Keats Chinese School

Program Reviews

John
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

All I hoped for and more

I had a week in Kunming, a fascinating and delightful city. An ideal chance to improve my Chinese! I found Keats School on the internet and am very glad I did. Everything was super helpful and efficient, from meeting me at the airport to the friendly orientation and the outstanding support. I immediately felt at home and started making new friends. The teacher was outstanding. The lessons were well planned and I received a lot of individual attention, as did everyone in the class. I’m super happy!

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
I was very surprised by the way students, teachers and support staff were so friendly, motivated and relaxed. This doesn’t just happen. It shows that at a fundamental level Keats has created a formula that really works. I was also surprised by how the level of the class grew by leaps and bounds, some students literally going from zero to conversational Chinese in just days, as proven by our trip to the market this morning!
Pros
  • Friendly and welcoming, with lots of extracurricular activities
  • Super efficient teaching and logistics
  • Very reasonable cost and delightful, convenient location in Kunming
Valentina
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

One-month stay in Chengde

I have enjoyed my stay immensely! Chengde is a very welcoming city, full of historical sites to visit (beautiful temples!) and a wonderful natural scenery. It is also one hour away from Beijing, which can be visited via train.

My Chinese classes at Keats School have been comprehensive. Zhang laoshi is very understanding and kind. We've worked on improving pronunciation and on writing characters, useful Chinese for everyday conversation (such as shopping, going to the doctor, booking tickets etc) and basic grammar. We have also been able to study Chinese poetry, such as the works of Li Bai and Du Fu, along with the rules of composition. My understanding of both language and culture has improved thanks to the lessons and the stay, and I feel more confident speaking. In general, I was able to solidify my knowledge and build upon it, and the teacher provided lots of varied material to study from.

I applied for the volunteer program and tutored an 11-year old in English. His family was very welcoming, and helped introduce me to life in Chengde. This was also a very positive experience.

Overall I am very happy with how this month turned out, and would absolutely recommend the experience!

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
I went with my classmates to see Jinshanling Great Wall near Chengde, even though I am petrified of heights. The beginning of the journey was quite frightening, but it was definitely a worthy experience, both for the beauty of the scenery (Chengde's mountains in May are absolutely stunning) and for the history of the place. And all the people we encountered were very kind.
Pros
  • Variety of subjects in our lessons
  • Variety of cuisines to choose from
  • Amazing natural scenery
Carlos
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

100% recommendable

The one-on-one course at Keats School in Beijing was a wonderful experience. Not only did it allow me to perfect my Chinese in just one month, but the program is also exquisitely designed, providing comprehensive support, attending to every need, and immersing you in a culture, society, and systems that would otherwise be difficult to access. In short, it was a marvel, an unforgettable experience that I highly recommend to anyone wanting to immerse themselves in China and study seriously with highly qualified professionals.

Original:
La experiencia en el curso 1 a 1 en Keats School en Pekín fue maravillosa. No sólo me permitió perfeccionar mi chino en solo un mes, sino que además el programa tiene un diseño exquisito, pensado para acompañarte en todo momento, atenderte en todo, introducirte en la cultura, sociedad y sistemas que de otra forma serían de difícil acceso. En resumen, una maravilla, una experiencia inolvidable y que recomiendo a todo elnque quiera introducirse en China y estudiar seriamente de la mano de profesionales muy cualificados.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
La Gran Muralla
Pros
  • Atención personalizada
  • Capacidad de adaptación al estudiante
  • Programa completo y detallado
Cons
  • Recomendable mínimo 1 mes
  • Elegir bien la temporada
Nelleke/ Nan yue ke
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Happiness

I felt so at ease. Kunming is a very safe place. Keats school is very good, you can arrange your own level during class. Teachers, staff: everybody is so kind and helpful. Just go for it! It will change your life. You get a better understanding of China and its wonderful people.
The housing at Keats is basic yet comfortable. You have your private bathroom. Nice bed, good mattress!
And above all: with the window closed, you lock out the streetnoises!
Monday to friday you get three meals a day. As a vegetarian I was really pleased with the nice dishes. Weekend excursions are optional. I can recommend to go with the flow.
Evening activities are interesting: I' ve done handcrafting, made a bookmark for the first time in my life! Also Mahjong was a novelty and very entertaining.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
Getting on an open cablecar.
The guiding teacher supported me by talking to me, all te way.
Pros
  • Good teacher
  • Safe
  • Really nice staff
Marvin
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Perfect!

