Program Reviews

I had a great experience at Hutong School. The school building is beautifully located in what's left of the old part of Beijing. I did the Intensive for about 8 weeks. The teachers were very dedicated and the study schedule pretty intense (after all it was an intensive course, no?)but we covered more than 5 semesters of University Chinese in that short time, amazing but 25 caracters a day is possible!...The staff was very supportive in all situations, at school, housing, visa, they even sorted out my personal travel plans to Corea. Nice and fun activities in the evenings or on the weekend. Good vibes ;-). Great way to start your China experience.

The teachers were lovely. The program attacked reading and speaking simultaneously and gave you a rounded experience and understanding. The intensive Chinese program is a great way to learn Chinese and get an understanding of the fundamental structure of the language. After about 2 months I was thinking Chinese!

Set in a beautiful, traditional courtyard, the Hutong School is a great program to completely immerse yourself in not only the studying of the language, but of the Chinese culture as well. With group trips, daily outings, and helpful teachers, the Hutong School makes sure that each student has a truly unique experience. They provide small class sizes which provides for more interaction with your teacher, allowing you to really understand what you are learning. There are a variety of courses ranging from beginning to intensive, also with a business focus. Not only does every teacher have excellent academic backgrounds, but they are extremely welcoming and will help with any questions you may have as you come to live and learn about China.

Hutong school is a good choice; the teachers are nice and strict, the groups a really international (my class was dutch/french/portugese/american!) The staff is very supportive and the Gulou branch has a lot of charm, while the sanlitun branch is located extremely convenient..

The best choice for a crash course Mandarin!

I am completely positive about my internship program with Hutong School.

They are available if you need any support. The teachers are really good and they know how to convey their passion for the Chinese language in an amazing atmosphere.
Meeting people from all around the around is always rewarding as it allows you to see things differently, share everyone experiences and discover other cultures. To cut a long story short, it enables you to progress !
It might be a challenge, but it's absolutely worth it, that's for sure! It would be a pleasure to go back to Beijing (or Shanghai now) next summer =).

I finished my internship 2 months ago. The idea of leaving your home and country it's always a bit scary and a big challenge, specially when you decide to move to a country as different as China. Anyway from the first time I put my feet at Beijing International Airport I got the support of the school. Now looking back in time it has been a great decision. I have grown up professionaly but personally too and I've met a lot of friends which I hope I will meet again soon somewhere in the world.

Although the program was a little pricey, Hutong School truly can hold your hand during the entire process of moving over to China. It's a hard place to live and you absolutely need someone to help!

The 6-month internship they found for me was not useful in and of itself. However, because of that internship, I made some connections at the company that landed me a much better job later on.

The Chinese teachers they had at the time I was there (2006) were excellent. And they had plenty of opportunities for socializing which is very nice when you're new.

Enrolling at Hutong School looking for a Chinese learning course is not just about that, but about getting a profound Chinese culture and language experience while living in a multicultural environment. Every day you'll learn a little bit more about China and Chinese people in the language courses and you'll think it's amazing or will disagree, but then when you get to take the bus, or subway, or -even better- ride your bicycle to get to the internship or just sightseeing, you'll find out that everything you learn at class is so useful that you start looking at everything and learning while doing. Then your get to your job (internship) and start building a unique relationship with your Chinese colleagues: you work with them, eat with them, talk with them and then you'll start getting to know them better and learn a lot with them.
You'll also have the opportunity to attend very interesting cultural activities that the school organize such as Chinese painting or calligraphy and get to understand a little bit more about the way your host country deals with aesthetics, while in the meantime you met new friends.
And you'll also have the opportunity to share your joy with others, specially with less privilege children, through volunteering.
So as every day goes by you find out you're having a great experience!

I had six hours a week of Chinese lessons at an intermediate level. My placement in the class was evaluated when I arrived and most of my classes were either one-on-one or with only one other student. The teacher was energetic and helpful. The staff was all very supportive. The volunteering part consisted of an internship at the Jane Goodall Institute China, where I worked 30 hours a week on English publications for the program. The Hutong School provides weekend outings and cultural events weekly. The Hutong School chose my internship for me, and they could have kept looking if I was not interested in JGI.

Going to Beijing and joining Hutong School was the best decision I've made. I don't regret it at all, and enjoyed everyday of my 6 months there.

At first I was definitely hesitant, since I've never traveled outside Canada. It was my first trip abroad and by myself too. Hutong School made me feel right at home. From the second I stepped into Beijing, there was a staff member waiting to take me from the airport, right to the pre-arranged accommodations. They didn't just drop me off, but made sure I was comfortable and took me on a mini tour around the neighborhood of my apartment. The staff have been helpful from day one and were always quick to respond when in need.

The Chinese classes were small, which made it easier to learn. It is amazing how much Chinese you can learn within the first couple months. Teachers were always very encouraging and taught at a pace that was right for you.

I also did an internship program while at Hutong School. The 6 months has really helped me gain a lot of experience and helped me with my career. I had a true advantage and I have this experience and Hutong School to thank.

One of the best things about Hutong School was that all the students were friendly and you never felt lonely. I had the opportunity to make really good friendships, and even though I've left Beijing for 1 year now, I still keep in touch with many of them. I was especially lucky to have met one friend who is from the same country and now we are now great friends.

I have gained a lot from Hutong School, and would highly recommend the program to anyone looking for a chance to explore, understand and live within China's rich culture.