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Semester in Shanghai

Spend a full university-style semester studying Chinese at LTL Mandarin School Shanghai. This intensive 18-week program will get you using the language from Day One. As part of a small group of no more than five other international students, you’ll cover all aspects of Mandarin Chinese: speaking, listening, reading and writing. You’ll be in the classroom for four hours per day, Monday to Friday, and get the help and support you need to immerse yourself in the Chinese language outside of the classroom too.

Five students sitting around a table inside a classroom during Chinese class.

  • Chinese Semester in Shanghai
  • Full semester of study (18 weeks)
  • Small group classes (max 6 students)
  • LTL-designed, academic curriculum
  • Professional, experienced teachers
  • International social environment

All of our teachers are fully-qualified and experienced in teaching Chinese, having dedicated their career to dispelling the myth of Chinese being a difficult language to learn. Thanks to the small size of the group classes, you will get the individual attention you need from your teacher to master the basics of tones, everyday vocabulary and the Chinese writing system. The course curriculum has been designed to get students from absolute beginner to at least HSK 3 after just one semester – and many hardworking, motivated LTL students have achieved well beyond that in so short a time. For those who return for a second semester of study, you could expect to reach functional fluency in under a year.
  • Rapid Progress

    Rapid Progress

    Small Class Sizes: A maximum of 6 students per class
    Professional teachers: All fully-qualified with years of experience
    Engaging: Lessons are interactive and centred around gaining fluency
    Personalised: You will be placed in the right class for your level

  • Friends and Community

    Friends and Community

    Diversity: Past students came from over 100 different countries!
    Family atmosphere: Thanks to the small size of the school, everyone eats lunch together and gets to know each other quickly
    Online community: Connect with LTL Chinese learners across China

  • Value For Money

    Value For Money

    No skipped classes: You get all the classes you pay for
    No hidden fees: All textbooks are included in the cost of your tuition
    No wasted time: High-intensity 55 minute classes on the LTL curriculum
    Free support: LTL staff will help you settle in to your new home

  • Experience Shanghai

    Experience Shanghai

    Convenient location: Only 5 minutes walk from Subway Lines 1, 10 & 12
    Historic area: The French Concession is right on our doorstep
    Weekly events: Join us for Wednesday dinners and weekend daytrips
    Expert guides: Get insider tips on Shanghai from your Student Advisor

Chinese Semester in Shanghai – Dates

Group of students outside the Shanghai museum

Weekend trip to the Shanghai Museum

Spring semester 2019
18 February 2019 to 21 June 2019

Fall semester 2019
9 September 2019 to 10 January 2020

Chinese Shanghai Semester – Prices (Chinese Yuan)

Welcome to LTL Shanghai!

Semester Program price = CNY 26,744

The Semester Program package includes:

  • All tuition, textbooks and learning materials
  • 24/7 Emergency Support and access to the LTL Social Program
  • Student visa support

The Semester Program package does not include: 

What Our Students Say

Orion Testimony for LTL
Orion
USA
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The staff and teachers were really welcoming and friendly. My overall experience here has been really positive. I'd definitely think about coming back to LTL. 

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Aishwarya Testimony for LTL
Aishwarya
India
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Aishwarya has come to Shanghai for an 18 week Semester Program to learn Chinese with LTL. All the while living with a homestay family. Watch to find out all about her experience ...

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Tatjana Testimony for LTL
Tatjana
Germany
★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I have had such a great experience with LTL. The staff and teachers were excellent. The atmosphere at school is very friendly and welcoming. It’s a highly professional learning environment.

Read More

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have a class at my level?

Many of the students who do the Semester program are complete beginners.  However, if you have studied Chinese before, then you will have a personal language assessment with our Director of Studies before your arrival. We will then place you in the appropriate Small Group class for your level.

How much Chinese will I learn?

In the 18-week semester you will cover a lot of ground. But of course, the more effort you put in, both in and out of the classroom, the more progress you will make.

From experience, students who stay in an LTL homestay with a local family will gain oral fluency more quickly than those who live with other English-speaking foreigners. It’s also important that you use what you have learned in the classroom when you are out and about in Shanghai, and resist the temptation to revert to English when it seems easier.

As a general guideline, a motivated student on the Semester program arriving as a complete beginner could expect to reach at least HSK 3 level after 18 weeks, and their spoken language and listening comprehension should be well beyond that. See our Levels page for details.

What are the accommodation options?

There are two main options for accommodation in Shanghai – living in a Shared Apartment in central Shanghai, or staying with a local family.

Please see the relevant pages for details:

What is the social life like for Semester Program students?

Students on the Semester Program quickly get to know the other members of their Small Group, and many remain life-long friends well after the course has finished. It also won’t be long until you meet LTL Shanghai students on other programs, thanks to the weekly Social calendar. A typical week would include a ‘welcome breakfast’ for new students on Monday, a ‘school dinner and drinks’ in a local restaurant or bar on Wednesday, and a day trip to a local attraction at the weekend. Even when there’s no pre-organised event, everyone tends to meet in the common area after class to go for lunch together.

As a smaller school we are proud of our family-atmosphere, where everyone knows each other’s names – and diverse student body, where there is no one dominant student type. Students who come to study abroad at LTL arrive from all over the world, from South America to Scandinavia, and at all different ages and life stages too.

What about the visa?

Please see the Shanghai Visa page for more details on our visa support.

How can I apply?

Simply click here to contact a Student Advisor directly!