Keats Chinese School Reviews

Translation:
Spending a month at the Keats School in Chengdu was an experience I will certainly look back on with great fondness. I arrived with the goal of improving my Chinese, but ultimately, the month turned out to be much more than just a language course.
What I appreciated most was the teaching style. The lessons were highly interactive and never overly rigid; I always felt that my teacher truly listened to my needs and adapted the lessons to address the specific challenges I was facing. I particularly enjoyed working on vocabulary, expressions, and scenarios that I would actually encounter in everyday life. It was incredibly motivating to study something in class and then, shortly after, be able to recognize or use it outside the school.
I also really valued the opportunity to ask questions—even very specific ones—and to gain a better understanding of the nuances between similar words or expressions, allowing me to learn a more natural form of Chinese rather than just what is found in textbooks.
Living in Chengdu made the whole experience even more special. Every day offered a chance to put what I had learned into practice, talk to people, and get to know the city and Chinese culture better.
Over the course of the month, I certainly improved my Chinese, but above all, I gained much more confidence in actually using it. It was an intense, rewarding, and truly wonderful experience—one I am very happy to have had.

Original:
Trascorrere un mese alla Keats School di Chengdu è stata un’esperienza che ricorderò sicuramente con molto piacere. Sono arrivata con l’obiettivo di migliorare il mio cinese, ma alla fine questo mese è stato molto più di un semplice corso di lingua.
La cosa che ho apprezzato di più è stato il modo di insegnare. Le lezioni erano molto interattive e mai troppo rigide, e ho sempre avuto la sensazione che l’insegnante ascoltasse davvero le mie esigenze e adattasse le lezioni alle difficoltà che incontravo. Mi è piaciuto soprattutto lavorare su parole, espressioni e situazioni che potevo poi incontrare davvero nella vita di tutti i giorni. Studiare qualcosa in classe e riuscire poco dopo a riconoscerlo o utilizzarlo fuori dalla scuola è stato molto motivante.
Ho anche apprezzato tantissimo la possibilità di fare domande, anche molto specifiche, e di capire meglio le differenze tra parole o espressioni simili, così da imparare un cinese più naturale e non solo quello dei libri.
Vivere a Chengdu ha reso tutto ancora più speciale. Ogni giornata diventava un’occasione per mettere in pratica quello che avevo imparato, parlare con le persone e conoscere meglio la città e la cultura cinese.
In questo mese ho sicuramente migliorato il mio cinese, ma soprattutto ho acquisito molta più sicurezza nel provare a usarlo. È stata un’esperienza intensa, utile e davvero bella, che sono molto felice di aver fatto.

It was my dream to study Chinese in China, and the Keats Kunming campus is an ideal place to learn Chinese. The school is located in the city center, so access is very convenient. There are private rooms available on campus, and three meals a day are provided, creating an environment where students can fully concentrate on their studies. After class, various recreational activities are offered, and I joined several of them. I especially enjoyed making coasters while learning about Chinese history. On the weekend, I went out to try Kunming cuisine, which was wonderful because I wouldn’t have been able to go alone. There are also excursions on Saturdays and Sundays, and since the teachers accompany us, I felt safe and had a great time. I was happy that I could enjoy not only studying but also a fulfilling and fun leisure time.

Classes are conducted according to each student’s level. Ms. Ma taught with great enthusiasm and patience. She carefully checked my pronunciation, and I really enjoyed her lessons. Ms. Yu created a relaxed atmosphere and guided the class smoothly. The teachers are highly experienced and truly wonderful.

The program is very convenient because you can join for as short as one week. I would love to go back to Kunming soon and study at Keats again.

My teacher, Lao Shi Li, deserves so much credit for everything I learned during my time at Keats. I started the program knowing absolutely no Chinese—not even how to introduce myself—and by the end of my stay I was able to hold conversations, understand everyday speech, read and write basic Chinese, and most importantly, feel confident using the language. She has an incredible way of making learning feel both challenging and enjoyable.

Every lesson was interactive and engaging. Rather than relying only on textbooks, she constantly used creative activities that encouraged us to think in Chinese instead of simply memorizing vocabulary. We created our own stories using newly learned words, wrote and acted out dialogues, built conversations based on real-life situations, and played games where one student would replace a word in a sentence and the others had to figure out what it was. We also practiced speaking through repetition, gradually increasing the speed and difficulty until everyone became more comfortable. These activities created a classroom that was full of laughter, participation, and constant practice.

One of the things I appreciated most was her patience. Mandarin tones were one of the hardest parts for me, and I often mixed them up. Instead of rushing through them, she patiently corrected my pronunciation, explained the differences in a way that actually made sense, and encouraged me to keep trying until I got them right. She celebrated every bit of progress, no matter how small, which made me feel motivated rather than discouraged.

Her lessons always moved at a pace where everyone could follow along without feeling left behind, yet they were never slow or repetitive. She made sure every student understood before moving on, and she adapted her teaching style whenever someone was struggling. She also regularly sent detailed lesson notes after class, giving us an excellent resource to review what we had learned. Another thing I loved was how flexible she was—if there was something we wanted to learn, whether it was vocabulary for shopping, ordering food, traveling, or simply phrases we were curious about, she happily incorporated it into the lesson. Her enthusiasm, kindness, and genuine passion for teaching created an environment where everyone wanted to participate, ask questions, and improve.

