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During my studies, I had three teachers, all of whom were very good. One of them was definitely my favorite, as I felt she really understood me and my individual interests. For example, I really enjoy politics, and knowing that, the teacher personalized the course and content to this interest. It was truly tailored to what I know and how I learn. It wasn’t just practicing from the textbook. Later that teacher became one of my closest friends in Shanghai. In class, we were very professional and she helped me not to get sidetracked from the course, but outside of it, we were hanging out as friends.
Learn Chinese in Shanghai with the LTL Semester Program. Aimed at those wanting to achieve a level of fluency by studying over a longer period…
GAP YEAR SHANGHAI
Join the Gap Year Shanghai Program today – Make your Gap Year a year to remember but coming to China and learning Chinese as you travel through this unique country.
No previous China or Mandarin language experience is required but anything you already know is of course welcome.
If you want to become fluent in Mandarin, you can choose between a full immersion program or a Chinese language year.
If you want to just learn basic Chinese and combine the course with gaining work experience during your year abroad, then the “Study and Intern” gap year programs are perfect for you.
Whatever option you choose, you will not only get to experience China’s 5000 year old civilization first hand, but also experience the incredible pace and excitement of living in one of the world’s greatest (and safest) cities: Shanghai.
- Gap Year Shanghai experience
- Become fluent in Mandarin
- Explore China and it’s culture
- Meet people from all over the world
- Experience Shanghai’s incredible nightlife
- 24/7 support
Learn Fluent Mandarin
Complete Immersion or Chinese Language Year: Become fluent in Mandarin
Great classmates at LTL: Study with other young and motivated students
Enjoy your course: Interactive and fun classes and no rote memorisation
Great teachers: Motivated Chinese tutors who enjoy and love teaching
Full Support
24/7: Our support team is there for you whenever you need us
Advice: Our tips on how to learn Chinese and truly experience China
Visas: Student visa invitations from LTL for the whole year
Accommodation: Shared apartments or homestays
Make Friends
The LTL family: A very tight community of foreigners living in Shanghai
Connect: Meet other students during school lunches, dinner, drinks etc.
Social Activities: Regular weekend trips, city tours and other fun stuff at LTL
Students: People spending their gap year in China tend to be adventurous
LTL Mandarin School
Our Team: Support from old China hands and young China enthusiasts
Location: Downtown Shanghai in the former French Concessions
All inclusive: Free WIFI, free soft drinks, free beer (after 5pm) etc.
Experience: China’s most established private language school
The Full Immersion Gap Year
You start the first half of your year abroad in Shanghai with its amazing nightlife, international community and endless opportunities for doing pretty much anything you could possibly think of.
After exploring this mega city, you will then spend the second half in China’s old summer capital Chengde (not to be confused with Chengdu) and experience the “real China”.
No more expats, no international community, no English spoken, but only Chinese culture and Mandarin 24/7.
While there is no better way to learn Chinese in China than complete immersion in the city where Mandarin originated, this is of course culturally a lot more challenging than living in an international city like Shanghai. While Shanghai is a bit of a “dream world” that is very different to the rest of China. In Chengde you will see and experience how real life in China actually happens today.
The City: Chengde
Chengde (not Chengdu) was where the emperor and his court went to escape the summer heat of the capital during the Qing dynasty.
It’s home to the original Qing Summer Palace, eight temples and the world’s largest wooden Buddha.
Today it’s recognised as a UNESCO world heritage site. The city is located in the mountains north of Beijing, right next to the Great Wall.
With 500,000 inhabitants it’s pretty small – by Chinese standards at least. Chengde is also the birthplace of modern Mandarin, since the standard Chinese pronunciation we teach today was based on the language of school children in Chengde.
The city has three universities, is very safe, easy to navigate and has a much slower pace of life than other larger cities in China. At the same time there are no foreigners living here and you will be living with a Mandarin-only homestay family – so you will be completely immersed into Chinese culture and language day and night. All classes are taught 1-on-1 too, to make sure you don’t speak English with your classmates. This is the real China!
