Program Reviews

My time at CLI was truly life-changing. While I was there, my teachers gave me an incredible perspective on life and culture in China, and my fellow students incredible perspective on the life and culture of their countries.

Not only that, I learned Chinese far faster than I thought I possibly could. In my short 3 weeks here, I made more progress than I had in the past 9 months. I went from barely being able to order food to being able to hold (basic) conversations with friends and strangers, and I now feel very confident saying that I speak Chinese.

Outside of the classroom, the teachers, interns, and students are so friendly and welcoming. I quickly felt like I was part of the community and would go eat, drink, hike, explore downtown, take part in tea ceremonies, and just enjoy spending time with them all. They all are really what made the experience so special.

On my last day, after climbing up a mountain in the nearby 七星公园, I looked out at the city and cried knowing that I was leaving tomorrow morning.

This was my second time studying at the Chinese Language Institute (CLI) in Guilin. My first experience was a one-month program in June/July 2023, and this time, I stayed for six weeks. I fell in love with Guilin and CLI’s immersive approach to learning Chinese.

At CLI, students are paired with three different teachers from Monday to Friday, and the program emphasizes full immersion, meaning very little (if any) English is spoken. The goal is to accelerate speaking and listening comprehension. Each class session lasts two hours, and the structure ensures well-rounded progress in different language skills.

My daily routine included a comprehensive class where I studied the HSK 5A textbook with a teacher I’ve been working with for two years (I also take online lessons with her). Over six weeks, we covered six chapters, reinforcing grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structures.

Three times a week, I had a listening and speaking class with an excellent teacher. Unlike the structured HSK lessons, these sessions were more spontaneous. A simple comment I made could turn into an in-depth discussion, and new vocabulary was reinforced through fun oral quizzes in later classes. This interactive style helped me think quickly in Chinese and improved my conversational fluency.

Twice a week, I met with a reading teacher who tailored lessons to my interests. Since I wanted to learn about China’s electric car industry, she provided relevant articles with vocabulary and grammar explanations. We also read diverse materials, including an ancient poem, texts about the Dragon Boat Festival, and modern wedding customs. In my final session, I read from an advanced reader from the Princeton Language Program. Though challenging, I recognized many words—proof of how much I had learned across all my classes.

CLI’s immersive environment pushed me to think and communicate in Chinese constantly. The combination of structured textbook learning, spontaneous speaking practice, and personalized reading materials made my progress faster and more engaging than traditional classroom settings.

Guilin’s beautiful scenery and welcoming atmosphere made the experience even more enjoyable. Between classes, I explored the city’s rivers and mountains, practicing Chinese with locals. CLI’s program not only strengthened my language skills but also deepened my appreciation for Chinese culture.

This second trip confirmed how effective CLI’s immersion method is. I plan to return for further study, as each visit brings noticeable improvement. For anyone serious about learning Chinese, CLI in Guilin is an ideal choice.

My time at CLI in Guilin was one of the most special periods of my life. Learning Chinese through one-on-one lessons helped me improve faster than I expected, but what made the experience truly unforgettable were the people. The teachers are skilled, and they are patient, encouraging, and genuinely invested in my growth. I had meaningful conversations every day, not only about language, but about life.

Outside the classroom, the friendships I built with classmates and interns added so much depth to my experience. Whether it was grabbing 米粉 after class, hiking up mountains, or just sharing experiences, those moments made Guilin feel like home. The environment, from the river to the mountains, only added to the sense that I was somewhere really special.

CLI gave me more than language skills. It gave me memories and relationships I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.

I really enjoyed my experience at CLI and felt my Chinese improving day by day. Other than my daily calls with my wife I was speaking Chinese all day. Outside of class the staff and teachers patiently spoke with me in Chinese which was just as valuable as the 4 hours of class each day. Each day I would look forward to the delicious food and interesting conversations to be had at lunch. Then on the weekends there were both formal and informal activities with both the students and younger staff enabling further Chinese practice.

The dorm rooms were very large and comfortable. Furthermore if I had any issues with my dorm they were addressed immediately.

