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Studying Putonghua/Mandarin in China?

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  1. #1

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    Studying Putonghua/Mandarin in China?

    I looked around a bit and couldn't find a recent thread on this topic, so I'll try again.

    I'm looking to spend some time, around 1-2 months, in China to learn Putonghua/Mandarin. Ideally, a place that could offer everyday, intensive group lesson and help arrange temporary accommodation. I know of places that do this in London for English (and I know what a bad experience some students can have, hah!), so looking for the equivalent in China...

    Has anyone had an experience like this?


  2. #2

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    The obvious choice is Beijing but their accent is very hard on the ears.

    I would suggest you try

    Learn Chinese in China | Keats School

    Super friendly, can change you schedule to suit yourself. Go as intense as you like, focu son grammar or characters or just speaking / listening.

    Yunnan province is probably the nicest in China.


  3. #3

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    I would go to Taiwan.

    East_coast likes this.

  4. #4

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    Quote Originally Posted by drumbrake:
    I would go to Taiwan.
    Gotta agree with that, specially if you're planning to learn the characters since both HK & Taiwan use the traditional Chinese writings

  5. #5

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    Quote Originally Posted by Aysallas:
    Gotta agree with that, specially if you're planning to learn the characters since both HK & Taiwan use the traditional Chinese writings
    And Taiwan is nicer!

  6. #6

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    Quote Originally Posted by East_coast:
    And Taiwan is nicer!
    And the food is much yummier

  7. #7

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    Quote Originally Posted by East_coast:
    And Taiwan is nicer!
    That would be my main reason for choosing Taiwan over most places in China.

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    I agree with the recommendation for Taiwan. CCU in Taipei is very nice, and costs in Taiwan are only barely higher than in the Mainland. However, for anyone with a professional job here in Hong Kong I'd strongly recommend to take a private teacher instead. The opportunity cost of taking a break / leave for this kind of thing are, on a HK salary, massively higher than the fees for a teacher (CCU charges between 150 and 250 HKD/h depending on location and teacher seniority). I don't think a Beijing accent is worrrrrrth spending time in Beijing to be honest


  9. #9

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    Beijing is also an option. Works well if you're planning to return to HK with conversational Mandarin knowledge, along with asthma as a bonus

    Bob Loblaw likes this.

  10. #10

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    Is Keats only for a 16 week course? I'd just like a 1 month summer course.

    I hadn't considered Taiwan. I guess I was thinking of China because it scares me a little and I'd like in my short time on earth to say I've lived there and gotten to know it just a little.

    Looking for a break from HK, and I'm not on a "HK salary" so definitely not looking for private lessons here, plus I want the daily immersion. But I'm looking into Chinese University here.

    One thing that really worries me is I'll (as a CELTA holder) hate he teaching method. I just can't take it if they put pinyin on the board and expect it to be read outloud, like a teacher in HK did.

    Last edited by Elegiaque; 24-05-2017 at 12:53 AM.

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