When foreigners look for Chinese courses, they usually mean Mandarin — the official standard language understood worldwide and spoken in Taiwan, Singapore and, of course, China. That’s why, if you want to get the most out of your language trip, LinguaTrip.com recommends that you search for courses in these countries. Intensive language training in class and non-stop flow of Chinese speech outside the classroom will help you memorize words and phrases faster and acquire proper pronunciation.

Besides new knowledge, you’ll get an unforgettable cultural experience. Delicious food and bustling nightlife in Taiwan. Stunning scenery and eccentric festivals in Singapore. Pandas, tea ceremonies, and martial arts in China. Few places have such a vast and rich history. The Great Wall of China, The Forbidden City, and the Terracotta Warriors are some of the most well-known ancient tourist attractions. Just keep in mind that you are on an educational trip.

The Intensive Chinese course will challenge the stereotype that oriental languages are a tough nut to crack for a western person. The classes focus on real-life Chinese conversational skills, character reading, and writing. You’ll study in a small group with students who share the same language level, which will give you friendly competition.

The course covers listening, speaking, reading, and writing — the 4 building blocks of language learning. Check out this school: Mandarin House, Hong Kong.

The Reading and Writing Chinese course focuses on the most challenging part of Chinese learning: characters. To make the process faster and more effective, teachers put emphasis on character writing and dozens of memorizing techniques. Students also learn to read, write and understand some of the mysteries behind a writing system that is 5,000 years old. The course is popular among students wishing to apply to a Chinese university or take the HSK exam (Chinese Proficiency Test). Take a look at Mandarin House, Shanghai school.

Private tutoring is a more expensive but highly effective alternative to group classes. A one-to-one tutoring course is the most personalized way of language learning. A private tutor will design the learning plan according to your weaknesses, abilities, and interests. You can choose the accommodation type. Some tutors may invite you to live in their houses. You can also stay in a Chinese family house, or rent a flat. One of the most well-reputed schools offering private tutoring is Mandarin House, Beijing.

For accommodation, there are several options. You can book it on your own via Airbnb, or other hospitality services. Another option is a homestay with a Chinese family. LinguaTrip.com offers you this opportunity. Aside from your own room, you will be witnessing the day-to-day lives of native speakers. If you choose private tutoring, you may even stay at your tutor’s home.

Oriental food is a non-stop carnival of tastes. It’s hard to choose several dishes but we did our best.

Noodle soup — a delicious ensemble of chicken broth, soy sauce, oil, garlic, ginger, noodles, and nut toppings.

Sweet and sour pork — tender pork with tomato sauce, coriander, and eggs.

Ma po tofu is a combination of soy cheese tofu and spicy chili-and-bean-based sauce, sprinkled with minced meat and some chopped scallion pieces.

Chow mein means stir-fried noodles in Chinese. It consists of noodles, meat (usually chicken, beef, shrimp, or pork), onions and celery.

Peking roasted duck is so delicious due to a maltose syrup covering on the meat. The dish is eaten with pancakes, sweet bean sauce, or soy with mashed garlic.

All these dishes are must-haves for any Chinese restaurant. One meal for two will cost you from $3 to $22.

China

Apart from the usual underground, buses, taxis, and trolleybuses, you can travel on electric cars, bikes, and high-speed rail. An average taxi runs on a taxi-meter, and their fares start from $0.80. On public transport, you pay the same price regardless of the distance, and the fair can be ridiculously cheap starting from $0.15.

Singapore

Public transport here includes underground, taxis and buses. Single-trip tickets will cost you from $1 to $1.80. If you’re staying in Singapore for more than a day or two, the easiest way to pay for travel on public transport is with the EZ-Link card ($8.88).

Taiwan

You can get to any city in Taiwan through the Taiwan Rail Line. A single one-way ticket will cost from $1 to $49.

Long-distance buses are a more budget alternative with tickets varying from $8.20 to $13.23.

Take a look at some other transport fares within a city:

• Buses: $0.50
• Metro: $0.59 – $2.14
• Taxi: $2.31
• Bike: $0.30 per 10 minutes.

No matter which school you choose, all of them have it free and fast internet connection. But you may not always have it outside the classroom so it’s better to buy a local SIM card to stay connected all the time.

Top Chinese mobile connection providers are China Unicom, China Mobile and Vodafone. Fares: $0.051 per minute and $16 per 1GB.

When in Taiwan, try using Taiwan Mobile. Fares: $19.8 per day and $3.30 per 2 GB.

When in Singapore, use Singtel. $2.48 per minute and $3.69 per 1 GB.

Chinese climate varies extensively from area to area. It can reach 20°C below zero in winter (north-east) and 40°C above zero in summer (south-east).

On the island of Taiwan, formerly Formosa, the climate is tropical, with mild winters and hot, rainy summers. Expect a temperature of 18°C in winter and 30°C above zero in summer.

The weather in Singapore is warm and tropical year-round. February is the hottest month with an average temperature of 27°C and the coldest is January — 26°C.

In China, you’ll need around $800 to rent an apartment for two weeks in the city center. In Taiwan or Singapore — $500. Take around $600 to spend on sightseeing, food, and shopping. Also, don’t forget that you’ll need visas for all the three countries:

• China — fees vary depending on your residence;
• Taiwan — fees vary as well;
• Singapore — $20.