Program Reviews

I came to CLI for a total of 3 months during the summer, and I had an amazing experience that not only helped rapidly improve my Chinese, but also gave me the opportunity to meet many new friends. I had previously learned some Chinese before, but when I first arrived, I spoke very slow and fragmented as I needed a lot of time to think first. Thanks to my amazing teachers and the immersive experience overall, by the time I left, I was speaking Chinese at a much faster, natural speed. It helped improve my Chinese a lot by also regularly chatting to the interns, who were very friendly and willing to help us with anything or just to hang out. I made a lot of friends with fellow students as well, regularly going out with them to explore the city. CLI also provides a lot of events to the students, I particularly enjoyed one weekend excursion to a mountain village where the sights were breathtaking and incredibly refreshing.

One issue I did have though was the accommodation. The A/C in the upper floors broke once and the water had dripped into my dorm walls, and combined with the high humidity in Guilin, it caused mold to grow and made me sick.

I spent 2 weeks at CLI, which is obviously too short time to learn the language but still it gave very good and unique experience. Since I had some basic knowledge of Chinese before, they valuated me as HSK 2 level student.

I chose the accommodation in the CLI premises and this was perfect choice for me. The room itself was nothing super fancy but covered all basic needs and that was just ideal for me. I consider staying in the same building where the classes take place is the most convenient solution.

The whole staff of CLI is super friendly, polite and supportive.

One-on-one learning process is the most effective and my 2 weeks went very fast. The learning process was engaging, interesting and all my three teachers were very good and supportive.

CLI location city – Guilin- is very good. The city itself is not very big and the locals speak hardly any other language than their own- so you must cope from the first moment you step outside 

CLI location in Guilin I think is also not bad- basically all you need is at walking distance- gym, small stores and countless small restaurants for breakfast or dinner.

Many of the other students I was with at CLI were not attending for the first time. One guy told it is his 9th time at CLI. So it means the place is so good people are keep returning!

Would I go back to CLI?
Yes, definitely, because I have only and only positive emotions and experiences from my time at CLI.

I chose CLI because they were super flexible on the timing and nature of the instruction, and because Guilin seemed fun. It is a diverse place with language learners of all ages and from lots of different countries.

The teachers were wonderful, quickly diagnosing my level and goals and tailoring the lessons to match them appropriately. More importantly, they customized things to suit my interests. For example, I am interested in history and had some plans to visit archaeological sites, so some lessons centered around those things. It was interesting and made my onward exploration easier! The teachers definitely get five stars.

I stayed in the CLI building, which was comfortable and clean. There are always a lot of "opt-in" activities around town or in the building. It is nice because you can participate or relax, whichever you prefer. Their lunches are great and social, and almost everyone is trying to stick with Chinese.

The interns at CLI are true heros. These are mostly aspiring teachers getting some practical experience. From my first greeting to my final goodbye, they were super friendly and always happy to help. For example, they helped me figure out how to use Wechat to make museum reservations.

I was then studying in Hong Kong for an exchange semester of my Master Degree. With a friend we decided to visit Guilin for a couple of days. He had done a 6 week course at CLI before, so after hearing his experiences and a quick visit at the school, I spontaneously decided to extend my stay in Guilin for two weeks and have an intensive learning experience. From day one you are fully immersed in learning, meeting friend, and of course, enjoying the amazing Guilin cuisine. I will come again as soon as possible!

I spent four weeks at CLI and I wish I could have stayed longer. The teachers were very professional and well organized, with plenty of opportunities to practice your language skills throughout the day. After school and on weekends, the CLI team arranges spectacular cultural and sports activities that are fun and educational. And I really enjoyed exploring the town of Guilin and the surrounding mountains which are great for hikes and long walks. An hour away is Yangshuo which is also a popular tourist destination. The school will arrange day trips but I recommend going for at least a full weekend.

I did a six-week homestay; this was my first visit to China.

CLI is an amazing place, as proven by my experience and the fact that, during my stay, I think I met as many second, third, fourth, and nth-time visitors as I did first-timers like myself. The teachers are all amazing, the lunches provided by the school are so great, and the activities every TWRSa are a great way to experience things besides the school.

Guilin is gorgeous and fun if you have classmates you enjoy or make friends with people unaffiliated with the school. I was lucky enough that I had both. That sometimes made me socially over-busy.

Before going to CLI, I had worked through the Hello Chinese app. I knew some vocab and grammar, but I had no real-time listening/speaking ability. After six weeks at CLI, I could have a small conversation with a person on the street and could explain preferences at stores/restaurants. I consider that a huge improvement.

I plan to go back at least annually. Unless external issues make this impossible, I plan to stay at least six weeks next time, hopefully longer.

I did six weeks of CLI's immersion program and it definitely exceeded my expectations. I started from zero Chinese level, only did some Duolingo lessons online in preparation. I had three teachers, which all focused on different parts (understanding/basic language knowledge; conversational; reading/writing). In only six weeks I managed to get a very decent Chinese level which allows me to have basic conversations in Chinese with local people. The best part was the practice with local people which I met through activities of CLI or on my own.

I also met a lot of other students at CLI with different backgrounds, from complete beginners like me to students which almost spoke Chinese fluently and just wanted to focus on some areas which they wanted to make perfect. From what I gathered so far everyone appreciated the program a lot!

I had a wonderful experience at CLI. The teachers were phenomenal—knowledgeable, supportive, and truly the highlight of my time there. I studied for one month, which felt far too short! Guilin itself was also an ideal setting for language learning, with its beautiful landscapes and welcoming atmosphere. The program is well-structured, with plenty of support and activities that enrich the overall experience.

The only drawback for me was the housing. I was initially placed in a 5th-floor room with a broken AC, no hot water, and a persistent bathroom odor. I later learned this particular room had recurring issues over the years, yet students were still placed there until complaints were made. After two weeks, I requested to switch, and my new room was perfectly fine. My impression is that during the busy summer months, CLI fills every room, even those that aren’t fully functional or need significant updates. Given the program cost, I feel the housing quality could be improved. While the convenience of living on-site is undeniable, if I return, I’d likely choose a nearby hotel for better value and comfort.

Overall, I’m deeply grateful to the CLI team for their warmth, energy, and dedication. Despite the housing hiccup, my month at CLI was an incredible experience, and I hope to return in the future.

I had a wonderful experience learning at CLI Guilin. 4 hrs of learning per day. The centre has a number of activities and a full library of books in both English and Chinese. HSK level books are available to buy to continue learning after one leaves. They offer accommodation (hotel or homestay) and airport pickup service. Additional activities are also provided for a reasonable fee. Guilin is a beautiful town with lots of sites to visit in free time. Loved the experience overall and would highly recommend.

Well, what to say? I had lots of expectations going to Guilin for this immersion program, and the experience actually over exceeded my expectations! It was my first time in China, and spending an whole month at the institute was an unforgettable experience: the staff and the teachers are all great, very welcoming and professional; we had 4 hours per day, every weekday, in one-to-one classes; we could ask for tailored activities and they arranged it. The classes were all in in Chinese, so there was a lot of opportunity to speak the language and practice. At the institute there were shared spaces (like activity rooms or the kitchen) were one could mingle around with other students; the evenings or the weekends we could go out all together or for activities organized by CLI or among ourselves. Really an amazing experience and a great opportunity to explore the beautiful Guilin and its surroundings. Definitely recommended to anyone who wants to learn Chinese or to improve their Chinese and have the chance to speak with locals!