I spent a lot of time researching study abroad programs in China, primarily because I'd just graduated university and needed to find something that was both flexible outside of traditional calendar semesters and friendly to non-exchange students. LTL checked both of these boxes. I needed to study from early January to late April so that I could maximize my time in China, but most programs begin right after Lunar New Year (mid February) and end well into the summer. With LTL, you can pick your dates down to the week year-round.
Communication with LTL's advisors was quick, fluid, and addressed any concerns I had. I believe there was a total of about 100 emails between me and Mojca, who helped me along the way (shout out, she was excellent!). Going to China is especially difficult because of the more strenuous Visa process relative to other countries, but I felt totally prepared going in.
I opted-in to all of LTL's additional services, such as airport pickup, SIM/transport card, and "survival kit." They were reasonably priced and met expectations. About the cost, there is no nickel and diming. Once you've decided on a program, they will send you a document which gives an exact cost down to the penny. After wiring that, I didn't encounter any problems. Having a number to work with my budget was extremely convenient.
Everything went smoothly with the flight. There were some hiccups with the Visa, but nothing LTL can do about that. When I arrived, the driver took me directly to my host family, who helped me move in. We went out for lunch and to the park on the first day! I felt secure from the moment I arrived, and they helped resolve any confusion I had about living in Chengdu. When class started on Monday, the location was clearly communicated and easy to find, aside from navigating a skyscraper for the first time. Fortunately the entire Chengdu metro (and I believe China in general, Shanghai for sure) is in English as well as Chinese, so if you're nervous about that, everything is orderly and easy to understand.
Classes are exactly what was advertised and exceeded expectations. 1-on-1 lessons tailored to my skill level, and all materials provided. LTL was already the cheapest option that I identified, as well as the most convenient. I feel somewhat bad for my teacher, as I was the only student there during the Lunar New Year (about a month holiday in general, similar to Christmas/New Years in USA), but the fact that they accommodated my unique time-line and made it possible for me to be in China for an additional month demonstrates just how far they go to ensure your experience is personalized.
I cannot express just how great accommodations are. My host family brought me in like one of their own. I met the extended family (and the grandpas took a liking to me, probably because I indulged in Chinese "White Wine" with them a few times), went on numerous excursions, even visiting Chonqing, in addition to usual trips about the city. My host father went as far as to find an American flag football league for me, comprised entirely of Chinese people. I don't just live with them, I LIVE with them. I couldn't even find any other Chinese study abroad programs with host families, so theres that as well.
Aside from LTL, Chengdu is a GREAT place to study Chinese. It is a mega-city, bigger than Chicago, yet 99% of Americans haven't even heard about it (not that this is a great surprise). This is because there is a stark lack of foreigners. Most days I'll take my hour commute via subway and bus, as well as some general exploring, and never see a single foreigner. I saw more foreigners in 5 minutes while in Shanghai than my first few weeks in Chengdu. This means that you're immersion won't be broken every few hours when you come across someone else who sticks out like a sore thumb. Chengdu is also a relaxed city, so people are friendly and welcoming. There are also an immense amount of cultural sites just outside of the city.
I hiked up Emeishan, a sacred buddhist mountain, with a few people I randomly met. We walked a total of 13 miles that day and traversed 2000 feet going up (sorry for not using the metric system my non American friends! They use that here like the rest of world, so prepare to use your calculator). The peak was 4000 meters. I haven't even scratched the surface of all the city (and Sichuan) have to offer, but LTL has a list of attractions that could fill your calendar for an entire semester in their office.
Because Chengdu is a mega-city, every niche is out there somewhere. You can ask Chinese friends to help you find them! For example, I found a standup comedy club where I managed to do an open mic set for 5 minutes totally in Chinese and didn't bomb. A Russian friend I met told me that he's in a WeChat group with about 400 other Russians. American Football. Great clubs. My point is that even though Chengdu is not well-known outside of China (although that may be American ignorance), it still has ~20,000,000 people, so whatever your groove is, you can find Chinese friends to have fun with.
LTL is the way to go, and I know the quality of Chengdu's school will translate to all of their locations. Do your research, but I ensure you that if you were as thorough as I was, you will conclude that this is the best way for you to study in China.
Bless!
