XMandarin Chinese Language School

As a mature student from Japan, I was a little nervous about joining a group class at first. However, XMandarin made me feel very welcome from the beginning. The teachers are very kind and patient, and they explained everything clearly, even when I needed extra time to understand. The class atmosphere was very friendly, and I appreciated that students of different ages and backgrounds could all study together. I never felt out of place. Every lesson was enjoyable, and little by little, I became more confident in speaking Chinese.

At first, everything felt a bit fast, new sounds, new characters, a different way of thinking. But very quickly, with the support of the teachers and the small group classes, I started feeling more comfortable. Every week I noticed small improvements, even if sometimes it didn’t feel like it right away.

What I liked the most was how practical the classes were. We didn’t just learn grammar; we practiced speaking, listening, and using Chinese in everyday situations. That made a real difference when living in Qingdao.

Outside of class, the school organizes cultural activities, but honestly, some of my best memories are just walking around the city, talking with local people, trying new foods, and realizing I could actually have conversations.

Six months was the perfect amount of time to build a strong foundation. It’s not easy every day, but it’s absolutely worth it. I’m really grateful for this experience.

When I arrived at XMandarin, I honestly felt overwhelmed. Everything was new, the language, the culture, even just buying something at the supermarket felt complicated.

The first few weeks were tough. I made so many mistakes when speaking, and sometimes I just wanted to give up. But the teachers were so patient, and little by little, things got easier.

After six months, I’m proud to say I can handle daily conversations, make jokes in Chinese, and even understand some local dialect words! It’s not perfect, and I still have a lot to learn, but I feel confident now.

Outside of classes, joining the activities helped me a lot. It wasn’t just about studying, it was about making friends, laughing together when we mixed up words, discovering Qingdao, and feeling part of something.

Learning Chinese is not easy. There are days when you doubt yourself. But if you keep going, one day you realize you’re understanding and speaking without thinking too much. That’s an incredible feeling.

If you’re ready to be patient with yourself, XMandarin is a great place to start the journey

I originally came to China just for the experience, but I ended up learning way more Chinese than I ever expected, thanks to XMandarin.

The classes were structured but really flexible. We had a textbook to follow, but the teachers were great at adjusting depending on what the class needed. Some days we practiced speaking a lot, other days we worked more on listening or learning new characters. It kept things fresh and never boring.

Outside of class, I participated in plenty of activities: tea ceremonies, street food tours, Chinese movie nights. Those moments really made my time in Qingdao special.

If I could give one piece of advice: don’t be shy. Try to use Chinese every chance you get. The city gives you so many opportunities if you just go for it.

I joined a group course at XMandarin while I was living in Qingdao, and it was honestly a really good experience. The classes were small, so everyone got a chance to speak and ask questions. The teachers were super friendly and patient, and they made the lessons easy to follow even when the material got tougher.

What I liked most was that it didn’t feel like a boring classroom — we practiced real conversations, played games, and even learned some slang and cultural tips you wouldn’t get from a textbook.

If you're looking for a relaxed but effective place to study Mandarin, I’d definitely recommend XMandarin. I learned a lot, made some good friends, and had a lot of fun along the way.