Studying Mandarin in the Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) is one of the most memorable experiences you’ll ever have. Aside from the fact that the University is globally known for its intensive Chinese language programs, you will also have the opportunity to meet people from different parts of the world. The school also provides elective courses on doing business in China, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese singing and dancing, etc. Classroom sizes are also a good size with a maximum cap rate of 20 students.

Nevertheless, BLCU school life is like high school; it starts promptly at 8am and finishes at 12pm. Wake up early in the morning and on the way to school, or even in school, you will be spoilt for choice with a bunch of places from which to buy breakfast.

Every program at BLCU consists of 20 hours a week of classes. A beginner to intermediate level will be enrolled in three subjects; comprehensive, listening and speaking. The more advanced mandarin speakers will have a reading class.

A description of the classes is as follows:

Comprehensive class is where you learn vocabulary, characters and grammar structures.

Listening class is where you listen to tapes or to the professor to improve upon your listening skills.

Finally, speaking class is where you practice with the professor and classmates your speaking abilities.

Each day consists of four periods. Where usually you have two subjects a day in two consecutive periods. After the first and third period there is a 10 minute break and after the second period there is a 20 minute break. After class most people go to lunch at the wide variety of international and local restaurants in campus and in the surrounding area of the school with their new friends or return back home and study with a language partner or tutor. During the summer, some students enjoy playing basketball, volleyball, football, tennis or running around the track of BLCU. There’s also a gym in the university that offers aerobics classes, good gym equipment and an indoor swimming pool.

The University does provide several class trips a semester; the great wall, kung fu show, temple visit and or other events.