Gap Year in China

Gap Year Experience in China

The Xi’an Bell Tower

We offer four different but equally excellent Gap Year programs in China.

• Our first program is the Chinese Language Year, where you will study Chinese for two semesters, totalling 36 weeks which will enable you to become fluent in Mandarin.
• Another program is the Full Immersion Gap Year where you first settle into learning Mandarin by studying in a big city such as Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an or Taipei followed by becoming completely immersed in Chinese culture in the rural city of Chengde.
• There is also the option to Teach English with our Chinese/English Gap Year which includes a course at one of our schools.
• If none of those options are sounding quite right then our final program the Build Your Own Gap Year Program allows you to design your own course.

We are sure that whatever Gap Year in China you choose it will be the experience of a lifetime, getting to know one of the world’s most fascinating and historical countries.

Chinese Language Gap Year

This Gap Year focuses on getting your Chinese as fluent as possible. Made up of two university style semesters you will study in small group classes with an average of three or less students and a maximum of six. These small classes allow students to form close bonds with both teachers and students.

Classes run Monday to Friday and are four hours a day, giving a weekly total of 20 hours per week.

The semesters are 18 weeks long, meaning you will get 36 weeks of Chinese study overall, but of course this can be extended if you’d like to study for a longer period.

If you really want to give your Chinese even more of an extra boost then you can stay at one of our amazing homestays in China. This intensive program coupled with a homestay has led many students to reach HSK4/5 fluency in Chinese.

Full Immersion Gap Year in China

The fastest way to reach fluency in Chinese is definitely through experiencing full Immersion in China.

You will spend the first part of your Gap Year getting eased into Chinese culture in one of the bigger cities of Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei or Xi’an then move onto the much smaller city of Chengde (not Chengdu, no pandas will be found here!)

This city has no expat community, giving you the chance to only interact with locals and enabling you to become truly immersed in Chinese culture and language.

Stage 1 – Beijing / Shanghai / Taipei / Xi’an

Your trip will start in either Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei or Xi’an where you will spend time getting used to Chinese culture and language.

These famous cities will be a whole adventure in themselves bringing memories you will never forget.

Stage 2 – Chengde

After this you will journey to Chengde.

Compared to the big, cosmopolitan cities Chengde will seem like a different world. It has a population of only 500,000 which is very small in terms of cities in China and there is no foreign community there. You have to be ready to embrace the full Chinese Immersion experience which may sometimes mean stepping outside of your comfort zone.

The people in Chengde are all really friendly and as the Mandarin spoken in Chengde is the most standard, it is the perfect environment for learning Chinese. The city is also a UNESCO world heritage site and is overflowing with Chinese culture.

Dates for our courses vary per location. If you wish to start from Beijing or Shanghai for example, check out our main website at ltl-school.com for more details or contact us and we’ll confirm the dates for starting.

Chinese and English Gap Year

Our Chinese and English Gap Year is ideal if you are on a budget but still want to learn Chinese in China.

The program totals 22 weeks with your first four weeks spent learning Chinese at either our Shanghai or Beijing school, you choose the city.

After you’ve settled into China and have some Chinese under your belt you will enjoy 18 weeks teaching English in a smaller city outside of Beijing or Shanghai.

It’s a truly great opportunity to explore China’s wonderful history and culture, whilst still learning the language on a budget. LTL will provide you with 2,000 CNY per month and an apartment while you teach English to Chinese students. This is ideal if you are on a budget or looking to spend less money.

Included in the price of the Teach English in China Gap Year is:

• Small Chinese group classes for four weeks
• Shared apartment (small room) based in Beijing or Shanghai
• 18 weeks of English teaching in another city in China near Beijing or Shanghai
• Accommodation and 2000 CNY per month courtesy of LTL whilst teaching English
• Transportation from Beijing or Shanghai to the school where you will teach
• 24/7 support along with access to the LTL student and teacher community
• Airport pick up and drop off to/from your apartment

Dates for our courses vary per location. If you wish to start from Beijing or Shanghai for example, check out our main website at ltl-school.com for more details or contact us and we’ll confirm the dates for starting.

Build your own Gap Year in China

We also give you the chance to build your own gap year in Asia. Build the program you want, when you want and where you want.

You can build pretty much anything… 8 weeks in Shanghai learning Chinese in one of the world’s biggest and most exciting cities, then head to Beijing for a further 12 weeks and kick on your Chinese further with individual Mandarin classes in China’s capital.

Continue with 16 weeks in Chengde where you will be sure to achieve a high level in Mandarin!

No foreigners, no English. Welcome to real China.

You have ultimate flexibility with the Gap Year program, chat to us and let’s come up with a perfect plan for a memorable year with LTL.

Gap Year Asia options

• Study Chinese in Shanghai
• Study Chinese in Beijing
• Study Chinese in Chengde
• Study Chinese in Taipei
• Study Chinese in Beihai
• Teach English in China
• Internship in China