Intensive Chinese Language Program with Hutong

It’s really easy to meet other people who you’re able to communicate with and the staff are all extremely supportive and friendly. The welcome parties at the start of the months are the most enjoyable but other tourist activities and group activities are also an amazing opportunity. There’s not many opportunities to meet natives within Hutong aside from staff but by exploring by yourself or with friends allows this opportunity anyway. The flats were in very convenient areas close to public transport, the school and other places like shopping centres and clubs. The school really sets you up well to ensure that you have people you can turn to when you need help, and that you’re pretty much independent. It was the most amazing experience I’ve ever had ;)

As soon as I arrived at the school from the airport, I was immediately getting my bearings and meeting fellow students at the school. The overwhelmed feeling I arrived with quickly subsided as I was given a lot of attention from the staff who provided a lot of help settling me in.

Learning in a class environment, the level was perfectly tailored to me, pushing the upper limits of my capability so that I was always felt challenged and motivated. Whilst the pace of learning course content daunted me at the start, my teachers were always supportive and ensured I never fell behind. In the brief three weeks I was studying at the school, I went from barely clinging on, to fully engaging with the conversation in class. It made it all worthwhile when I could speak confidently in Chinese with Beijing taxi drivers and understand them even through their thick Beijing accents, as well as keep up with conversations to a much greater extent with other native Chinese speakers I met.

I am hugely grateful to my mandarin tutor back in England who suggested the Hutong School when I expressed and interest to study abroad. I couldn’t agree more with her high regards for studying a language in its country. I found it greatly rewarding studying in the fully immersive environment provided by the school. My family were particularly grateful to the school who supported us when we applied for a visa.

I have taken away a massively increased love of learning the language, and whilst I can’t replicate the ideal learning environment I found at the Hutong School, I have a keen interest to maintain a similar momentum of learning I developed there.

It’s a great pleasure to be keeping in contact with the amazing group of friends from across the world that I met at the school. Integrating with them at school and in self-organised events outside of school made it an all round more enriching time. I couldn’t have found a more likeminded crowd to explore Beijing with. I can’t think of many other opportunities in life where it’s possible to find a crowd with so much in common and such a similar internal drive. It’s set me up with an invaluable set of contacts for the future.

Overall I had a blast at Hutong School in Shanghai, and the fact that I only stayed for 2 months was regrettable.

For starters, whatever the teachers do, they do so in the interests of their students. They are professional and they try their best to cater to our needs and preferences. My laoshi kept me interested and engaged in every class, and she gave me more than I requested. She helped me to reconnect with my Chinese heritage that I went home with a newfound appreciation for the culture and the elegance of the language.

What the city has to offer, from a variety of Chinese cuisine to innumerable scenic and historical spots, is also a reason why this programme is highly recommended. Although Shanghai may not be as formal as Beijing, the culture is still very much alive there. One of my personal favourites was the palpable solidarity among the elderly during Guangchang Wu! In addition, the public transportation is superb, so it’s extremely easy to get around in Shanghai as well as to explore out of Shanghai.

Participating in school activities is a must! Some can be overpriced, but there are plenty of them to pick and choose from. If I hadn’t gone to any, I wouldn’t have been able to further experience the true lifestyle and culture of Chinese society, and I wouldn’t have met some of the most interesting people coming from all corners of the world.

Certainly, not everything went smooth and perfect. In my case, the application process took longer than necessary. Should the same thing happen to you, I recommend calling the office directly to get immediate and clearer response to your queries. Another tip is to contact the programme director or your consultant in private in case of any urgent matters since not all staff are readily available to assist 24/7.

For me, the trouble at the beginning was totally worth the fun and learning I experienced in Shanghai.

It all started in early 2012. A friend of mine told me about Hutong School, and how he had a great experience with it, in Beijing. I decided to try it myself, and got in touch with the school through their website. The staff immediately proved to be a great help, and in a short time I had booked an intensive study program. I arrived in Shanghai in July 2012: a boy who worked for the school was there waiting for me, and accompanied me straight to my apartment (included in the registration fee): spacious and clean. In the following days lessons began, 4 hours a day from Monday to Friday. I was entrusted to my teacher after a brief test, concerning my knowledge of Mandarin. In addition to the lessons, the school organized various activities and involved staff members and students: martial arts lessons, Chinese cuisine, group dinners, trips etc. It is definitely worth it, and it has left me beautiful memories. I recommend it to anyone who wants to learn Chinese, in China, having fun while learning!

I have had an enduring interest in learning languages and had taken a Chinese (Mandarin) language course in college; however, I learned more in 3 months living in Shanghai than I did over an academic school year at a university. I was given an initial, informal screening to determine my strengths and weaknesses. That helped both the teaching staff and me come up with the best course for my interests. There was no hassle or pressure for me to reach a goal for the school, but focused mainly on my goal and potential. The coursework and content were thoughtful and tailored to help me become more fluent in the language. The teachers emphasized correct speech and pronunciation, which is invaluable to any language learning, and also helped develop all aspects of the Chinese language including reading, writing, and correct grammar usage to help me express more meaningful thoughts and phrases. The academic work was just as rewarding as the friendships I made during my time here as I still keep in touch with my former classmates and teachers. I highly recommend this school and program for anyone interested in an authentic Chinese language program at any age or ability level.