Omeida Chinese Academy

Program Reviews

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Mary
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Studying Chinese in Yangshuo

I had a wonderful week studying Chinese in Yangshuo. The staff at the language school were super helpful and did everything possible to support the students, for example arranging accommodation and transport, and setting me up with a language partner. The teachers were friendly and patient and able to answer any questions. The lessons were pitched at an appropriate level of challenge and I was able to practise my Chinese. I would recommend the course for both solo travellers and for those travelling in a group. As soon as I have another opportunity, I will be returning to Yangshuo and studying English there again.

Pros
  • Opportunity to practise Chinese and learn more language
  • Exploring Yangshuo and finding out more about the culture there
  • Excellent service from everyone working at the language school
Cons
  • I would have liked more opportunities to practise my language
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Yuval
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing 3 weeks with Omeida in Yangshuo

Had the best time. I'm a 34-year-old solo traveler, and Omeida was a perfect opportunity to meet Chinese people and people from all around the world, study together, and improve my Chinese quickly. The staff, activities, local food, and the room I was provided were all amazing and I thank you for the opportunity highly recommend it to everyone.

The level was adjusted for my exact needs to help me fit in, the classroom and common space were great, and I enjoyed traveling through beautiful Yangshuo in my spare time.

What was your funniest moment?
Jumping to a huge river on an outdoors adventure excursion.
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Nigel
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great experience

Our experience with Omeida was excellent. My 16-year-old son attended a 2 week summer camp and then a 1 week private class. He was impressed by the quality of instruction .... highly skilled, patient, and deeply committed to helping students succeed in learning Chinese.

The three-week camp provided an immersive environment where my son could fully engage with the language. The instructors focused on building a strong foundation in Chinese, covering essential grammar points, practical vocabulary, and all four key language skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. The lessons were well-structured and paced to match the students' different learning speeds, ensuring that everyone could keep up and feel confident.

What truly stood out was the supportive atmosphere created by the teachers. They were always encouraging, readily answering questions, and offering constructive feedback. My son felt comfortable and motivated to learn, which made a significant difference in his progress.

In his spare time he also helped out by teaching English to some of the native Chinese students. He gained a lot by sharing a room with native Chinese kids, speaking in both Chinese and English.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Give it a go and enjoy the experience ! There are many other foreign students learning Chinese and many native Chinese students learning English. A fun learning environment with an opportunity to make new friends and learn about each others culture.
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Bianca
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Entre montanhas e rios: aprendendo a língua chinesa / Between mountains and rivers: learning the Chinese language

Fui para China porque queria aprender a língua chinesa imersa no cotidiano do povo chinês. Foi a melhor coisa que fiz. Estudei por 3 meses em Yang Shuo, um lugar rodeado por montanhas e rios, onde exala cultura por todos os poros. O verão tem cheiro de brisa e orvalho da manhã. Com verde em diferentes tons, o campo, as árvores, as flores, a terra e as montanhas e nós respiramos com mais leveza. No outono temos temperatura mais amenas e um pouco de chuva. Ao som da chuva e, em sintonia com ela, movimentamo-nos pelas ruas, para a escola. Com sua melodia suave, e às vezes, com sua batida forte, aprendemos essa língua milenar e misteriosa. A 欧美大, em YangShuo, é uma ótima escola que ensina a língua chinesa para estrangeiros. Aqui podemos aprender, além da língua chinesa, um pouco de como, esse povo milenar, vive. É uma experiência mágica e única. Há uma expressão que me encanta "慢慢。。。” então posso dizer...慢慢走慢慢爱。。。

English Version:
I went to China because I wanted to learn the Chinese language by being immersed in the daily lives of Chinese people. It was the best thing I did. I studied for 3 months in Yang Shuo, a place surrounded by mountains and rivers, where culture exudes from every pore. Summer smells like a breeze and morning dew. With green in different tones, the countryside, the trees, the flowers, the land, and the mountains we breathe more lightly. In autumn we have milder temperatures and a little rain. To the sound of the rain and in tune with it, we move through the streets, toward school. With its soft melody, and sometimes, its strong beat, we learn this ancient and mysterious language. 欧美大, Yangshuo, is a great school that teaches Chinese to foreigners. Here we can learn, in addition to the Chinese language, a little about how these ancient people lived. It is a magical and unique experience. There is an expression that enchants me "slowly"... so I can say... walk slowly, love slowly...

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
Estudar na 欧美大 foi algo único, mágico e surpreendente. Um das situações que me marcou foi encontrar na sala de estudantes, em momento posterior ao horário de aula, em um dia da semana, uma apresentação de dança por um dançarino chinês. Encontrar em intervalos das aulas alguma manifestação cultural local. Cultura irradiando em todo tempo, por todos os poros.
Pros
  • Professores e instrutores: a escola tem uma equipe altamente qualificada, atenciosa, dinâmica.
  • Acomodação e alimentação: a escola oferece acomodação e alimentação a um valor muito acessível.
  • Imersão cultural: a equipe da escola organiza regularmente passeios, quize, jantares, apresentações, brincadeiras, aula cultural.
Cons
  • Não fui muito feliz com minhas parcerias de idioma. Poderia ter parceiros de idioma em que a intenção primeira seja ajudar o outro a aprender a língua chinesa.
  • Requer um alto nível de inglês.
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Thierry
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

An amazing experience

I spent three weeks in training in Yangshuo which was an unforgettable adventure. First of all the team is truly incredible, always listening to the students and their expectations. I was in a class of three then two people which allowed everyone to participate and therefore rapid progress. Then many activities are offered outside of class. A visit to a tea plantation, a day of hiking along the Lijiang River, a gourmet meal, a visit to a minority village ... the atmosphere is really excellent and everyone can participate at their convenience. The accommodation is perfect, two minutes from the school. Before arriving I wondered about the environment but the school is in a very lively area with an incredible number of shops and restaurants. This residential area is close enough to the tourist area to be able to enjoy restaurants, bars, and other distractions in the evening. Yangshuo is ideal in my opinion. The city is large and lively enough while having retained its traditional side. It is also in the middle of a magnificent natural area where mountains and rivers offer a superb playground.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I would certainly stay longer. Three weeks go by really quickly.
Cons
  • A good level in English is needed
Default avatar
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My experience in Yangshou

Yangshuo School Experience
My time at Yangshuo School was a memorable and enriching experience. Located in a picturesque setting surrounded by stunning karst mountains, the school offers a unique blend of education and cultural immersion.

