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Omeida Chinese Academy

Why choose Omeida Chinese Academy?

Omeida Chinese Academy provides quality Chinese language tuition to students from all over the world. We are located in the beautiful town of Yangshuo, China where you can experience the Chinese culture and spend your free time exploring the rivers and mountains.

At Omeida, we offer Chinese language programs that meet the needs and goals of students at all levels while providing you with the flexibility to study when you choose. Whether you are joining us for an intensive spoken Chinese program, enjoying a one-on-one tailor made course, or working together with us in the volunteer program and take advantage of discounts, you will find that Omeida provides the perfect opportunity to be immersed in the Chinese language and culture. Moreover, you have the opportunity to study, eat, and hang out together with Chinese natives at our English school next door!

Founded
2001

Reviews

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Mary
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Studying Chinese in Yangshuo

I had a wonderful week studying Chinese in Yangshuo. The staff at the language school were super helpful and did everything possible to support the students, for example arranging accommodation and transport, and setting me up with a language partner. The teachers were friendly and patient and able to answer any questions. The lessons were pitched at an appropriate level of challenge and I was able to practise my Chinese. I would recommend the course for both solo travellers and for those travelling in a group. As soon as I have another opportunity, I will be returning to Yangshuo and studying English there again.

Pros
  • Opportunity to practise Chinese and learn more language
  • Exploring Yangshuo and finding out more about the culture there
  • Excellent service from everyone working at the language school
Cons
  • I would have liked more opportunities to practise my language
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Yuval
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing 3 weeks with Omeida in Yangshuo

Had the best time. I'm a 34-year-old solo traveler, and Omeida was a perfect opportunity to meet Chinese people and people from all around the world, study together, and improve my Chinese quickly. The staff, activities, local food, and the room I was provided were all amazing and I thank you for the opportunity highly recommend it to everyone.

The level was adjusted for my exact needs to help me fit in, the classroom and common space were great, and I enjoyed traveling through beautiful Yangshuo in my spare time.

What was your funniest moment?
Jumping to a huge river on an outdoors adventure excursion.
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Nigel
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great experience

Our experience with Omeida was excellent. My 16-year-old son attended a 2 week summer camp and then a 1 week private class. He was impressed by the quality of instruction .... highly skilled, patient, and deeply committed to helping students succeed in learning Chinese.

The three-week camp provided an immersive environment where my son could fully engage with the language. The instructors focused on building a strong foundation in Chinese, covering essential grammar points, practical vocabulary, and all four key language skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. The lessons were well-structured and paced to match the students' different learning speeds, ensuring that everyone could keep up and feel confident.

What truly stood out was the supportive atmosphere created by the teachers. They were always encouraging, readily answering questions, and offering constructive feedback. My son felt comfortable and motivated to learn, which made a significant difference in his progress.

In his spare time he also helped out by teaching English to some of the native Chinese students. He gained a lot by sharing a room with native Chinese kids, speaking in both Chinese and English.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Give it a go and enjoy the experience ! There are many other foreign students learning Chinese and many native Chinese students learning English. A fun learning environment with an opportunity to make new friends and learn about each others culture.
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Bianca
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Entre montanhas e rios: aprendendo a língua chinesa / Between mountains and rivers: learning the Chinese language

Fui para China porque queria aprender a língua chinesa imersa no cotidiano do povo chinês. Foi a melhor coisa que fiz. Estudei por 3 meses em Yang Shuo, um lugar rodeado por montanhas e rios, onde exala cultura por todos os poros. O verão tem cheiro de brisa e orvalho da manhã. Com verde em diferentes tons, o campo, as árvores, as flores, a terra e as montanhas e nós respiramos com mais leveza. No outono temos temperatura mais amenas e um pouco de chuva. Ao som da chuva e, em sintonia com ela, movimentamo-nos pelas ruas, para a escola. Com sua melodia suave, e às vezes, com sua batida forte, aprendemos essa língua milenar e misteriosa. A 欧美大, em YangShuo, é uma ótima escola que ensina a língua chinesa para estrangeiros. Aqui podemos aprender, além da língua chinesa, um pouco de como, esse povo milenar, vive. É uma experiência mágica e única. Há uma expressão que me encanta "慢慢。。。” então posso dizer...慢慢走慢慢爱。。。

