Immersion Homestays in China

Live and Study at Your Teacher’s Home – Mandarin private tuition

This is the most effective way to make rapid progress. You will live with your teacher who will give you private lessons adapted to your goals and needs. In this way, you share his or her daily life and activities and experience a real 24-hour immersion in the language.

You have the possibility to follow a general language course, or a course focused on a specific subject or exam preparation. It is also possible to combine your courses with options (sports, activities, culture).

Destinations

Nanjing
Shanghai

Teachers are not usually located in the town centre, as we put greater emphasis on their quality and competence over geographical location.

A personalized approach to reach your goals

This personalised formula ensures rapid progress and the achievement of your objectives. It is aimed at all profiles and all ages – young people, students, adults or retired people – and at all objectives – personal, academic or professional (preparing for an exam, catching up on school work, a head start, travelling, attending an international conference, etc.). Your teacher adapts his or her courses to your needs, lets you work on your weaknesses and helps you achieve your goals quickly.

As the only student at your teacher’s home you have no contact with other foreign students and no opportunity to speak your mother tongue. The intensity of the courses and the total immersion in a different culture imply a strong investment and motivation of the participants.

Experienced and qualified teachers

All our teachers are experienced and have the required university qualifications. They all followed specific training and were chosen for the quality and hospitality of their welcome. In addition, they are supported by a network of pedagogical experts who draw up teaching methods and organise ongoing language training. If necessary, they can be contacted during their stay.

An exceptional welcome

The family offers you a warm and comfortable environment and has been carefully selected to meet your expectations. If you follow a special diet or have specific wishes (smokers or not, presence of children or not, etc.), it is important that you let us know when you register. There will always be a family adapted to your profile, whether you are a child, a teenager, a student, a professional or retired.

You will be the only student hosted in your family! This guarantees that you will have no contact with other speakers of your native language and there is no best way to improve your skills and get immersed in the language. But this also requires a good motivation and a great involvement on your part.

Closer supervision for the younger students

Many children or teenagers participate in this type of programme as it offers a safe environment within experienced and caring families. The student’s investment is fundamental to the success of the stay. The “Closer supervision” option is available for students under 18 and compulsory for children aged 15 or under. This guarantees that the younger student is in the constant presence of an adult.

Mandarin courses: the basics

Lesson length: 60 minutes
Schedule: flexible, depending on the availability of the teacher and your wishes. You can choose a balanced distribution of your lessons during the week or you can organize days without lessons to explore the region. This will have to be agreed with your teacher.
Placement test: takes place on the first day of your lessons. An online test prior to departure is also available
Language level: all levels
Certificate of completion and progress report at the end of your stay (on request)
Options: specialised vocabulary, closer supervision (mandatory for under-15s) (see tab “optional extras”)
Qualifications: all the teachers hold a university degree and/or an equivalent qualification, and/or a recognised teaching certificate
Number of students per homestay: you will be the only student per homestay. Very rarely, one or two other students of a different nationality may be staying with your teacher.

We offer both standard language programmes and Language & Activities programmes, ideal for practising your target language in a broad range of situations.

Mandarin

Choose from 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 hours of private language lessons per week.

Optional extras

Specialized vocabulary/exam preparation
Closer supervision

Mandarin & Activities

This programme includes 10, 15, 20 or 25 hours of lessons per week plus 5 hours of general activities per week. You can decide on your activity schedule with your teacher on arrival. This programme is a good way to put your Mandarin into practice. All activity fees are included in the price (transport, entrance fees, etc.) Option available for all destinations.

Some of the many activities available include: visits, Bus Tour, picnics, cinema outings, swimming, mini golf, restaurant outings, Pubs (if 18+)…

This option is especially recommended for young learners as this is a fun way to learn the language and reap the rewards by practicing during fun and engaging activities.

This option consists of a combination of 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 hours of Mandarin courses according to the standard program and 3 of the cultural visits mentioned in the weekly schedule.

Entrance fees and transportation to the activities are included for you and the guide.

The cultural visits generally take place with your teacher but occasionally you may visit with another member of the host family.

Nanjing : Nanjing Museum & the CBD of Nanjing, Purple Mountain & Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum, The Confucius Temple, Wanda Mall (amusement park), Xianlin Lake, Traditional Chinese Village visit, Brocade Museum & Nanjing Massacre Museum, Presidential Palace

” Specific vocabulary/preparation of exams” Option

Your teacher will put together a course to prepare you for an exam (such as Cambridge First Certificate, Proficiency, TOEIC or TOEFL) or a course for learning specific vocabulary for school subjects (mathematics, geography, literature) or technical terms in professional fields (medicine, engineering, law, computer science, architecture, tourism, etc.). Please note that the carefully selected teachers are not necessarily engineers, doctors or lawyers.

Please note: the program is only there to prepare the exams, so you will not take the exams on site. The teaching material is only provided for the above exams. For any other exam, you will need to bring your own teaching material (books, copies of previous exams or other necessary documents for preparation).

