Wish I'd Started Here Sooner!

I’ve been working in China for 2 and a half years now, and had various false starts with learning Chinese in my spare time. After a four-week intensive courses at BLCU where I picked up a lot of vocabulary, but was quite frankly overwhelmed with grammar and lack of speaking practice, I finally decided to try Culture Yard. I had heard good things about the school from friends, and after visiting the school for an assessment, I liked the vibe of the place – very chilled out, nice courtyard location, and lots of emphasis on hanging out and socializing in Chinese (majhong classes, movie events etc.). It’s been 9 months since I started studying here, and my Chinese has vastly improved in all areas.

There are various different classes that you can take, and they have been very accomodating with trying to fit things into my schedule, so I’ve done one-to-one classes, as well as morning intensive and evening classes. Most classes use a textbook, which I was a little skeptical about at first, but actually the teachers I’ve had dip in and out, and use the book as a starting point for extensive practice so it doesn’t really feel like you’re just being led through a book, like with other schools I've tried. There’s been a real focus on practical, everyday language – and classes have involved a lot of speaking, which was the main thing I was interested in. Infact, the teachers are all really great here, and seem to really care about your progress.

I can’t yet speak for HSK4 level or higher, but I’d really recommend this place for beginners or pre-intermediates. If you’re new to Beijing it also seems an awesome place for plugging into the local culture, and making some friends too. Wish I'd started here sooner!