English Version:
I went to China because I wanted to learn the Chinese language by being immersed in the daily lives of Chinese people. It was the best thing I did. I studied for 3 months in Yang Shuo, a place surrounded by mountains and rivers, where culture exudes from every pore. Summer smells like a breeze and morning dew. With green in different tones, the countryside, the trees, the flowers, the land, and the mountains we breathe more lightly. In autumn we have milder temperatures and a little rain. To the sound of the rain and in tune with it, we move through the streets, toward school. With its soft melody, and sometimes, its strong beat, we learn this ancient and mysterious language. 欧美大, Yangshuo, is a great school that teaches Chinese to foreigners. Here we can learn, in addition to the Chinese language, a little about how these ancient people lived. It is a magical and unique experience. There is an expression that enchants me "slowly"... so I can say... walk slowly, love slowly...

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
Estudar na 欧美大 foi algo único, mágico e surpreendente. Um das situações que me marcou foi encontrar na sala de estudantes, em momento posterior ao horário de aula, em um dia da semana, uma apresentação de dança por um dançarino chinês. Encontrar em intervalos das aulas alguma manifestação cultural local. Cultura irradiando em todo tempo, por todos os poros.
Pros
  • Professores e instrutores: a escola tem uma equipe altamente qualificada, atenciosa, dinâmica.
  • Acomodação e alimentação: a escola oferece acomodação e alimentação a um valor muito acessível.
  • Imersão cultural: a equipe da escola organiza regularmente passeios, quize, jantares, apresentações, brincadeiras, aula cultural.
Cons
  • Não fui muito feliz com minhas parcerias de idioma. Poderia ter parceiros de idioma em que a intenção primeira seja ajudar o outro a aprender a língua chinesa.
  • Requer um alto nível de inglês.
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Thierry
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

An amazing experience

I spent three weeks in training in Yangshuo which was an unforgettable adventure. First of all the team is truly incredible, always listening to the students and their expectations. I was in a class of three then two people which allowed everyone to participate and therefore rapid progress. Then many activities are offered outside of class. A visit to a tea plantation, a day of hiking along the Lijiang River, a gourmet meal, a visit to a minority village ... the atmosphere is really excellent and everyone can participate at their convenience. The accommodation is perfect, two minutes from the school. Before arriving I wondered about the environment but the school is in a very lively area with an incredible number of shops and restaurants. This residential area is close enough to the tourist area to be able to enjoy restaurants, bars, and other distractions in the evening. Yangshuo is ideal in my opinion. The city is large and lively enough while having retained its traditional side. It is also in the middle of a magnificent natural area where mountains and rivers offer a superb playground.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I would certainly stay longer. Three weeks go by really quickly.
Cons
  • A good level in English is needed

Programs

Displaying 1 - 5 of 5

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Michael Schuss

I am an English as a 2nd language teacher and was working at Wuzhou University in Guangxi Province, China, when I signed up for a month of Chinese language training at Omeida during my spring break. I have also worked briefly in Spain and am currently teaching online for a company named Cambly.
Michael Schuss standing on steps

Why did you choose this program?