I loved my time at Keats and enjoyed every moment! The school is in a perfect condition, everyone is very kind and well prepared. It was also so much fun to get to know all the other students from all around the world. Keats is a place where you can meet people from so many different countries and have the opportunity to get to know how life in all these countries works and what the cultural differences between all these are. The activities we did together were always highly fun. A stay at Keats is not only good for your Chinese speaking skills but also for your personal development overall. I will definitely come back to Keats!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
If you are unsure about this, just try it out! I had the best time and met the loveliest people I won’t forget.
Pros
  • Very good lessons.
  • Very nice people.
  • Always good food at Keats.
Salwa
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best Immersive Experience at Keats

I had an incredible time here at Keats Chengdu, from the learning to the excursions and immersion into the Chinese culture. I loved my teacher Claire’s teaching style, which I found extremely engaging and tailored to my level. Within a short span, I feel that my Chinese language level improved so much! Through the many excursions, culture nights and other activities, I truly felt immersed in the Chinese culture and was able to learn many new things. I also had the chance of meeting many people from all across the world! Such a fun experience overall and I’d highly recommend!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Whether you’re taking a gap year or simply looking to explore somewhere new, I would recommend Keats!
Pros
  • All inclusive - accommodation and food
  • Trips and excursions
  • Teaching methods
Vincenzo Giovanni
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Un mese di studio intensivo di cinese a Kunming

Studying and Teaching:
I began studying Chinese upon my arrival in Kunming, so I began my course at Keats with no prior knowledge of the language.

My teacher, Han Laoshi, was truly phenomenal, helping me improve quickly. After four weeks of classes, I was already able to understand basic conversations and express myself, albeit rudimentarily. However, I consider this an achievement, considering the length of my study stay.

Accommodation:
The room I stayed in was quite comfortable and offered the bare minimum for a study-related stay. The school is located in the same building as the accommodations, making class attendance very convenient.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served in the school cafeteria from Monday to Friday; the cook always tries to vary the menu and serve complete meals. Being in China, rice is always available.

The school tries to entertain students by offering different and interesting activities every day of the week.

City
Kunming is a city that offers so much to those who want to explore. Various activities at every hour of the day, new people, and the culture of Yunnan are just waiting to be discovered. The citizens of Kunming seemed surprised to see foreign tourists, but they were always kind and helpful.

Group and Friends
New people come to school every week, which enriches the learning experience. Personally, I've met many students, some of whom have become friends over the weeks.

Original:
Studio e insegnamento:
Ho iniziato a studiare cinese in concomitanza con il mio arrivo a Kunming, ho quindi iniziato il mio percorso a Keats con nessuna conoscenza di base della lingua.

La mia professoressa, Han Laoshi, è stata davvero fenomenale, riuscendo a farmi migliorare in breve tempo. Dopo quattro settimane di corso, ero già in grado di comprendere conversazioni basiche e di esprimermi, sepppur in maniera ancora rudimentale; tuttavia, lo ritengo un successo, considerata la mia lunghezza del mio soggiorno di studio.

Alloggio:
La camera in cui sono stato ospitato era abbastanza accogliente e offriva il minimo indispensabile per un soggiorno finalizzato allo studio. La scuola si trova nello stesso stabile degli alloggi, il che rende la partecipazione alle lezioni molto agevole.

Colazione, pranzo e cena vengono serviti nella sala mensa della scuola dal lunedì al venerdì; la cuoca cerca sempre di variare il menù e di servire pasti completi. Essendo in Cina, il riso non manca mai.

La scuola cerca di intrattenere gli studenti offrendo attività sempre diverse e interessanti ogni giorno della settimana.

