Essential for Language Growth

I had been taking Chinese for 6 years, but never gone independently to China. I had always been on tour groups and class trips, and I found that I didn't learn much actual , useful Chinese. However, within one week of Minds Abroad I had learned to communicate fairly easily with the people. Being immersed in a growing Chinese city is truly the best way to learn Chinese, because you pick up on modern Chinese language style. Since Kunming is not as westernized as Beijing and Shanghai, there are not many English speakers which makes you depend on your Chinese. Therefore, you learn so much faster and become much more comfortable in your skills. I did a one month half-day internship, and my Chinese skills skyrocketed. I can easily hold a conversation with a local Chinese person, and can find my way around the city, give directions, order in a restaurant, go shopping, and many other daily skills. My Chinese teachers in the morning were all incredibly sweet, and taught me useful Chinese that I would use daily. I interned in a Chinese hospital, and that taught me lots about traditional Chinese healthcare and how they approached medicine. Also, I learned so much modern culture that you could never experience in a class room. Depending on yourself to survive in truly the best way to learn Chinese and Minds Abroad gave me that experience. They are also very helpful at getting you to places you need to go, fulfilling requests, and organizing weekend trips. Kunming also has lots of emerging restaurants and bars, and it's really exciting to walk around downtown and pick a place to eat. You also learn to find the hole-in-the-wall places where the locals hang out, and the best places to shop and eat.