LTL Mandarin School Shanghai — Local services in Shanghai

I attended LTL in Beijing, but there isn't a listing for that campus, so I'll write here instead! I had a truly incredible time at LTL. From support with my travel plans and preparation before I arrived (including Visas and crash-course documents on Chinese culture), to the friendly atmosphere at the school and the helpfulness of all the staff during my time, I felt completely prepared to explore the city, despite beginning with no Chinese at all. China is of course very different to Western countries, and some key cultural differences may come as a shock to Westerners at first (especially homestays), but this didn't make my experience any less enjoyable, but the staff at LTL were there every step of the way to guide us through any challenges or unexpected situations. The school offers students as much or little independence as you wish, which makes the experience of studying so unique. You could easily stay in a hotel and only attend classes, but school trips are run at least twice a week, and getting to know other students means there's always somewhere to go or something to do. My classmate and I became best friends over the space of a couple of weeks, and explored a lot of Beijing together after class and at the weekends, and we joined in school-led trips to the Great Wall and to restaurants during the week. Other students enjoyed clubbing and visiting bars together, and LTL staff were extremely kind to help us arrange more complicated trips, such as to the Forbidden City, and to see 京剧, Peking Opera. Students come from all over the world, with many Europeans while I was there, and the friendliness of the shared spaces in school made studying and going out together really memorable. I was only in Beijing for three weeks but a year later still keep in contact with many of the friends I made there. The teaching is also excellent; my classmate and I progressed within three weeks from complete beginner level to being able to converse with our homestay parents quite easily. Study is intense, especially because of the small class size, and to get the most out of your experience you have to really want to learn (our classes were four hours with twenty minutes of break), but the more you put into an LTL stay the more you will get out of it. I can't recommend my experience highly enough, and I can't...

I studied Chinese with Winnie for several months and I can honestly say she is one of the best language teachers I've ever had! Her teaching style is a perfect mix of patience, humor, and deep knowledge, making every lesson both enjoyable and highly effective.

First of all, Winnie is incredibly patient. As a beginner, I often struggled with tones and pronunciation, but she never made me feel embarrassed about my mistakes. Instead, she would gently correct me and give me clear examples to practice. Even when I asked the same question multiple times, she would explain it in different ways until I fully understood. Her patience made me feel comfortable and confident in my learning journey.

Another thing I love about Winnie is her great sense of humor. Learning a new language can sometimes be stressful, but she always finds ways to make the class fun. Whether it's through funny stories, jokes, or playful role- plays, she keeps the atmosphere light and engaging. I remember one time when she used a hilarious meme to explain a Chinese slang word, and it helped me remember it instantly! Her humor not only makes lessons more enjoyable but also helps me retain what I learn.

What really stands out about Winnie is her deep knowledge of Chinese language and culture. She doesn't just teach vocabulary and grammar-she also explains the cultural background behind words and phrases, which makes everything more meaningful. For example, when we learned about Chinese festivals, she shared personal stories and traditions, making the lesson come alive. She also gives lots of real-life examples, which helps me understand how to use the language naturally. Whether it's slang, formal speech, she always has practical examples ready.

Because of Winnie's excellent teaching, my Chinese has improved so much, and I always look forward to our next lesson. I highly recommend her to anyone who wants to learn Chinese in a fun, effective, and stress-free way. I will definitely continue taking classes with her, and I'm excited to see how much more I can learn under...

During my self organized gap year I spent six months in China, with the support of LTL. I studied Chinese in Shanghai for two months at LTL and then attended an internship in Beijing. During the whole time I was living in a Chinese homestay, which I can definitely recommend. The support of LTL’s services was always excellent. The survival kit at the beginning was very helpful, as well as the support with opening a bank account and getting a Chinese Simcard. Furthermore LTL supported me to find a great internship that exactly fits into my field of studies and let me grow a lot personally. The support for finding clean, safe and friendly homestays was outrageous; for me it was more than a homestay, it was like a real, warm family. The lessons at LTL have been very good and the teachers support was very helpful. During my six months I managed to improve my Chinese skills a lot and I passed two HSK examen (level three and four). Furthermore the time at the school and the social activities have been very enriching, because you can meet a lot of very interesting people from all around the world with totally different backgrounds, from pupils, university students and hobbyists to seniors and business men. Learning Chinese at LTL enabled me to use the Chinese language independently and to travel all by myself through China (including Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Xian and Inner Mongolia), create a professional network in China and make a lot of very good friends. I thank you very much LTL, I riehly :-p lived the language and enjoyed my time in China ;-) and I will...