Cittá
Kunming è una città che offre tanto a chi ha voglia di scoprire. Attività varie ad ogni ora del giorno, persone nuove e la cultura dello Yunnan non aspettano altro che farsi conoscere. I cittadini di Kunming mi sono sembrati sorpresi nel vedere dei turisti stranieri, ma si sono sempre dimostrati gentili e disponibili nei miei confronti.

Gruppo e amici
A scuola arrivano ogni settimana persone nuove, il che arricchisce l'esperienza formativa. Personalmente, ho conosciuto molti studenti, alcuni sono poi diventati miei amici durante lo scorrere delle settimane.

Ryusei
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Keats school and Chengdu life

I really recommend to learn Chinese language at Keats school! This was my first time to come to Chengdu. And I was a beginner of Chinese. There are reasons why we should learn Chinese at Keats school. First, the lesson is one on one. So, we can ask questions easily and teachers improve our pronouns carefully. Hong laoshi taught me how to pronounce patiently. This was so helpful for me. Because, I want to be able to speak Chinese. And second, students can take part in the a lot of activities at Keats school. For example, to see pandas, night markets, museum and so on. Chengdu is famous for pandas, unique cuisine and culture. We can experience various cultures in Chengdu with teacher. My teachers taught me Chinese language during these activities. Finally, school serves 3 meals Monday to Friday. We can have a wonderful meal time with classmates and teachers. We can make friends who are from all over the world easily. The time in Keats school changed my life. I really appreciate!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
I really recommend to learn Keats school earlier, especially beginners. I was an also beginner. Before coming Keats school, I had studied Chinese language for about 3 weeks (just words) and I struggled to pronounce properly. For me, the most difficult and important thing is pronunciation. So, it’s the happiest to learn correct pronunciation in early stage. I’ll keep learning Chinese language.
Jitti
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A Great Chinese Learning Experience at Keats Chengdu

My experience studying Chinese in Chengdu at Keats was very positive and enjoyable. The class was well organized and adapted effectively to different learning levels while covering all important lessons, including speaking, listening, grammar, vocabulary, and real-life communication practice. The teachers were professional, patient, and supportive throughout the course. Teacher Hong and Teacher Wang were especially excellent, as they explained difficult topics clearly and created a comfortable and engaging learning environment. I also appreciated how the program combined structured classroom learning with practical daily conversations, which made studying in Chengdu both effective and memorable. Overall, Keats provided a high-quality learning experience that helped build confidence and improve Chinese language skills significantly.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Prepare power bank, better if you have basic Chinese knowledge
Sara
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Loved it

I studied at Keats School in Kunming with my tutor Du. Before coming to China, I knew almost no Chinese, so I was nervous at first. But Du made me feel comfortable straight away, and we got along very well. Every week we learned around 100 new words, and I was surprised that I could actually remember them. As a beginner, I appreciated that there was not a lot of heavy homework. Most of my learning came from reviewing flashcards and practicing naturally during class and daily life, which worked really well for me.

One of my favourite parts of studying at Keats was the outdoor lessons and cultural experiences. We visited places like the Cultural Village, Green Lake, flower markets, and local cafés. These experiences made learning Chinese feel real and connected to everyday life. I also loved getting milk tea almost every day. The city felt safe, lively, and full of character.

During my time there, I also went through some personal difficult moments, and Du was incredibly kind and comforting. I will always remember her patience and support, not only as a teacher but as a person.

My stay at Keats School itself was very comfortable. I loved my room — it had everything I needed, including a double bed, bathroom, thy cleaned once a week and a window facing the road. Willow was always very helpful whenever I needed anything and made me feel at home during my stay. The food was also wonderful, with delicious home-cooked meals every day that made the experience feel warm and welcoming. The other students were also so lovely and it was great to share meals and go on excursions with them.

Studying in Kunming was such a memorable experience for me, and I’m very grateful for my time at Keats School.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
I was just worried about sounding silly but all that nervousness went away speaking with my tutor and the other students.
Pros
  • Supportive and patient teaching style that worked well for a complete beginner
  • Great cultural learning experiences outside the classroom
  • Comfortable and welcoming living environment