Yangshuo (Omeida) is about a 4-hour bus ride from where I was living in Wuzhou. Guilin/Yangshuo is a famous part of China, and I was looking forward to seeing the famous Karst hills there. Omeida is also competitively priced compared to some other Chinese language schools in China. Omeida offers a lot of extra-curricular activities such as spelunking, raft trips, and calligraphy.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

I organized the whole trip on my own. I signed up for Omeida online. I asked one of my students to call Omeida, and they were very good about arranging for a taxi to pick me up at the bus drop-off in Yangshuo. Cecily met me at Omeida, and she was very helpful in getting me checked in and acculturated to life in Yangshuo.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

If you ever get the opportunity to visit China, go for it! It is a wonderful country! I remember asking someone for directions, and this person actually walked with me to the building I was looking for. I particularly developed a taste for Luo Si Fen (Guilin noodles) when I was there. You can get them "wei la (not too spicy)" or "chao la (lots of spice)." Make sure you visit Xi Jie (West Street) in Yangshuo. It is an amazing place, and you can find some incredible bargains there.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

I was on the half-day program, so I would study for 3 hours in the morning and then have lunch in the cafeteria. I would then go to Xi Jie or for a bike ride to Moon Hill or walk-in Yangshuo Park. The scenery is breathtaking! It's hard to believe that some of the Karst hill formations actually exist. Omeida also gave us a lot of extra-curricular activities, such as lessons on how to make Chinese dumplings and how to write some Chinese characters.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

Well, I was very fortunate in that I was in China, working as an English teacher, so I always seemed to have native Chinese speakers helping me. My language partner at Omeida told me that, when she arrived in China, she was picked up at the airport by a bogus cab driver. He drove her around for a while and then demanded 100 yuan before he would take her back to the airport.

How much did your Chinese improve while you were in China?

I lived in China for five years, and I got to the point where I could buy a bus or train ticket, speak in Chinese, or order food in a restaurant, but as far as having a good conversation with a native Chinese speaker, I never got to that level. 6 of us from Omeida, climbed an old tower in Yangshuo Park, one morning to watch the sunrise. Wow!

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Ieva Bukelskyte

Job Title
Marketing Manager
Ieva Bukelskyte comes from a tiny country called Lithuania and at the moment is working in Omeida Chinese Academy as a Marketing Manager. She is a child of nature who loves adventure and everything related with outdoors. She is very excited to be in Yangshuo as it is a perfect place for that, especially for rock-climbing and biking! Her duties at Omeida include welcoming students and making them feel at home as well as spreading the word about Omeida Chinese Academy to the rest of the world.
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What about the future of the industry? How do you think study abroad and international education will change over the next 10 years?

I believe there is a bright future for this industry! It’s becoming more and more popular to study abroad and it’s not a surprise as there are so many benefits of living and learning in another country. This experience expands our minds and in general positively changes lives of people.

When you study abroad everyday is a new adventure full of discoveries! I wish everyone could live and study in another country at least once in their lives, even for a short time and I am guaranteed- magic will happen.

What does the future hold for Omeida Chinese Academy - any exciting new programs to share?

The list of activities to do in Yangshuo is endless. Therefore we decided to combine learning Chinese language with Tai Chi practice or rock-climbing for example. We believe it will be a very fulfilling experience for our students: not only to learn Chinese but also develop and improve their skills of Tai Chi or rock-climbing.

For example, did you know that Yangshuo is fast becoming the rock climbing Mecca of Asia?

What was your favorite traveling experience?

It is very hard to choose one, as the list is endless. But one of the most favorite would be hitch-hiking to Morocco from Spain and meeting a local student in Tanger, who then invited us to visit and stay with his family in another town called Tetouen. We spent a night in his place and it was unbelievable.

His family opened not only their arms, but their hearts to us, strangers from another part of the world. We cooked food together, drank tea, shared stories with each other. His family trusted us; wanted to share everything they have, even though they did not have a lot themselves. They even gave us gifts! Moroccan hospitality at its best! World IS a beautiful place, let’s just not be afraid to embrace it.

What unique qualities does your company possess?

Omeida Chinese Academy is like a big family. There is this very warm and positive atmosphere around the school, everyone is smiley and happy, willing to help each other, share stories and laughs. Students tell me that they never feel alone here!

We (Chinese teachers and other staff) do many outdoor activities together with students. Last weekend for example we went camping to this huge cave that has a mind blowing view to the Limestone Mountains, we made a fire, sang songs and cooked food. Unforgettable memories for sure!