Mandarin Chinese Courses in Kunming, China

Keats School:
Located in the center of Kunming, the most beautiful spring city in China and the capital of southwest China’s Yunnan province, Keats School is one of the top Chinese language schools in China because of the excellent teaching quality and flexibility offered. We provide intensive one-on-one Mandarin Chinese language instruction & Small Group Chinese courses to overseas students.

Small Group Chinese Courses - Weekdays & Weekend study options
Levels:  Beginner Chinese, Elementary Chinese, Intermediate Chinese, Advanced Chinese classes. 

Every year, over 200 students join our small group Chinese classes. This is an ideal language program for students who wish to live in Kunming for the long-term, and for students who now work in Kunming.  

Weekdays, the course runs 2 hours a day Monday to Friday, for 16 weeks for one semester. This program boasts 50% Returning Students!

Keats School can provide students with student visas, but does not provide accommodation for small class students.

We can however assist students in getting in contact with local housing agencies which will show you a range of apartments, and the service fee is about one month’s rent, directly paid to the agency. 


HSK Test Preparation Program:
China's Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi, known as HSK or the Chinese Proficiency Test is a standardized test at the state level designed and developed by the HSK Center of Beijing Language and Culture University to assess the Chinese proficiency of non-native speakers (foreigners, overseas Chinese and students of Chinese national minorities).

Our HSK preparation programs are available year-round and you can start anytime.

You will be taught through private Chinese lessons which we believe is the fastest and most effective way to prepare you to pass the HSK test.

You will have 6 hours of intensive Mandarin per day taught by excellent teachers who will help you to learn Chinese and master the HSK test as quickly as possible. 


Intensive One-on-one Chinese Course:
Our famous immersion teaching style is designed to help students learn Chinese as quickly as possible.

We provide one-on-one Chinese language instruction with personalized study plans and materials exclusively for you to meet your learning goals and requirements. 

You can tell us whatever you want to learn. We will then develop a curriculum for you based on your level of Chinese. In this way, you will maximize the amount that you learn in the short time you study here. 

Available year-round, our intensive one-on-one Chinese instruction provides you with more opportunities to practice your spoken Chinese and get real-time correction.

There are 2 different study options: 4 hours per day (20 hours per week) and 6 hours per day (30 hours per week). You will be assigned with an academic advisor who will help make your transitions to studying in China more smoothly, help track your progress and adjust the teaching strategies to meet your learning requirements.

You do not have to catch a bus and rush to the school from where you live; you do not have to search for where to eat after class; because you can study, eat and live in ONE BUILDING. This is really hard to find when you learn Chinese in China.


Chinese Culture Programs:
You have the option of taking any of the following culture classes alongside the private Chinese lessons on your intensive Chinese course.

• Chinese Calligraphy:  
Combine private Chinese lessons with Calligraphy classes! It does not take as long to study calligraphy as many people think.

After taking only 3-5 lessons of Chinese calligraphy, our students are able to write their own works of Chinese calligraphy.

One Chinese calligraphy lesson lasts for 2 hours and you will have 2 lessons per week.

• Chinese Cooking:  
Do you want to learn real Chinese cooking? Take Chinese cooking classes alongside your private Chinese lessons and learn how to prepare delicious Chinese food.

You will learn to cook 4 dishes per week, and you can choose the dishes that you want to learn from our menu with over 200 options. 

After taking the Chinese cooking class, you will be able to prepare your own food at home and surprise your friends at a party or family gathering.  The cooking materials are included in the tuition fee.

• Tai Chi/Taiji or Kung Fu:  
This is a great choice for those who want to keep healthy while they are in China. Both Tai Chi and Kung Fu are good for self-defense, and physical / mental health.

When you practice Tai Chi, you will learn the hard and soft martial art technique, and enjoy the philosophy of Yin and Yang.

There are 2 hours for one Tai Ji/Kung Fu lesson and you will have 2 lessons per week.

• Chinese Musical Instruments: 
Choose to learn Guzheng, Erhu, Pipa or Hulusi. Hulusi is a typical Yunnan musical instrument, and a classic representation of minority music. It is relatively easy and you will be able to perform it after just 2 to 3 lessons.

With distinctive sounds and thousands of years of history, Guzheng and Pipa were important musical instruments in ancient Chinese palaces and favored by many Chinese emperors. The Chinese musical instrument option is 2 hours per lesson, and you will have 2 lessons per week. 


Study + Tour Program:
Learn Chinese while enjoying the beautiful scenery of Yunnan Province as well as excursions to other cities in China!

Available for 1-4 weeks, this program combines professional one-on-one Chinese instruction (Monday to Friday) with trips to Beijing, Shanghai, Xi'an, Dali, and Lijiang.

The program fee includes the lesson tuition, airport pick-up and drop-off, transportation, entrance fees, accommodation and food. You do not need to worry about any aspect of the trip because we arrange absolutely everything for you! 