Questo viaggio in Cina è stato molto più di un corso di lingua.
Sono partita con la voglia di mettermi alla prova, di migliorare il mio cinese e di vivere la cultura cinese.
Le lezioni sono state intense, a volte difficili, ma piene di vita. Ho avuto insegnanti che mi hanno accompagnata con pazienza e passione. Ho imparato non solo parole e frasi, ma anche a fidarmi di più della mia voce.Fuori dalla scuola, la Cina mi ha travolta: i profumi, i rumori, i colori, il cibo, le persone. Ho camminato, ho visitato musei, templi, mercati, piazze. Torno a casa con più consapevolezza, più sicurezza nella lingua e un grande bagaglio di ricordi.

I learnt so much from Kong Lao Shi and from Li Lao Shi They were so helpful and prepared so much for and after each class. I really think that I learned as much as I possibly could have at Keats. I am so grateful for the experience and for the entire school. The school organization was also great, for example they gave everybody an orientation tour of the neighbourhood to help us get oriented. I also enjoyed the city of Kunming a lot, because I could practice what I had learned in the lessons with local people.

Keats School in Chengdu is a fantastic place to learn Chinese while discovering one of China's most enjoyable cities! I have just returned from a week there and can wholeheartedly recommend it. The school offers the full package: having classes, accommodation and (delicious!) meals all in one place means you can focus entirely on learning the language.

I made great progress with my Chinese thanks to my teachers, Claire and Pi (Willow), who put together a customised curriculum tailored to my level and interests. They were also incredibly friendly, and their enthusiastic teaching style made the lessons not only effective but enjoyable too.

The service at Keats School is outstanding as well. Everything is well thought out, from airport pick-up to the laundry facilities, and communication before, during and after the course was excellent throughout.

Last but not least, Chengdu is a wonderful city to explore alongside your studies, with its rich culture, fascinating sights, delicious food scene and relaxed atmosphere.

All in all, it was a lovely experience, and I cannot wait to return to Keats School!

I had an amazing experience. The four hour daily intensive classes gave great structure. Teachers were fantastic: Amber, taught me for three weeks, was excellent at breaking down grammar and helping me to improve tones and pronunciation. Willow, in my final week, drew out a level of spoken detail I didn’t know I was capable of, and made classes genuinely fun. I was able to do HSK practice tests that week which was great to get a sense of progress. Class notes were well captured and shared soon after. The teachers work hard to understand your goals and areas for improvement and work to help you to improve.
It’s also a really social experience. The school organised many social outings. You have all your meals together in the week which is an amazing way to make new friends. Everyone is very friendly.
Claire the school coordinator is very supportive of students ensuring a positive experience.
The love ladies in the kitchen are so kind.
Accommodation was simple like a dorm room but comfortable with private bathroom and fridge.
School was a short walk to the metro so it was easy enough to explore.

I learned so much at the program. Kong Lao shi and Li Lao Shi were so sweet and helped me learn so much in just 3 weeks. The school was also well organized and responsive to all of my questions. Kunming was a great city to study in because I could practice all of my lessons in person with shopkeepers and new friends. I would definitely recommend Keats and Kunming. Also the housing was very nice because I got my own room and my own bathroom, and there were many convenience stores and cafes nearby.

I attended the one-on-one classes, and I found the program exceptionally effective for making rapid progress. The curriculum was entirely tailored to my personal needs and goals, which made all the difference—it immersed me fully in the language from day one and kept me constantly engaged.

My teacher was Professor Ma 马, she was absolutely outstanding! She carefully accommodated every request I had regarding course content, and she employed a wide variety of teaching methods to target different aspects of the language. She made each session lively and interesting, and she enriched the experience by weaving in thoughtful discussions about Chinese culture, which gave me a deeper understanding of the context behind the language.

I also have nothing but praise for the school's staff, especially Wang and Willow. They organized so many fun and enriching activities—visits to local sites, sports events, food tastings, and more. Whenever I needed help with anything, from navigating the maze of Chinese apps to sorting out daily logistics, they were always there to assist with warmth and efficiency.

The school's location is very convenient, as the accommodation and classrooms are in the same building. It's also close to the center of Kunming, which is a pleasant, laid-back city. One of the biggest advantages of studying here is that you get plenty of chances to practice your Chinese outside of class, in real-life situations. And if you're considering coming in August, the weather is ideal for studying—cool and comfortable, with just a bit of rain, but nothing that gets in the way.

I would absolutely recommend this program to anyone looking to improve their Chinese quickly while having a rich and enjoyable cultural experience!

Studying at Keats School has been an absolute game-changer for my Chinese journey. The school itself is modern, comfortable, and perfectly located—right in the city center with the metro just steps away, making it incredibly easy to explore all that Kunming has to offer. But the real highlight is undoubtedly the teaching. My teacher was patient, professional, and genuinely passionate about education. She tailored every lesson to my level and learning style, turning even the most challenging grammar into clear, manageable steps. She also weaved cultural insights into each class, making every session vivid and meaningful. Her constant encouragement kept me motivated every single day. And Kunming—the "Spring City"—is simply breathtaking. With mild weather year-round, fresh air, blooming flowers, and friendly locals, it's the perfect environment to study and grow. I couldn't have asked for a better place. Highly recommend!