When Can I Start?
Speak to us and we will find a date between us. If you have some knowledge of Mandarin already you can start on any Monday of the year!
3 Months Full Immersion Program Prices (Chinese Yuan)
– 6 weeks in Shanghai studying Chinese in a small group (20hrs/wk)
– 6 weeks in Chengde studying Chinese 1-on-1 (20hrs/wk)
– Transport costs between the cities included
– Shanghai and Chengde survival kit, including airport pickup, SIM card with data plan, maps, rental bike, bank account and much more.
Price = 35,730 CNY
6 Months Full Immersion Program Prices (Chinese Yuan)
– 12 weeks in Shanghai studying Chinese in a small group (20hrs/wk)
– 12 weeks in Chengde studying Chinese 1-on-1 (20hrs/wk)
– Transport costs between the cities included
– Shanghai and Chengde survival kit, including airport pickup, SIM card with data plan, maps, rental bike, bank account and much more.
Price = 67,830 CNY
3 Months Accommodation Prices
– 6 weeks in Shanghai in a Shared Apartment (small room) and 6 weeks in a Chengde homestay* = 25,967 CNY
– 6 weeks in a Shanghai homestay* and 6 weeks in a Chengde homestay* = 31,054 CNY
*Homestays in Shanghai and Chengde include breakfast and dinner. Options for vegetarians, vegans and those with special dietary requirements can be arranged.
6 Months Accommodation Prices
– 12 weeks in Shanghai in a shared apartment and 12 weeks in a Chengde homestay* = 47,160 CNY
– 12 weeks in a Shanghai homestay* and 12 weeks in a Chengde homestay* = 52,560 CNY
*Homestays in Shanghai and Chengde include breakfast and dinner. Options for vegetarians, vegans and those with special dietary requirements can be arranged.
For more information, have a look at our complete Chinese immersion program page.
Chinese Language Year
Study two semesters abroad in a small group class at LTL Shanghai and achieve fluency in Mandarin. Class sizes at LTL are always small, with an average of three and guaranteed never more than six students per class. You’ll have 20 hours of class per week for each 18 week semester.
Students can choose to live in an LTL shared apartment, homestay or organise their own accommodation in the city.
With fun classes and an interactive teaching approach we make sure that our students not only progress quickly with their language abilities, but also enjoy studying.
No hidden charges or costs: When China closes down for one of its national holidays and our teachers return home, your class hours will be made up for. Your course books and materials are already included in the price and there are no hidden administrative charges.
When Can I Start?
Speak to us and we will find a date between us. If you have some knowledge of Mandarin already you can start on any Monday of the year!
Otherwise these are starting dates for the Chinese Language Year program:
| Semester | Starting Date | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester 2021 | 13 Sep. 2021 – 14 Jan. 2022 | 26,744 CNY |
| Spring Semester 2022 | 14 Feb. 2022 – 17 Jun. 2022 | 26,744 CNY |
| Fall Semester 2022 | 12 Sep. 2022 – 13 Jan. 2023 | 26,744 CNY |
Prices No Accommodation (Chinese Yuan)
Program with no accommodation (two semesters): 53,488 CNY
Prices with Accommodation (Chinese Yuan)
– Two semester program
– 36 weeks accommodation (Standard shared apartment – small room)
Price = 111,088 CNY
*Upgrades to large rooms or homestay can be provided at an extra cost.
Chinese and English Gap Year Program
You will first spend a month studying a Chinese course in Shanghai to get familiar with Chinese culture and grasp the basics of the language.
After your first month you will spend another 18 weeks in a smaller city teaching English. This is an amazing opportunity to explore China on a budget during your year abroad and learn some basic Chinese at the same time.
While teaching English, the school will provide you with an apartment and 2000 CNY of spending money every month.
When Can I Start?
Speak to us and we will find a date between us. If you have some knowledge of Mandarin already you can start on any Monday of the year!
