Gap Year in China

Gap Year in China

Experience China in unique fashion with our Gap Year in China Programs. We have a number of excellent study abroad programs aiming to provide you with the experience of a lifetime.

Allow LTL to help you become fluent in Mandarin with our Full Immersion Gap Year program or you can even build your own China Gap Year if you wish for added flexibility. At the same time you have the chance to make friends for life whilst you are learning Chinese.

In total we have four China Gap Year programs, each providing a different and unique experience. No matter which program you decide on, you will experience China’s rich history as you study Mandarin in some of China’s finest locations.

Gap Year in China

Become fluent in Mandarin
Experience a Gap Year in China
Full Immersion to speed up learning
Make friends worldwide
Discover China’s incredible history
Study abroad in a comfortable environment
Round the clock support from LTL

China Gap Year Programs

Our China Gap year programs offer a wealth of fascinating immersion and cultural experiences. Each one provides something different. The four programs are listed below:

Full Immersion Gap Year

Experience and study the Chinese Language in the most exciting way imaginable. The China Gap Year in Beijing provides a unique experience which includes the first half of your adventure in Beijing followed by a trip to Chengde where your Chinese Language ability will increase hugely.

Beijing will kick start your Chinese adventure as you delve into the historic setting that is China’s Capital City. After experiencing one of the world’s biggest and most bustling cities you will then head north to Chengde which is a world apart from Beijing. No foreign contact, no English language used, everything will be in Chinese. This is full immersion and this is how your Chinese will rocket to the next level.

Gap Year in China – Starting Dates

Our courses are all flexible so if you wish to discuss the length of your program just contact us and we’ll gladly assist. Here are the prices and starting dates for the popular three month and six month full immersion courses in China. Bare in mind the starting dates are for complete beginners. Anyone with some Mandarin knowledge can start any Monday.

November 20, 2017
December 11, 2017
January 8, 2018
January 29, 2018
February 26, 2018
March 19, 2018
April 9, 2018
April 30, 2018
May 21, 2018

April 9, 2018
April 30, 2018
May 21, 2018
June 11, 2018
July 2, 2018
July 16, 2018
July 30, 2018
August 13, 2018
August 27, 2018

July 16, 2018
July 30, 2018
August 13, 2018
August 27, 2018
September 17, 2018
October 8, 2018
October 29, 2018
November 19, 2018
December 10, 2018

Full Immersion Program Prices

Total Duration	Beijing	Chengde	Price in CNY
3 months Immersion	6 weeks small group class	6 weeks 1-on-1 class	32,377
6 months Immersion	12 weeks small group class	12 weeks 1-on-1 class	61,453

Prices includes return train ticket from Beijing to Chengde. You will also receive Beijing and Chengde survival kit including SIM card, maps, rental bike, bank account and much more.

Accommodation Prices

Total Duration	Beijing	Chengde	Price in CNY
3 months	6 wk shared apartment	6 wk homestay	18,368
3 months	6 wk homestay	6 wk homestay	25,648
6 months	12 wk shared apartment	12 wk homestay	33,739
6 months	12 wk homestay	12 wk homestay	45,302

All homestays include Breakfast and Dinner. Options for vegetarians, vegans and those with special dietary requirements can be provided.

In terms of accommodation, for complete immersion we do recommend the homestays. The ability to use your Mandarin with a family everyday will enhance your experience further. In Chengde you will stay at a homestay but in Beijing you have the option of this or the Shared Apartments. Likewise, you are welcome to find your own if you so wish. Let us know what you’d prefer when we speak to you.

Chinese Language Year

Study Mandarin abroad over two semesters in small group classes to vastly improve your language skills. Each week you receive 20 hours worth of lessons and each semester lasts 18 weeks, giving you a total of 36 weeks of intensive Chinese Language study. Our Shanghai school offers the same Gap Year Experience if you wish to be based there. Prices are the same but starting dates are slightly different.

What’s Included

Course Books and Study Materials
20 hours of small group classes per week
Two 18 week semesters totalling 36 weeks overall
Survival Kit including Mobile SIM card and other useful items
24/7 support from the LTL staff

Starting Dates

The starting dates of the Chinese Year Program for 2018 are as follows:
Spring Semester 2018: 25^th Feb. 2018 – 29^th June 2018
Fall Semester 2018: 3^rd Sep. 2018 – 4^th Jan. 2019

Each semester consists of 18 weeks of 20hr/week group classes.
(One Full Academic Year – 36 weeks)

Chinese Language Year Program Prices

Program with no accommodation: 46,512 CNY
+36 weeks accommodation (Shared apartment – small room): 79,776 CNY

Upgrades to large rooms or homestay can be provided at an extra cost.

You can further enhance your skills by choosing to live in a Homestay at one of our Beijing families. Put your Mandarin to positive use daily by chatting about all things China with your family. Shared apartments are also available if you wish to live with fellow students. Please do talk to us if you wish to discuss further details regarding accommodation and your options.

Chinese and English Gap Year Program

This is the perfect option if you are on more of a budget and still want to learn Mandarin abroad. Overall the program lasts 22 weeks. Your first four weeks will be spent at our Beijing school where you will be placed in a small group class learning Chinese. You will get to know China’s capital city, it’s culture and history alongside informative and exciting lessons each day. You receive 4 hours of lessons per day for these four weeks.

