Gap Year

Gap Year in China

We have four excellent Gap Year programs in China which all provide their own unique challenge. Our Full Immersion Gap Year in China gives you the chance to mix the big city life in Beijing or Shanghai with Chengde, a city where you will not see a foreigner all trip. The Chinese Language Year offers intensive study abroad for 36 weeks, over two semesters allowing you to achieve fluency in Mandarin. If you want to teach English in China then our Chinese and English Gap Year is exactly what you’ve been looking for. Or if you wish for more flexibility then you can even build your own gap year in China.

Whatever Gap Year in China you wish to partake in, you are guaranteed to have the experience of a lifetime in one of the world’s most fascinating and fastest growing countries.

Full Immersion Gap Year in China

Learn Mandarin whilst experiencing full Immersion in China on your path to becoming fluent in Chinese. Experience the hustle, bustle and bright lights of Beijing or Shanghai before moving onto the much smaller Chengde (not to be confused with Chengdu), a city with no foreign influence, no Starbucks or McDonalds, and no English.

Stage 1 – Beijing / Shanghai

You will acclimatise to the Chinese culture as your start your trip in either Beijing or Shanghai, you decide. That, in itself is an adventure you will never forget. Shanghai’s incredible modern influence is littered with remarkable skyscrapers wherever you look. Beijing, equally large, has a whole host of Chinese history and culture to explore. Whichever you choose, you are in for quite an experience.

Stage 2 – Chengde

After this you will be whisked away to Chengde. A city with just 500,000 people (this is small in China terms) and no foreigners. You will live and breathe Mandarin and speak no English. This can be a testing experience. You must be warned if you aren’t sure about experiencing full Chinese Immersion, Chengde might not be for you. Chengde is very much “real China”, the pace is much slower, the people are friendly and the Mandarin spoken in Chengde is the most standard Mandarin you will experience in the whole of China. Chengde is also a UNESCO world heritage site. The city oozes Chinese culture so to experience this you must be aware you will not be able to speak anything but Mandarin to communicate with locals.

Chinese Language Gap Year

Study abroad in China for two university style semesters to help you achieve Chinese fluency. Enjoy our popular small group classes which have a maximum of six students and an average of less than three students per class. Every student has their say, every student speaks Chinese and close bonds are formed between students and teachers.

Each weekday you will study for four hours making your weekly study at school total 20 hours. Each semester lasts 18 weeks meaning you enjoy 36 weeks of Chinese study in total but if you wish to extend you you can. You can speed up your Chinese progress even further by opting to stay in one of our carefully selected homestays in China. After 36 weeks of intensive study and with the potential of living at a homestay many students would expect, and do, reach HSK4/5 meaning fluency in Chinese.

Chinese and English Gap Year

Our Chinese and English Gap Year is ideal if you are on a budget but still want to learn Chinese in China. The program totals 22 weeks with your first four weeks spent learning Chinese at either our Shanghai or Beijing school, you choose the city. After you’ve settled into China and have some Chinese under your belt you will enjoy 18 weeks teaching English in a smaller city outside of Beijing or Shanghai.

It’s a truly great opportunity to explore China’s wonderful history and culture, whilst still learning the language on a budget. LTL will provide you with 2000CNY per month and an apartment whilst you teach English to Chinese students. This is ideal if you are on a budget or looking to spend less money.

Included in the price of the Teach English in China Gap Year is:

• Small Chinese group classes for four weeks
• Shared apartment (small room) based in Beijing or Shanghai
• 18 weeks of English teaching in another city in China near Beijing or Shanghai.
• Accommodation and 2000 CNY per month courtesy of LTL whilst teaching English
• Transportation from Beijing or Shanghai to the school where you will teach
• 24/7 support along with access to the LTL student and teacher community
• Airport pick up and drop off at apartment.

Build your own Gap Year in China

We also give you the chance to build your own gap year in Asia. Build the program you want, when you want and where you want. Fancy 5 weeks in Shanghai learning Chinese in one of the worlds biggest and most exciting cities? Why not then head to Beijing for a further 15 weeks and kick on your Chinese further with individual Mandarin classes in China’s capital. You could finish off with 16 weeks in Chengde where you will be sure to achieve fluency in Mandarin. No foreigners, no English, no Starbucks. Welcome to real China.

This is just an example of what you could build. Come and chat to us to find out more. The China Gap Year can last as long as you wish so you can build it however you suits you best.

Gap Year Asia options

• Study Chinese in Shanghai
• Study Chinese in Beijing
• Study Chinese in Chengde
• Learn Mandarin on the Great Wall (Summer only)
• Teach English in China
• Internship in China