Beijing
Lashihai
Tiger Leaping Gorge
Kunming
Program Overview
More people speak Mandarin Chinese than any other language in the world.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to restrictive and changing COVID-19 policies, Dragons programs in China remain uncertain. We encourage you to look at our Taiwan Programs for a similar alternative.
For anyone interested in exploring and understanding China’s rich history and culture, it’s ever-increasing influence in the world, and what life is like for the 1.4 billion people who live here, learning Chinese is the first step. Our approach to language study is holistic: including group travel, homestays, and Independent Study Projects (ISPs) in addition to formal classroom instruction.
Program Highlights
- Learn and improve Chinese-language skills through classes, interactions with homestay families, and meetings with local mentors
- Experience life in two very different communities, one urban, one rural
- Explore China’s ethnic and ecological diversity…
PLEASE NOTE: Due to restrictive and changing COVID-19 policies, Dragons programs in China remain uncertain. We encourage you to look at our Taiwan Programs for a similar alternative.
For anyone interested in exploring and understanding China’s rich history and culture, it’s ever-increasing influence in the world, and what life is like for the 1.4 billion people who live here, learning Chinese is the first step. Our approach to language study is holistic: including group travel, homestays, and Independent Study Projects (ISPs) in addition to formal classroom instruction.
Program Highlights
- Learn and improve Chinese-language skills through classes, interactions with homestay families, and meetings with local mentors
- Experience life in two very different communities, one urban, one rural
- Explore China’s ethnic and ecological diversity in Yunnan Province
Our 4 and 6 week program options divide their time between Kunming (capital city of Yunnan Province) and one of several small villages in rural Yunnan. This is a region renowned for its mountainous terrain, natural beauty and ethnic diversity—including Naxi, Tibetan, Yi, Dai, and Miao (Hmong) people. During both urban and rural homestays, students meet for 3–4 hours of formal Mandarin instruction per day, with the option for 1:1 tutoring sessions in the afternoon for hungry learners. Homestay placements reinforce language acquisition, encouraging students to practice new vocabulary with their families in the evenings.
While in Kunming, students engage in ISPs, learning directly from local mentors about topics ranging from Chinese cooking, calligraphy, traditional Chinese medicine, martial arts, musical instruments and environmental issues. Students also explore local historic and cultural sites such as The Golden Temple, the Bird and Flower Market, and Green Lake Park. During rural homestays, sample activities include organizing pick-up soccer or basketball games with village teenagers, foraging for medicinal plants with expert guides, visiting Buddhist monasteries, and learning about the work of local NGOs.
Mandarin Intensive students return home with a firsthand understanding of China’s diversity and increased confidence in their ability to communicate and navigate in a rapidly changing China.
