CLI: Chinese Immersion Program in Guilin, China

CLI attracted me because of its flexibility (start whenever you want, for however long you want), but now that the program is over, I truly understand why every aspect of this program is optimal for learning Chinese. It all sounds too good to be true, I know, but trust me -- this is the right program.

First of all, the flexibility and scheduling IS fantastic: I recommend trying to go for at least 8 weeks if you're a beginner! You want to make sure you're giving yourself enough time to actually learn & absorb, as well as participate in the evening & weekend activities.

Second of all, the one-on-one tutoring is absolutely STELLAR. Completely irreplaceable. I'll never try to learn a language in a big traditional classroom setting again. It's hard, because you can't just hide in the back of the class if you forgot some vocabulary or don't understand the grammar -- but that's exactly why it's so effective. Can you imagine any method that would teach you Chinese better than speaking Chinese one-on-one for HOURS every day with your teachers? I sure can't!

One thing I didn't expect was how absolutely patient, kind-hearted, and generally amazing the teachers & staff all are. Every now and then a teacher-student pairing won't be ideal (in which case you can easily talk to the staff and work out a schedule with a different teacher) but a vast majority of the students absolutely adore every one of their teachers -- myself included! My experience would have been nothing without the wonderful teachers & staff at CLI.

Lastly, I just have some advice. When you pursue this program (because of course you should!), make sure to use your time wisely. Speak Chinese outside the classroom as much as possible. Speak with other students, with the interns, with other teachers, with shopkeepers, with locals -- speak all the time! This is the one mistake I see many students making -- defaulting back to English when they're not in the classroom.

Good luck! I promise you won't regret it if you choose to take this adventure. It will change your life to become a member of the CLI family! :)

I've been to CLI twice now, once as a chaperone for a large group of 7th graders and again as a student myself. Both experiences have been nothing short of phenomenal. They've shown not only a high level of professionalism, but an unexpected level attentiveness to the individual needs of each student (be they 13 or, um, considerably older) -- especially those unfamiliar with the language and area.

I arrived with absolutely zero Mandarin skills, and in two short weeks left with a solid foundation on which to build. I also requested that a full one half of my class time be devoted to Chinese philosophy and history, which they were able to accommodate extremely well. Studying philosophy in the original language while visiting tea houses and temples older than my native country was an experience I will never, ever forget.

The housing is clean and orderly, the teachers patient and knowledgeable, the curriculum completely flexible to meet the needs and desires of each student and the city is absolutely stunning.

I plan to visit CLI again as many times as I am able, and I give them my highest recommendation.

I just returned from Guilin several days ago after spending 5 weeks at CLI. This was my 5th time at CLI! I have been studying Mandarin Chinese for about 4 years. The first time I traveled to Guilin to attend CLI's immersion program was 3 years ago. My first experience was great. Although my language skills were not very good that first time, all of my teachers were very patient with me and also very encouraging. Learning a new language does not come naturally for me. The next 4 times progressively got better and better! As my level of fluency has slowly increased over the past few years, it has literally opened up a new world for me. I can thank my teachers and the helpful interns at CLI for allowing this to happen. The teachers and interns are all native Chinese speakers. They have all been awesome, not only am I learning a language, but in the process of learning they allow me to experience their culture and history, through instruction as well as through participating in weekly organized activities. All of my teachers over these past several years have been awesome! I can tell that becoming a teacher at CLI is not easy as these teachers must be the best of the best. As the classes are all 1 on 1, your teachers can really work with you and find out what your goals are and which teaching methods seem to work best when having class with you. I have looked forward to and enjoyed every single class session that I have had at CLI. The interns who work at CLI are local college students. Each time I travel to Guilin, a car picks me up at the airport and delivers me to CLI. As I am getting out of the car door, no matter what time it is (including the middle of the night), there is always an intern coming out the front door to meet me and escort me to my room. My first couple of times at CLI, I relied heavily on the assistance provided by the interns. They took me to the bank, accompanied me to places to eat, showed me where the grocery store was and if necessary helped me order food and communicate. They were like my protective bubble as well as personal teacher and friend when I was not in class. This is really a well thought out system! Guilin is an ideal place to learn and practice your language skills. One reason is that there are very few foreigners here and most locals don't speak english. This really forces you to be immersed and you have little choice but to practice your speaking, listening, and reading. Over the years, I have not only become friends with the teachers, interns and employees at CLI but also some of the local business owners and their employees (at the restaurants and shops I frequent). Even though I am a from a foreign country, I am always welcomed in Guilin, as if I was part of the family! Two years ago after returning home, I decided to start taking the online (skype/video) classes with one of my teachers at CLI. This way I can study year round and choose the frequency of classes that works best for me. I still look forward to going back to Guilin each year, however setting up weekly online classes with my teacher has kept me moving in a forward direction while I am back home. As you can tell, I highly recommend CLI!

