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

My name is Myles and I am a high school student.

Why did you want to Study Chinese in China?

Sometimes language classes don’t fully deliver, and the best way to fully learn a language is to experience it in its native country. For example, in China, you learn certain expressions that are common and you’re able to better master your tones. I felt that spending time in China would enable me to learn the language a lot better. I knew that being surrounded by hundreds of native speakers would enable me to improve my Mandarin.

Why did you want to study Chinese now?

Both my parents and I agreed that spending time in China to learn Mandarin would be an amazing experience. One of the reasons I decided to learn Chinese now was because of its future importance. Many say that China will become the world’s next superpower. China is a huge producer of goods and knowing Mandarin is great for business. Also, I wanted to learn Mandarin because of my interest in it. Many languages that most high schoolers learn are related. For example, English, Spanish, French, Italian all derive from Latin- they have common words, roots, spelling, etc. However, Mandarin is a very unique language. It’s in its own family and it’s very different than most other languages. It has characters instead of an alphabet, its a tonal language, and its words are completely different than other common languages. All of these characteristics make Mandarin so unique.

How did you begin your search to find a language program?

I began to search for a Mandarin language program like any other person would: on Google. My parents and I searched for programs on Google, trying to find the right one that I would enjoy. Its hard to find the perfect program because you don’t know what it’ll be like until you are actually on the program. But finally, after searching and searching we finally found a program that sounded great. Both of my parents talked to Next Step China for a long time to see if it was the right program.

Why did you Choose NSC?

We finally chose NSC because we knew that its staff would be fully devoted to its customers. We realized that if there was anything that I didn’t like, it could be changed or made better.

What have you gained during your stay in China?

My stay in China was an amazing experience. Usually kids my age and younger go to sleep away camps far from their family for one or two months. However, I never attended sleep away camp in the past. I always spent the summer in a day camp or with my family. Having said that, going to China for a month was a very new yet challenging experience for me, but I am glad I went. Obviously, spending the month in China really enhanced my Mandarin. But what I also gained from China was a great deal independence. I learned how to deal with certain situations and how to do things on my own.

How did you feel about NSC’s accommodations?

The accommodations were surprisingly nice. The accommodations were clean and comfortable. It came with a nice, big living room and a kitchen. The community was very nice too. Outside the buildings there was a huge park where many families would play. On the other side was a street of shops that were really convenient. All in all, the accommodations were nice.

How did you feel about NSC’s tutoring program?

The tutoring program was very helpful. Besides for the classes I took, I also had daily tutoring sessions with an extremely smart and dedicated tutor. She taught me so much and it was great that we went out into the streets of Beijing to really get the experience. Sometimes we would eat lunch and I would order for myself in Chinese. Other times we would go sightseeing around Beijing to marvel at all of the historical sights. My tutor was very dedicated and truly cared that I would enhance my Chinese.

How do you feel about NSC’s service?

Next Step China’s service was outstanding. They were extremely dedicated and wanted to make sure that you had the best experience possible. If you ever had a question or concern, you could just email them or call them and they would fix everything instantly. For example, I wanted to see more of Beijing, so immediately Next Step China changed my itinerary. They truly are devoted to giving you the best China experience and making sure that you have a great time.

Did NSC meet or exceed your expectations?

Next Step China did exceed my expectations. I didn’t know what it would be like being in China all by myself or if I would have a good time. But because Next Step China was so devoted, my experience in Beijing was great!

Would you recommend the program?

I would definitely recommend Next Step China to anyone who wants to learn Chinese. My experience was amazing, and it was Next Step China who played an imperative role in making my trip so great. Next Step China is devoted, dedicated, and committed to making your experience the best that it can be. If you really want the China experience, choose Next Step China.