Program Reviews

I stayed in Beijing LTL location for two months. I really enjoyed my stay. Any issues that I encountered where taken care of and you can reach the student advisor any time. I did encounter a problem with my first home stay, but the school handled the situation very professionally and I was able to switch. During my stay I met different people from all over the world and made lots of new friends as well. My teacher (Alice) did a great job as well. She is very patient and you can really tell that she loves her job! I can definitely recommend! ;)

The teachers, staff and other students were great. Everyone was really open and accommodating. Any small issue encountered from SIM card to getting around the city the staff quickly helped with, they provided assistance before, during and after the program. The student community was great and activities organized by the school aided in seeing the city. From exploring Beijing’s night life to learning how make dumplings. Teacher Alice was great! She made sure to explain everything super well and took time when any of us students were confused.

The lessons at LTL Chengdu are personalised, intensive and motivating. I was picked up where I was linguistically right from the start. I would particularly like to emphasise my teacher Presli: she is not only a top professional, but also a great person. Her ability to notice and celebrate even the smallest progress motivated me enormously. She helped me to overcome my weaknesses and at the same time encouraged my strengths. I learnt more in eight weeks than I had in months. A clear recommendation!

LTL Chengdu is more than just a language school. Here you are taken seriously, supported individually and seen as a person. I got to know four great teachers - first and foremost Presli, who teaches with clarity, humour and great empathy. Unicorn took us to great restaurants at lunchtime - a culinary adventure! And Mandy organises everything smoothly in the background. Thanks to the buddy programme, where friendly Chinese buddies help with practising, you immediately feel integrated. The school has state-of-the-art facilities and is located in a stylish building. And Chengdu? A fascinating city - big, but never anonymous. I felt at home from day one.

The experience here has been amazing. The teachers, the staff, the environment. I love how it feels like a family, and you don't feel judged. I have learned so much and made lifelong friends. My homestay was the best, we are even planning a visit to my home country. I loved everything, definitely recommend! Also, I enjoy how they always find ways to make fun activities to integrate everyone and get us to experience more of the Beijing culture. Special thanks to my Chinese teacher Lilia, the most patient, awesome, and wholesome Mandarin teacher I have ever had!

Studying Chinese with LTL in Beijing was absolutely wonderful! My teacher Carol was amazing - very smart, patient and well prepared at all times. 1-1 class with her was super fun and I made so much progress. My homestay was amazing as well. I lived with an auntie who cooked the best food every day and only spoke to me in Chinese - even more progress! The free time activities organized by Linda and the fabulous school team were great as well, from visiting temples to tai chi class and tasting tea, it really allowed me to discover Chinese culture from so many angles. I 10/10 recommend this program and really recommend the 1-1 class and homestay option.

I just concluded a two-week stay in Seoul with 40 hours of 1:1 Korean language instruction at LTL Korean Language School. My instructor was excellent: a clear communicator, well-prepared, adjusted to my personal learning style, and always positive and encouraging. She not only taught the language with an emphasis on speaking as I had requested, but also discussed the culture of Korea in which this language exists. This enriched the experience perfectly.

What I most appreciated about the school was the flexibility to meet my needs. With my husband in tow as we traveled and because we had made many plans, I did not participate in extra activities arranged by the school, although they looked like fun. The length of my stay, being able to learn 1:1, which is a priority for me as an older learner, and the ability to go my own way after class every day, was just the right situation for me. So, thanks to LTL for allowing these differences and providing options for students. I hope to return again to continue my journey in the Korean language.

Please Note: I cannot evaluate housing as I made my own hotel reservations in Seoul.

I was at the LTL Language School in Beijing for two weeks and it was great! The classes were both intensive and fun, the teachers were good and motivated, and after class, they offered some interesting activities. Almost everything went smoothly and if it didn’t, the super nice and helpful staff solved the problem very very quickly. So there was nothing to worry about and I was able to just enjoy my time there and focus on exploring the city and studying. The location of the school is also great for having lunch nearby after school and then doing some sightseeing.

Both your teacher and the administrator can attend to your learning needs personally here and you can help setup the program. My teacher, Summer, is knowledgeable, has a great attitude, and is easy to work with. The weather in Beihai is great. For those looking to get out of the huge cities this is an excellent option. They have a lounge and activities to make the experience more than just a class. The homestay has been very good as well, giving me a chance to sample Chinese home meals and discuss things with my host.

I've just finished my short course in Beijing and I'm absolutely delighted with my experience. The school managed my arrival smoothly, I was placed in a small group according to my level of chinese. I loved my classes time, which were fun and challenging at the same time. Our teacher Lilia was just perfect and very energetic. Our director of studies Linda handled all questions very smoothly.
The classes were held from 8 AM to 12 PM, followed by after-school activities, including sightseeing and cultural discoveries. The school office is cool place to be, it's also well located, a lot of restaurants and food stalls just downstairs. A very special word to my host family, a real cultural immersion and a lot of kindest. Can't wait to come back!

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!