I went to CLI in September for two weeks intense Chinese study. I was not sure about Guilin or CLI before I left but after being there for two weeks I can honestly say it was an awesome Choice! The school is great, the rooms are large, clean and all have AC and bathroom. I had three different teachers which was unique and allowed for different teaching styles to be experienced. Everybody was super friendly and went out of their way to help you with anything you needed. The facility itself is large and has lots of areas to socialize rather than being stuck in your room all the time. Also, you have access to washing and drying machines for your convenience. I will defitetly go back to China and CLI next year and am looking forward to another great experience.

I waited to provide this review to make sure my initial reactions held. They did!

As a senior citizen, I wasn't sure this would work for me, but the staff, teachers and other students turned my two week stay into a good experience. Although I had been studying on my own for a number of months, when I arrived I realized that my aural and oral comprehension were not good. The staff and teachers adjusted their approaches to match my abilities. The teachers all worked from the same book, and, as I worked through the book, each highlighted a different part of the chapter I was working on, reinforcing each other.

There were all types of students: retirees, graduate students, college students, as well as people between jobs or preparing for a new job. Many were returning CLI students. They were interesting and helped me learn about Guilin, the area surrounding the school and good places to eat.

Four hours a day of individual classes, plus homework, was a tiring but worthwhile experience. Due to my weak speaking skills, I didn't complete the two weeks as Immersion. I spoke English outside class and sometimes in class. The teachers did encourage me to speak more. Other students had lunch together in a separate room and did speak only Chinese. I wish I had tried Immersion, as I would have learned more. Next time! And it will be for more than two weeks, which wasn't enough.

CLI organized extra-curricular activities every week. I went on a trip to the Longsheng rice terraces one weekend and attended an evening lecture on the Qing Dynasty and a calligraphy class. Although the extra activities were not included in the tuition, they were well worth it.

This was my first time visiting China and at CLI. I've been studying Chinese since the start of this year in my free time and decided to study for 3 weeks to boost my learning. The four hours of day study and homework afterwards is challenging but I think really helps in improving your Chinese. Overall I found the balance of speaking, writing and reading in the course curriculum was right for me and I've learnt more about how I learn language best, as well as picking up some useful tips to improve. I chose to stay with a family rather than in the college which I really enjoyed.

Outside class CLI puts on plenty of excursions and I had a great time with other students. Guilin is very beautiful and there are lots of opportunities to explore.

CLI is an overall great place to learn Chinese. Located in Guilin you are surrounded by a picturesque landscape while being in the heart of a Chinese city with a longstanding culture and tradition. Classes are tailored to your suiting. whether you would like to focus mostly on your spoken Chinese or concentrate on building your Chinese character comprehension, it is up to you. The staff at CLI have cultivated a family like community with everyone willing to lend a helping hand. CLI also gives students the opportunity to explore the surrounding areas around Guilin, including Yangshuo, rice terraces, minority villages and much more. I spent five months at CLI and my Chinese proficiency improved by leaps and bounds. I would highly recommend CLI to anyone （from no Chinese experience to a seasoned veteran) who wants to partake in a true Chinese immersion experience!

This is second time coming to CLI and I can only say that it gets better everytime. My first time I stayed here for 5 months and came in not knowing any Chinese, by the time I left I had already achieved HSK 4. This achievement would not have been possible without the friendly atmosphere and hospitality of CLI teachers and interns. It is not about how much you study, with language you need to fully enjoy your environment and what you are learning in order to retain the information. The teachers have the perfect friendship to study ratio and most of the classes fly by because we are having constant conversation while still learning at the same time. I have no regrets with my decision to come to CLI and have made lifelong friends from this experience.