Prices Homestay Program (Chinese Yuan)
– Includes four weeks of small group classes and shared apartment (small room) accommodation in Shanghai
– 18 weeks homestay accommodation, half board
– 18 weeks of English teaching experience in another city in China, including accommodation and 2000 CNY per month stipend
– Transportation from Shanghai to the school where you are to teach
– 24/7 support, access to the LTL student and teacher community and airport pick up
Price = 16,000 CNY
Registration fee: 500 CNY
Prices Shared Apartment Program (Chinese Yuan)
– Includes four weeks of small group classes and shared apartment (small room) accommodation in Shanghai
– 18 weeks large room shared apartment accommodation, en suite bathroom, no board)
– 18 weeks of English teaching experience in another city in China, including accommodation and 2000 CNY per month stipend
– Transportation from Shanghai to the school where you are to teach
– 24/7 support, access to the LTL student and teacher community and airport pick up
Price = 12,500 CNY
Registration fee: 500 CNY
Study & Intern Gap Year
Learn Chinese and get real work experience in Shanghai while discovering China and making new friends from all over the world.
With the Study & Intern Gap Year Program you will first spend a semester studying Mandarin at LTL Shanghai and then be placed in a company for an internship.
Depending on your preferences your internship can be either in an English, Chinese or mixed language environment and we will choose the company based on your future career plans.
The internship duration can be anything from two to six months. In combination with your new Chinese language skills this work experience in China will be a great addition to your CV/Resume.
If you’re looking to keep costs down during your year in China, whilst still learning Mandarin and getting some work experience, then this is the perfect program for you.
The program also includes our Standard Shanghai Survival Kit to get you settled when you first arrive.
Prices No Accommodation (Chinese Yuan)
No accommodation = 36,059 CNY
+ 4wks accommodation* = 42,849 CNY
*You can look for your own accommodation during the first four weeks, and depending on what you find, then decide to extend your accommodation with LTL or move into your new place.
Prices with Accommodation (Chinese Yuan)
– Full 36wks accommodation* = 93,659 CNY
*Based on staying in a small room in an LTL-organised shared apartment. Large room or homestay upgrades are available.
NB. We can be flexible on durations of study so please contact us if you have a specific request.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Will it be hard to meet other people?
No, not at all. You will be a full member of the LTL community from the first day onwards. We are a very tight-knit community of young people from all over the world, Chinese teachers and long-time China residents. We regularly go for dinners, after school/work drinks, organise weekend trips etc. together.
The majority of the other students will be new to China too, but all have the same aim: to explore and discover this amazing country.
Can I go home for Christmas?
Christmas is not a holiday in China, which means that schools and offices operate normally. However, if you want to go home to see your family it is possible to make some adjustments to your program, so you can go back home for the holidays.
Please make sure you let us know in advance though.
I need more details, what should I do?
Contact us to let us know what you are looking for and we will help to answer your questions and organise your China adventure. Usually it is best to schedule a Skype or WhatsApp call to discuss the different options, prices and programs together. We have been organising all kinds of gap year programs in China for many years and will be able to guide you through the process.
Will I be able to travel?
Yes absolutely.
On weekends we often organise trips to cities close to Shanghai like Beijing, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Suzhou or Qingdao. At the same time, Shanghai has one of the world’s largest airports with a lot of cheap and frequent flights.
A good time to travel further afield is halfway through your year in China between the two semesters or parts of your program. It’s very easy and affordable to get to other Asian destinations like Korea (South or North, though please ask us for some advice before going there please), Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Singapore etc.
What are living costs in Shanghai like?
Except for rent, life in Shanghai is actually quite affordable.
A subway ride never costs more than one USD and lunch at our school usually three to four USD. Next to our school there are a lot of cheap student bars which often have specials like student or ladies nights, where you can get drinks either very cheaply or completely free.
At the same time however, it is of course also possible to live the high life in Shanghai. The city has everything from world-famous Michelin Star restaurants to incredible rooftop bars – but here, costs are similar to comparable cities like New York, Tokyo or London.
Can I also study Chinese online with LTL?
Yes! LTL offers online Mandarin classes as well as online Shanghainese classes.