With programs available year-round, we will design the Chinese course according to your personal needs and organize your trips to different parts of Yunnan and China.

You will have the opportunity to polish your Chinese language skills and gain insights into Chinese culture and local features. You are encouraged to come as a group of family members or group of friends.


Study + Volunteer Program (Start Anytime):
This program is a perfect combination of an intensive one-on-one Chinese courses and volunteering opportunities in China.

Volunteering in China means living and working alongside local people and gaining a better understanding of Chinese culture.

Many students find this is a great program for self-exploration, self-fulfillment and spiritual enhancement.

Each morning, students have 4 hours of private Chinese lessons with a professional Chinese teacher in the morning to have some drills in Chinese language, which they will be using when doing the volunteer work in the afternoons. Keats School has close relationships with local Non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

Our volunteering activities include teaching English at a migrant school, teaching at schools for the blind, schools for children with mental health problems. If required, we can provide volunteer certificates and recommendation letters. 


Customized Chinese Language Programs:
We can design tailored study programs to meet the specific needs or organizations, groups or families who wish to learn Chinese in China.

In past years, we have successfully held American high school summer programs and company trainings. In past years, we have successfully organized the following programs:

• Semester / Year Abroad Program:
Yunnan University of Nationalities Keats Chinese Center (YUNKCC) provides intensive Chinese language study abroad programs along with Chinese ethnic minority study courses and Chinese culture seminars.

All the courses have highly academic standards and are accredited by Yunnan Provincial Department. Students study Chinese intensively in the morning for 4 hours, 5 days a week.

The content of the 1-semester program is equivalent to the content of 1-year Chinese Language study in a college. There will be no more than 10 students in each class.

• Study + Internship Program (Start Anytime)
Our Study + Internship Program aims to provide opportunities for international university / college students and young graduates to build up their work experience within an international context by completing an internship here in China.

Students learn Chinese in intensive, one-on-one classes with a highly qualified Chinese teacher. The classes will be held for 4 hours in the morning and will focus on business / professional Chinese.

Working closely with Chinese people will help students gain a better understanding of Chinese culture and contemporary Chinese society. None of the internships available require Mandarin language skills.

Internships are available in the following fields:  Hotel Management, Tourism, Journalism, IT, Business Consulting, Engineering, Social Work, Education, Medication, Nursing, and Architecture.

• Summer Mandarin Chinese language program for College Students:
Keats School offers college / university students various summer learning adventures, which expose students to the profound Chinese language and Chinese culture.

This program helps students develop useful skills in communication and leadership when students meet different people with different cultural backgrounds and volunteer at local communities.

In 6-week’s time, you will not only be able to use Chinese in your daily life, but also have a deep understanding of Chinese culture.

• Summer Mandarin Chinese Language Program For High School Students / Homestay Program With Chinese Families:
Do you want to study Chinese, travel in China, learn Chinese culture, visit local high schools and universities and make friends with Chinese high school students?

Keats School’s summer program for high school students has everything for you. Live locally with a Chinese family and totally immerse yourself in the language and culture.


Children's Chinese Course:
Keats School has interesting and special teaching methods for children who are from 5 to 15. Our program combines quality private Chinese lessons with Chinese culture classes and excursions.

If you want your children to improve their Chinese test score or to have a foundation for further Chinese study, you will not be disappointed. 

Parents are very welcome to come with their children and participate in the afternoon activities. Our Mandarin teachers are all experienced in teaching children and use various interesting teaching methods, which make Chinese learning easy and fun.

Children will take one-on-one Mandarin lessons each morning. On Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, one Chinese cultural activity can be chosen from Chinese paper-cutting, Chinese chess, tea ceremony, Chinese songs, make Chinese dumplings, and Chinese movies. 

In the afternoon on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, children will have excursions to interesting places. Children will be able to use and practice the Chinese they learned in the morning during afternoon activities. 

This program is suitable both for families from overseas who are coming to Kunming to learn the Chinese language and culture, and for expat families who are living in Kunming and want one-to-one Chinese immersion for their child.


Online Chinese Lessons:
Available 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. Beginner, intermediate & advanced level.

- Step-by-step Mandarin Course
- Survival Chinese
- Business Chinese
- HSK Test Preparation
- Chinese for Children
- Chinese for Teenagers
- 1-hour Chinese Grammar and Culture Classes


Student Review:
•  "The best of Keats School is the one-to-one method and tailor-made courses, together with being able to start a course anytime. The teachers keep the classes interesting with varied exercises and subject matter. Likewise, the best of Keats’ service is attention to the individual in instruction and other areas.

For example, I am grateful for staff assistance in cleaning my room and preparing food for me. Everyone is keen to help, and from the moment I arrived at Kunming airport, I was met with a smile and very reassuring to know that I was not alone.

I just want to say to Keats, “Thank you so much for making these 12 weeks so enjoyable and useful!”
Joe, Hong Kong