After this you will go to a smaller city near Beijing to teach English for the remaining 18 weeks. An apartment will be provided and paid for and LTL also provide you with 2000CNY of spending money each month. A great option if you are on a budget.

What’s Included

Four weeks of small group classes and shared apartment (small room) based in Beijing
18 weeks of English teaching in another city in China. This includes accommodation and 2000 CNY per month courtesy of LTL
Transportation from Beijing to the school where you are to teach
24/7 support alongside access to the LTL student and teacher community
Airport pick up

Starting Dates

October 9, 2017
October 30, 2017
November 20, 2017
December 11, 2017
January 8, 2018
January 29, 2018
February 26, 2018
March 19, 2018

April 9, 2018
April 30, 2018
May 21, 2018
June 11, 2018
July 2, 2018
July 16, 2018
July 30, 2018
August 13, 2018

August 27, 2018
September 17, 2018
October 8, 2018
October 29, 2018
November 19, 2018
December 10, 2018

Chinese & English Program Prices

15,000 CNY

Build your own Gap Year

If you want to create a completely tailored plan for your China Gap Year, then this is the program for you. Contact our student advisors and they can help you come up with your perfect Gap Year which can include any of the following:

Study Chinese in Shanghai
Study Chinese in Beijing
Study Chinese in Chengde
Learn Mandarin on the Great Wall (Summer only)
Teach English in China
Internship in China

In total a China Gap Year spans over 36 weeks (two 18 week semesters). You have the ability to fill these weeks with whatever programs you wish. Maybe you’ll start by learning Mandarin in Beijing for 9 weeks before heading over to Chengde for full immersion where your Chinese will enhance rapidly. You will then spend your 2^nd semester teaching English to Chinese children to complete your China Gap Year.

There is huge room for flexibility and you will experience Chinese Culture in a unique way with our program.

You can enhance your Mandarin further by staying with a Chinese Homestay where you will be given the chance to speak Mandarin to your family in the morning and at night over food. This is invaluable and quickens the speed at which you learn Chinese. Ultimately accommodation is completely up to you and you are welcome to arrange your own. That said, we are here to help and we can provide you with shared and large apartments as well as homestays.

Contact our student advisors using the Live chat function now to start planning your adventure in China.

For Chinese fluency and immersion in China, the first two programs listed will be right up your street. You will experience Chengde (not to be confused with Chengdu) where you will have zero contact with foreigners and base yourself right in the heart of “Real China”. Chengde is the birthplace of modern Mandarin and is a recognised UNESCO world heritage site. Be aware though, life in Chengde is a world apart from Beijing. If you aren’t up for complete immersion and no foreign contact, then this is definitely not for you. We mean this genuinely, but of course, if you have any questions we will happily assist you.

The Chinese & English program is more suited if you wish to learn Chinese and combine this with work experience as you study and work abroad. If you fancy more flexibility, then we offer you the opportunity to build your own gap year in China.

Frequently Asked Questions

I’m travelling to China alone and worried about how to meet people. Should I be worried?

Absolutely not. The LTL community is a very tight knit one. From teachers, students to staff, everybody speaks to everybody and friends for life are made at LTL. We often arrange social activities and students meet most nights in the week generally. Don’t forget, many other students will be in the same situation as you! Likewise, our staff know Beijing inside out, so if you need any recommendations for places you wish to go to, they are on hand to help 24/7. In Chengde making friends is a different experience. All your friends there will be Chinese. You’ll be treated a bit differently there as you’ll be a very rare breed. This is a good thing however, you’ll often get invited to events and treated to dinner or drinks by your local friends. Of course we can help put you in contact with local groups, like football teams, hiking groups or music enthusiasts for example.

Will I be able to travel outside of class/work?

Of course. We generally organize trips for students every week and these are varied to cater for all needs. Beijing itself takes months to uncover and you are always discovering something new. Likewise, there are so many other places to visit and with China’s efficient train service you are never far away from anywhere, even in a country of this magnitude. You are also a short flight from many other Asian cities such as Seoul, Tokyo and Bangkok.

How about living costs in Beijing?

Although more expensive than most Chinese cities (it’s the capital after all), Beijing is actually very affordable. Rent is the main expenditure in Beijing and as you may’ve taken up our accommodation package you are good to go. Getting around in Taxi’s or using the Metro is cheap, the city is full of shared bikes which cost next to nothing and is a great way to explore the City. Food is cheap, if you want it to be. Obviously there are plenty of foreign places but these are generally more expensive, though still perfectly affordable. Compared to the likes of other capitals like Sydney, Paris and London, Beijing is comfortable to live in financially.

Do we still study/work over Christmas?

Christmas isn’t actually a holiday in China. Therefore, most offices and schools remain open for business. Golden Week (October 1^st-7^th) and Chinese New Year (varied dates in February typically) are the main Chinese holidays. That said, you are welcome to go home for Christmas if you wish. We’ll need to make some adjustments to your program. This is something you should discuss with us before coming to China.

I’m not sure which program is most suited to me, can you help?

We are always here to help. You can use our Live chat feature below, or drop us an email. We can chat through the study abroad programs and internships. Everyone is different and has their own preferences and goals. We are experienced in this field and know what is best for you so let us help and come and chat to us.

Can I be confident the Internship will be right for me?

We will spend time with you discussing your needs and wants regarding the Internship. It’s important for us that your China Internship suits you. We will discuss the sort of role you wish to take, the industry and other factors and do our best to place you in just the right role.

Gap Year Program

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