LTL: The Best Way to Visit Beijing and Learn Mandarin

I had an amazing experience studying at LTL Mandarin School in Beijing. Not only did I get to know this fascinating city, but the school itself exceeded all my expectations. My classes with Lilia were an absolute highlight. She wasn’t just friendly and fun — she was genuinely curious about our cultures and often shared Chinese customs with us, which made lessons feel like real cultural exchanges. She constantly encouraged us to create sentences in Mandarin while making the classes lively and engaging. On top of that, she was excellent at understanding my “broken” Chinese and patiently helping me correct it, which gave me the confidence to keep trying and improving. Her friendliness, curiosity, and dedication made learning both enjoyable and effective, and I can honestly say she played a huge role in my progress. The program itself is well-structured and effective, and my classmates were all great people, which made the learning environment even more positive. Even during the breaks, the atmosphere at school was fantastic — the staff were kind, attentive, and fun to hang out with. We ended up playing a lot of mahjong during those moments, and I quickly became addicted to it. The school staff also deserve a big compliment: they were always ready to help with anything, whether it was buying tickets, answering questions, or even solving issues with Chinese apps that can be tricky for newcomers. That kind of support made a huge difference in daily life and gave me peace of mind throughout my stay. The activities organized by the Director of Studies, Linda, were excellent. They were fun, engaging, and well thought out, giving me a genuine glimpse into Chinese culture and daily life. They also created great opportunities to socialize with other students and discover things I wouldn’t have found on my own. The evening activities run by Ilaria complemented this perfectly — her choices were always creative, thoughtful, and fun. They often turned into social gatherings where we would have a drink during or after the event, which made them not only cultural highlights but also fantastic bonding experiences. Both Linda and Ilaria put a lot of care into their activities, and together they made my time at LTL even more memorable. I also had the chance to do a homestay for four weeks with Mary, and it was an unforgettable experience. She was incredibly kind and always went out of her way to help me, whether with daily life or practicing Mandarin. Since she didn’t speak fluent English (you can actually choose the English level of your homestay family), we ended up speaking a lot of Mandarin, which was a huge benefit for my learning. Whenever my Mandarin wasn’t enough, she was patient and creative, using gestures or apps to make sure we understood each other. The school also offers some really useful extra packages. I chose the Survival Kit, which included airport pick-up, a metro card, and a SIM card with data — a real lifesaver for someone new to China. I also tried the Connection Kit, where a Chinese person takes you out to experience local life. In my case, it was teacher Tara, and I really liked it. She showed me places that felt authentically local rather than touristy, and it was a fun way to both enjoy Beijing and practice my Chinese in real-life situations. Tara was a lot of fun to hang out with, and she made the whole experience even better. On top of all this, Beijing itself is a truly fascinating city. Walking through it, you’re always bound to find something new and interesting — from hidden streets to lively markets and cultural gems around every corner. And the people in China are incredibly welcoming; they are kind, receptive, and always ready to help, even if there’s a language barrier. This made my stay even more special. Overall, my time at LTL was incredible from start to finish. The school, the teachers (especially Lilia!), the activities (thanks to both Linda and Ilaria), the staff, the homestay, the city itself, and the people all came together to create an experience I’ll never forget. I can wholeheartedly recommend LTL to anyone who wants to learn Mandarin and experience China in a truly immersive way.