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Enrich your experience in China by taking Mandarin Language Lessons! Take a 1-week Mandarin Language Course then practice your new-found skills on the local people!

Enrich your experience in China by taking Mandarin Language Lessons! You can do a Mandarin Language Course either as a 1-week course where you'll give intensive concentration on learning the language (includes all food and accommodation), OR concurrent with your main project and then you can practice your new-found skills on the local people!

OPTION 1: One-week Intensive Mandarin Language Course prior to starting your main Project.

OPTION 2: Mandarin Lessons as an optional Add-On concurrent with your main Travellers project.

Levels Available: All levels available
Duration: 20 hours per week

We have teamed up with a prestigious language school in Beijing, part of a group who have 25 years experience teaching languages to students around the world. The school is actually located within the Forbidden City - in a building that used to be the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and now functions as a language school and centre for Chinese culture!

During your lessons, you're right on the doorstep of one of the most famous places in China! The area where the school is located is right next to a large park, so you can enjoy long walks or spend time reading quietly in one of the typical Chinese pavilions. Not far from the school is also the most famous shopping area of Beijing known as Wangfujing. You will be right in the centre of the action!

Qualified teachers whose mother tongue is Mandarin.

Class size between 4 and 8 students. Communicative teaching methods with which you can learn very easily.

Classes tailored according to the length of your stay with different types of teaching materials.

Learning material
Our school has 12 classes and all our students are given a book on the first day of classes to use with the course. Students can also buy or borrow books as well rent out material from the school library.

We offer Chinese courses for all levels from absolute beginner to advanced. On the first day, you will take a test and will be placed in the level most suitable for you.

The courses are held from Monday to Friday: educational material on loan will be given during class. There are no classes during holidays.

The Teachers
The teachers are all native speakers, highly qualified and have an academic education. After the lessons, they are available to give advice and assistance on any problems with the language and to answer questions about local cultural and sporting events. They may spend their free time with our guests and, of course, for students taking a business language course, they will provide special materials for class.

Teaching Method
The teaching method is based on the "principle of conversation" because the study of language should be aimed mainly at putting into practice the grammatical and lexical aspects of the language:

*Grammar- vocabulary - exercises - activities
*Reading - understanding texts - listening - writing
*Conversation
*Lessons

The class is based essentially on the principle of conversation. This is achieved through intensive training in structured role-play, guided dialogs, audio-listening and reading cultural, social, and political essays and articles related to the host country.

Certificate
At the end of the course each student will receive a certificate attesting to the number of lessons taken and the language level achieved.

Duration

One Week. Available all year round. Our placements are very flexible, you can choose your own start and finish dates.

Start Dates

Flexible start and finish dates you choose. Our placements are flexible and can be tailored to match your preferences. For availability please contact the office.

Costs / Benefits

OPTION 1: One-week Intensive Mandarin Language Course prior to starting your main Project: £495. Includes accommodation.

OPTION 2: Mandarin Lessons as an optional Add-On concurrent with your main Travellers project.: £260 / US$390 per week.

Included is full support from the moment of booking and throughout your placement to your return home. There are support staff 24/7 in all our destinations worldwide and a 24 hour emergency international telephone line direct to the Head Office. All meals are provided, unless otherwise stated. Accommodation is provided (whether a rented house, a hotel/hostel, homestay, apartment or flat).

You’ll be met at the nearest airport on your arrival by our in-country manager who will take you to your accommodation and give you a full induction into the area. He/she will also be on call 24/7 and you’ll see them frequently.

Pre-departure you’ll receive comprehensive information about every aspect of your placement and necessary preparations, ranging from what to pack, to visa information, to what to do on your weekend travel in the country. Your safety, well being and happiness throughout your placement are our primary concerns and we will keep in touch with you throughout. International flights not included.

Requirements

No qualifications or previous experience are necessary, just a good dose of enthusiasm! Everyone is welcome on a Travellers programme, whether gap year, undergraduate, on a career break - or even retired! From 17 years old upwards, and all nationalities. This placement would suit anyone who wants to make a real difference, wants first-hand experience of a different culture and has initiative.