of structure to my learning. It was more like a joke. It really wasn’t what I hoped it would be…

Enjoying local Chinese food

Something absolutely different happened this time around though. When I first came to LTL, three days before the official beginning of my lessons, I saw a modern, beautiful and a bright language school.

I didn’t know anyone at that time, and still, when I came there, students and teachers all started saying hello to me and being so nice. That relieved me so much, as I was so nervous about everything new.

When my lessons started, things got a little more tough as I haven’t got used to the speed of the lessons and didn’t know what anyone was saying to me in Chinese. I was a bit lost. After three days of literally being a nervous wreck, I made a decision. A decision that scared me even more, but was the best for studying here for four months. Changing my group.

Tereza on the Great Wall of China

I told the director of studies, Angela, the next day, that I don’t feel good and want to change. The only thing she said was: “Okay. No problem, I will give you new book in the afternoon. Your new group has already started at nine, come, I will lead you to the classroom.”

And that was it. Easier than I thought it would be. And still so important. Everybody was totally fine with me coming into their group.

So here I am. After two months of doing something I love, in a place I love even more.

My name is Vera and I came to LTL from Russia. I attended LTL School for about four months and I studied the LTL Semester Program.

Vera and Alana enjoying a day out with Teachers Lucy and Felix

In a very short time at LTL my Chinese grew incredibly, beyond levels that I did not expect. When starting school at LTL I had zero knowledge of Chinese, and also with a very low level of English (although I knew that the classes be in English). This added to the challenge for me and I feel actually helped my Mandarin improve uicker because I did not have the temptation to speak in English, because I couldn’t. It was this and the situation in the school helped me even faster to speed up my training.

My favourite thing about LTL school, in my opinion – is the informal atmosphere in class and school. The teachers really became my friends. I studied with Lucy and Felix and we would do things together outside of class which included ice skating and going for dinner. My teachers and my classmates became real friends and made my time at LTL a pleasure.