Hello! Can you please state your name and current occupation?

I am Isabel Marden I am originally from Honk Kong but am a student at Boston College.

Why did you want to go to China, now?

Well, first of all, it is the most spoken language in the world so I think my odds are pretty good on that one. Secondly, I think that growing up in Hong Kong I was always told that Mandarin was the language of the future and that the business community would going to be functioning in Mandarin.

Why did you want to study Chinese now?

I came to China because I started learning mandarin at six years old and I always thought I would never lose it and then of course I went away for college and didn’t speak it for two years and realized that my vocabulary was gone and I needed to get it back into gear and coming to Beijing was the perfect way to do that.

How did you begin your search to find study abroad immersion program and how did you hear about/discover NSC?

I was recommended a couple of programs through friends and none of them seemed comprehensive enough so I did my own research on Google and Next Step China was one of the options, the website was really accessible.

Why did you Choose NSC?

I spoke to Amy (COO) on the phone and she answered all of my questions right off the ball the next day, sent me a follow-up e-mail, and I just thought these are the people that have given the best understanding of what they are about and what they do. If felt like they were so organized that I didn’t have to worry about anything.

Why did you choose to study Chinese in China versus back home?

In Hong Kong people speak Cantonese so it made sense for me to go to Beijing. I also came to China to get the total immersion experience and be forced to speak the language so what better way than to be in Beijing.

What were your goals in choosing the program you selected with NSC?

I choose the university with after school tutoring because my goal was to go to class in the morning and be in an environment with other students and then come back home and do some intensive one on tutoring. It balanced things out perfectly me.

What have you gained during your stay in China?

What I have gained the most in being here is a conscientiousness of just how vast China really is and just how incredible detailed Chinese culture really is. It has really been an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life.

How did you feel about NSC’s accommodations?

I think the accommodations is really incredible, the neighborhood is wonderful, there are kids everywhere it is beautiful. The alley (close to the apartment complex) has so many really proper Beijing restaurants, which I love! The airport pickup is another thing added by the program and it really makes you feel at ease when you arrive.

How did you feel about NSC’s tutoring program?

My experience with the tutoring program has been great. My tutor has not only been giving me discipline, which I need, but she has also given me an insiders perspective into what it is like being a young person living in China today. From topics such as movies and music and we found a lot of common ground and being able to find that just blows my mind.

How do you feel about NSC’s service?

The service has been great! The program exceeded my expectations!

Would you recommend the program?

I would definitely recommend the program to anybody, friends, family and acquaintances.