Activities
The school hosts a variety of activities that cater to different interests. From language classes to outdoor adventures like hiking, rock climbing, and cycling, there’s something for everyone. The cultural workshops, such as cooking classes and calligraphy, provided a deeper understanding of Chinese traditions and practices.

My experience was incredibly rewarding, filled with personal growth and cultural exploration. I would highly recommend this school to anyone looking to immerse themselves in Chinese culture while making lasting connections.

Pros
  • Diverse Activities: The wide range of activities kept things exciting and allowed me to explore different aspects of Chinese culture.
  • Engaging Instructors: The teachers and guides were passionate and knowledgeable, making each session enjoyable and informative.
  • Networking Opportunities: Meeting like-minded peers from around the world enriched the experience and fostered lifelong friendships.
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Linda
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Learn Mandarin with Omedia in beautiful Yangshuo

I am a British-born Chinese born in the UK but lived in Hong Kong so I can speak fluent English and Cantonese. I've been wanting to learn Mandarin in China as a lifelong ambition and so glad I chose Omedia. Right from day 1, I felt welcome, the culture of the school is througout all the staff, teachers and the students in a great village style community. They are all so friendly and welcoming that you are never alone and I've created so many fun memories. I also loved the language partner programme they offer where I can learn practical conversational Mandarin that's besoke to my needs, whilst in returns I teach my partner English. My Mandarin has improved greatly so I've decided to extend my original 2 weeks to a 4 weeks stay. I am sad to leave.

What would you improve about this program?
There are so so many places to eat which was a little overwhelming. You may wish to consider to create a digital 'Welcome Guide' for your international students where to eat and what to eat. A description of what the local cusine will be really helpful, for exaple what is oil tea lol. Plus local places to visit like chinese herbal hairwash and Romance park is literally 5 mins down the road but I had no idea!
Pros
  • Omedia's school's culture
  • In a safe environment to practice with local vendors, plus there will always be other students around to help if you are stuck
  • Yangshuo's beautiful scenary
Cons
  • A fridge in the room could be most helpful
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Clara
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Very good experience in Yangshuo

I spent 3 weeks in Yangshuo taking 3 lessons a day at Omeida. I totally recommend it, from the first moment Omeida makes things super easy for you when preparing your trip. They answer any possible questions you might have coming from the other side of the world to a small town in China. The environment is amazing, surrounded by the mountains. The teachers are really kind as well as all Omeida staff so you feel at home from the beginning when you arrive. The lessons were really practical, in small groups (We were 4 to 5 people) so I improved my speaking that was one of the main reasons for going to China.

What was your funniest moment?
I had a lot of fun moments there. Talking to elder people at the Yangshuo Park early in the morning trying to understand how to play cards with them or riding a electric scooter for the first time in the middle of a big crossroad in a traffic jam.
Pros
  • Really nice location, Yangshuo is beautiful and you don't need to go far to enjoy landscapes
  • Making friends from all over the world
  • Small groups for the lessons, you can practise a lot your speaking and ask questions to your teacher
Cons
  • Accommodation is very basic, but still convenient and really close to the school
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Kim
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

May 2024

I stayed here for a month with their provided housing. Class sizes were small at the time that I went and class materials (textbooks) were all included and provided for. There are always teachers or students learning english there who can help with the content as well outside of class hours. The collaborations efforts between the chinese and the english school as well as the everyday practice exploring around are very effective in improving one's language skills.
Everyone was very friendly and one of my favourite parts were the trips that the school offers on the weekend (both the english school and the chinese school offer these so sometimes to get to pick too). Omeida's events make it very easy to make relations and so it's a good place for a solo traveller.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
You can opt in for a meal plan however most people go out together for lunch and dinner there, when you're there you could probably figure out a way to get some meal tickets for the cafeteria but have some days without so you're free to try the local cuisine and go out with friends.
I also recommend learning how to ride a moped/scooter as its very easy to get around with one, also taxis here are very affordable and most places one could walk to if need be.
Pros
  • Lots of group activities and adventures
  • Small class sizes
  • Affordable
Cons
  • No refrigerator in provided dorms
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Renato
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best experience to improve my chinese!

I had a lot of fun while also improving my chinese. The classes were just suited for me and got the chance to make a lot of friends in here! I could also learn a lot about the culture, the history and about the daily life of chinese people!
I would definitely come back to keep learning more and having also a lot of fun. Besides, the activities that the school organized were very fun and let me experience the beautiful and unique landscapes of Yangshuo, truly an amazing place to travel 😍 totally recommend to come and live the experience!

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
Many things like mold tofu, pig's ears, noodles with river snails, Durian fruit, duck and more haha. It doesn't matter if I liked them, but the experience of trying new dishes let me know more flavors and combinations of ingredients I would never dare to try at home.
Pros
  • Full immersion with new cool things to experience
  • Fun activities with very welcoming people
  • Best way to improve the language quickly
Cons
  • Depends for each the person, but for me all were pros