It was overall an incredible experience, especially as my first trip overseas, it was the longest 5 weeks of my life in the best way, doing and learning new things constantly. The school has many staff members that can help you before and after arriving as well as a number of interns who were all incredibly interesting, friendly, and especially helpful, with any issue or problem I had during my stay. After arriving you may need to visit the police station in order to let them know that you've arrived safely, you will also likely need to acquire a Chinese SIM card if you do not have an E-SIM or your device cannot use them like mine, depending on how you intend to pay for things you may also have to visit the bank, and many other things like these, and for all of them the staff and interns helped me every step of the way to make settling into life here as easy as possible. Everybody was a friend, staff and students alike, and I enjoyed talking to every single person I met here which was a lot. Students often spontaneously get together, occasionally with some staff members/interns too, in order to all go to a restaurant together for dinner or explore the city. There are also several activities posted on the activity board every week for fun things to do around Guilin and the surrounding countryside together, though these are payed for separately from tuition on the basis of which ones you sign up for. I intend to return hopefully soon which brings me to the next point being the price, due to how much fun I had I can't help but feel it was worth it, but it can be pricey especially if you intend to stay for longer durations of time. That being said the tuition price accounts for in-school housing, lunches on all weekdays, 20 - 30 hours of one-on-one classes a week, and probably some other things I forgot, assuming you set up your immersion program the same way I did (which is also very modular depending on your needs and preferences). The classes are all great too and I've enjoyed doing them with all of my teachers, it's sometimes difficult to tell how much your Chinese has improved but they accept people of any level, even if you don't prepare at all before coming like me. Apologies for the long-winded review, it's my last day here before I go home as I wright this and I really want to make sure I capture just how accommodating and awesome it's been here, I've already told many of my friends to come here with me when I return and I haven't even left yet.

Definitely recommend CLI and would return if I have the opportunity!
- They assign you three teachers w/ one-on-one classes, so you really get to know each other and the instruction is very personal
- Lovely community feel with lunches together at the school with teachers and students, hanging out at CLI, and friendly 'interns' to help you find your way around town
- They plan a variety of activities to experience more culture and explore the local area
- Super friendly and helpful staff
- CLI itself is on a quiet road but close to lots of restaurants

I am a heritage student - my parents are Chinese and I grew up with Mandarin in my household, and did a bit of formal classes here and there. I've been relearning Chinese as an adult through various online tutoring services and self studying, but felt like my Chinese stagnated recently and wasn't improving much.

I did the immersion program at CLI and really loved it. I felt that it helped me breakthrough a bit of the bottleneck I've been feeling with learning Chinese lately. The 1:1 classes are very tailored to your ability and interests and felt like the perfect level, which can be hard to find for a heritage student (since my listening ability is quite high, speaking ability is OK, and reading and writing is very elementary). The teachers here are GREAT and are way better than any teachers I found online myself through other platforms.

Lunch at the school was amazing, very healthy and delicious!

There are a lot of other students who may be speaking English, but you can definitely choose how immersive you want the experience to be, by choosing to live at a homestay or choosing to socialize more with the teachers/interns. If you want to completely be immersed, I highly recommend doing the homestay! I really loved the family I stayed with and getting to eat meals with them everyday. I chose to speak very little English while I was there, and felt like my Chinese improved a lot.

CLI was a fantastic choice for my month-long Chinese language immersion. The school’s lively atmosphere made learning enjoyable and engaging. The teachers were incredibly supportive, kind and patient, and the staff went above and beyond to ensure a comfortable stay. The facilities were excellent, making me feel right at home. Beyond the classroom, the city itself was a wealth of cultural experiences. From exploring ancient temples to indulging in delicious local cuisine, I was constantly immersed in Chinese culture. If you're looking for a Chinese language school that combines effective learning with a memorable experience, I highly recommend CLI.

I spent two weeks in Guilin studying Chinese with CLI, and it was an incredible experience! The teachers were fantastic—I learned so much from them, and their teaching methods were engaging and effective. After my time at CLI, I spent another two weeks traveling around China, and everything I learned during the course proved to be incredibly useful.

I stayed with a Chinese family during my course, and it was absolutely wonderful. I had a beautiful private room, and the family took me to various activities and helped me practice Chinese in everyday situations. They were so kind and supportive, making my stay even more memorable.

Without a doubt, I would love to repeat this experience in the future!

I spend 4 weeks over the summer learning Chinese at CLI, and it was a great experience! My Chinese improved a lot. My only regret is that I didn't have more time because I think if I could study there for a few months, I would be able able to speak Chinese very well my the end of it. I did 4 hours of Chinese classes per day, and I had 3 teachers. 1 comprehensive teacher I saw for 2 hours everyday, 1 writing and reading teacher I saw twice a week, and 1 speaking and listening teacher I saw 3 times a week. They are really willing to teach you what you request, so I decided to focus on speaking and listening.