I have been learning Chinese at LTL Mandarin School for about 3 months in Beijing and will continue my course her until next year. LTL organizes a language course, accommodation and an internship in a Chinese company for me.

<strong>The LTL Team</strong>

The staff are at LTL are very friendly and I always have somebody to ask for help when there is a problem. When I had a problem with my Chinese bank account for example, a staff member went to the bank with me to help me sort it out. After class I often stay at the school in the common area, because it is quite fun there and whenever I have a problem, I can just ask one of the Chinese working at the school for help.

<strong> The Language course</strong>

I am currently studying in a small group course, together with two other class mates which I think is a very good format and classes are a lot of fun. It helps me to remember words when I can connect them with a specific situation when I learned them. Also one quickly meets other people to spend the weekends together with or go for a drink in the evening.

<strong>Accommodation</strong>

LTL organized a homestay family for me, a Chinese family I lived together with. I live with a very nice and friendly family, which does not speak any English. At the beginning that was quite a challenge, but it has been very rewarding as I can see how I more and more understand the dinner conversations. There is no social activity that is not connected with food - I will certainly never starve here. By now I can have conversations myself in Chinese as well. Living with a homestay family has strongly reduced by inhibitions to speak Chinese and listening to my host-dad's stories is the best listening comprehension practice I could imagine. It is also very helpful to always have a local you can ask for help when I dont know which bus to take where or have any other questions regarding Beijing. Living with a Chinese homestay family I do not feel like a tourist, but more see Beijing through the eyes of people who actually live here. Through my family I have been to a lot of places that usually a visitor would never see or experience - for example so far already two Chinese wedding parties.

<strong>Social Life</strong>

Independently if people take group or 1-on-1 lessons, once a day we always all meet for lunch on the school balcony, which is always a lot of fun. Of course life does not stop after class. In the afternoons and weekends I usually go out with other LTL students. As there are people from all over the world here I got to meet a lot of very interesting people. The school is close to the Da Wang Lu subway station in the CBD, which makes it pretty easy to visit Beijing's attractions and explore the city. There is also a Starbucks close to the school, which helps a lot when I have homework to do.

I am really enjoying my time here.