Study at the Chinese Language Institute in Guilin!
I’ve written about Chinese-graded readers, and this blog certainly promotes some excellent online products to learn Chinese. Still, as far as I’m concerned, a month in Guilin, China, with the Chinese Learning Institute (CLI), has been the best learning experience so far!
The “You Can Learn Chinese” podcast informed me about the Chinese Language Institute. One of the guests said that he spent three months at CLI, and his Chinese improved dramatically. I reached out to this guest on LinkedIn and he said that if I had a chance to go there, I should do so. I’m happy that I followed his advice.
The school was founded by two American brothers in 2009. They started in apartments but grew to the point that they bought a building with classrooms and dorm rooms for students. I stayed for a month and found my room comfortable. Staying near the learning community was very convenient.
Students can eat a healthy and delicious lunch Monday through Friday with fellow students and teachers. What I enjoyed about lunch was chatting with everyone in Chinese. Since this school uses Chinese immersion to promote language learning, the teachers will speak to you only in Chinese unless it is necessary to communicate in English. In an immersion environment, your language skills will improve significantly quickly!
I had three teachers. I met with my “comprehensive” teacher every day, Monday through Friday, for two hours a day. We studied the HSK 4 Standard Course, but the school is flexible and has various resources to choose from. You don’t have to study HSK as I did.
I met with my speaking and listening teacher three times a week. We didn’t have a set textbook, but my teacher picked some cultural topics from my HSK text that my comprehensive teacher didn’t cover. We also learned Chinese idioms (“chengyu “- 成语). This class was challenging because I didn’t have a textbook to rely on. I only had the vocabulary my teacher taught me and already accumulated knowledge. At the end of the two-hour class, I was pleasantly surprised that I could converse and even understand without relying on English. I thought this was the most demanding class, but also tremendously satisfying!
I met with my reading and writing teacher twice a week. She selected exciting articles about social issues that China is facing. I would read these articles and write answers to questions about the text. This was a good way for me to correct grammar mistakes. I don’t handwrite characters, so my homework was typed. The topics she selected provided further opportunities to speak and listen extemporaneously. She also patiently put up with my 冷笑话 （”dad jokes”)!
CLI also offers extra-curricular activities. There are local activities during weeknights and weekend excursions. Excursions outside the city are a must because the scenery is magnificent! The Chinese say 桂林山水甲天下， which can be translated as “Guilin’s scenery ranks first in the world.”
Longsheng Rice Terraces 龙胜梯田
I spent a weekend with CLI staff and students at Guilin’s Longsheng Rice Terrace. As far as the eye could see, there were rice terraces that were several centuries old. It combines elements of natural engineering and farming to create a stunning aesthetic. Our accommodations were clean and comfortable, and we were well-fed. English is not spoken, making it a perfect opportunity to improve your Chinese!
Another must-see place is Yangshuo; this region showcases the karst mountain formations in Guangxi province. On the natural beauty scale, it was on par with Yosemite National Park. Simply breath-taking! We spent the day on bikes, then lunch, and topped off the day trip with a boat trip down the Li River. This area is so famous in China that the back side of the 20 yuan note is an actual depiction of the scenery along the Li River. I regret that this was only a day trip and not for the entire weekend.
The karst topography makes Yangshuo so unique.
The wonderful people I met in Guilin were even more beautiful than the landscape. I never once encountered any anti-American sentiment. Foreigners are few in Guilin (one reason CLI is an excellent place to study Chinese!). It was common to hear people greet me with “Hello” or “Hi,” which was the extent of many people’s English. I made friends with the workers at a local coffee shop and a hostel a few blocks from CLI. An English teacher from Anhui stopped me at a local mall to chat; she spoke to me in English, and I talked to her in Chinese. And, of course, I think the world of the staff at CLI. I’ve been in touch with them on WeChat and even started online classes with them.
Do I want to return? Absolutely! I hope you have a chance to go there too!