Surcharge : see ” Dates & Prices “.

” Closer supervision ” Option

This option guarantees the presence of an adult (teacher or other adult member of the family) at any time of the day, throughout the stay. This option does not include any activities and only ensures the supervision of an adult. This option is compulsory for young people under the age of 15 and is strongly recommended for participants under the age of 18.

Surcharge : see ” Dates & Prices “.

” Special diet ” Option

If you follow a specific diet, it is important to mention it before departure so that the teacher can adapt to it. If the diet requires many adjustments from the host family, such as gluten-free, halal, etc. a surcharge will be charged.

Surcharge : see ” Dates & Prices “.

” Special needs “ Option

Some teachers have been prepared, and have adapted their homes, to accommodate students with physical disabilities (e.g. visual or auditory impairments), emotional or behavioural disorders (e.g. ADHD), or learning disabilities (e.g. dyslexia). If you wish to make use of this, please let us know in advance. This option offers a stay adapted to the specific situation of the participant.

Under no circumstances does this supplement provide for any medical care that may be required.

Surcharge : see ” Dates & Prices “.

“Five stars”: Luxury service Option

This option is especially for business courses and professionals, and for their families, who want more comfort. The “Five stars” program includes a private bathroom and special meals and more attention for the student.

Surcharge : 100% of the price of the chosen course

Shared accommodation

It is possible to take lessons in pairs, threes or fours with other participant(s) of your choice, provided they choose the same dates and have the same language level.

You get 20% discount for each student if you leave with two and 25% discount if you leave with three or four.

Seniors

Students aged 60 years and older get an additional discount on the entire stay between October and May.

Discount : 5%

Christmas period and/or New Year

It is possible to follow a program during the Christmas period. A surcharge is applied to stays on days 24, 25 and 26 December or 31 December and 1 January. If you are staying during both Christmas and New Year, the surcharge will be applied twice. The supplement includes activities such as New Year’s Eating, counting down to the New Year, going to see the fireworks, a city walk, and shopping.

Surcharge : see ” Dates & Prices “.

Travel

Arrivals: Sunday

Departures: Sunday

(7-night stay – some teachers are flexible on arrival and departure days)

Arrival airports and train stations:

Information about the nearest airport or station will be provided with the details on your teacher and host family. You will be picked up and dropped off by your host family, local organiser or by a private driver (usually by car, though occasionally by public transport).

If you decide to travel to an alternative airport or station, or if you arrive before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m., an additional fee will be charged. Students under 16 must book pick-up and drop-off, except if you inform us in advance that they are accompanied by their parents.

Airport transfers available on request (fees apply, see price list)

Please note: Do not make travel arrangements until we have confirmed your enrolment in your chosen course (approximately 8 days after we receive your deposit).

Visa Information

You might need a visa for this course. For more information please visit our Visa Information page.

Do not hesitate to contact us by phone or email if you require any additional information.

Dates & Prices 2021

Dates 2021

Course start dates: every week, year-round

Prices 2021

All registration fees and taxes included

Standard programme - Price per week
10 hours	€ 1.300
15 hours	€ 1.370
20 hours	€ 1.565
25 hours	€ 1.755
30 hours	€ 1.950
Language and Activity Programme - Price per week
10 hours of lessons + 5 hours of activities	€ 1.480
15 hours of lessons + 5 hours of activities	€ 1.675
20 hours of lessons + 5 hours of activities	€ 1.865
25 hours of lessons + 5 hours of activities	€ 2.060
Language and culture programme
Supplement: 3 cultural visits per week	€ 280
Supplement: 3 cultural visits per week for the 10 hours programme	€ 185
Optional extras
Extra night	€ 115
Transfer (per trip) *	€ 95
Exam preparation / Business	€ 125
Closer supervision option (mandatory under 15 years)	€ 145
Surcharge Christmas or New Year	€ 140
Private bathroom	€ 175
Special diet	€ 145
Special Needs - Dyslexia, ADHD, etc.	€ 145

*return trip obligatory for 16 years and younger. During the summer, program of 15 hours minimum.

Prices include:

The chosen program
The courses and use of the teaching material
Stay in an individual room with your private teacher
Full board
All taxes and registration fees
Assistance by the regional coordinator
Level test, participation certificate and internship report (on request)

Prices do not include:

The journey and transfers
Possible supplements (” Specific vocabulary/preparation for exams “, “Closer supervision”, stay ” Five Stars “)
Supplements for end-of-year celebrations during stays (24, 25, 26, 31 December and/or 1 January)
Possible extra nights
Visa fees, if any
Possible optional insurances

Discounts

If 2 students with the same level wish to stay together and follow a course, each of them receives a 20% discount.
If a person wishes to accompany the participant and share the room, but does not wish to take lessons, this person benefits from a 20% discount.