Duration
1-52 weeksLessons Per Day
4 HoursAccommodation
IncludedDaily Meals
IncludedStudent Number
No More Than 6Program Start
Any MondayTuition Starting From
US $650language levels
Any LevelCourse Features
In the Small Group Chinese Class, I will:
- Improve my Chinese skills through active interaction with my teacher and classmates
- Be provided with help to obtain a long-term student visa
- Learn Mandarin Chinese in China in an inexpensive but fun and efficient way
- Have a structured, immersive, and professional course with accommodation included
- Make friends with my classmates who come from different parts of the world
Is this program
for me?
Interaction with the Teacher and Classmates
Besides the famous Intensive Immersion One-on-one Chinese language program at Keats, the small group Chinese class is another popular program of Keats. The teachers use plenty of games and activities to get you involved in the class. You will have the opportunity to practice your speaking and get corrected immediately. The teachers for the small group classes are experienced and use unique teaching methods developed by Keats.
Tuition Fee As Low As US$650/week
If you want to learn Chinese in China in a very affordable way, this is the perfect program for you. At Keats, we aim to provide everyone from every country with an opportunity to learn the Chinese language from professional instructors. If you plan to work in China after you study at Keats, this is a great program to get you prepared by steadily improving your Chinese. The tuition fee is as low as US $650 per week, which includes 20 hours of group classes/week and single-room accommodation with a private bathroom.
Student Visa Provided
Keats offers support for your student/tourist visa application. After you complete your registration at Keats, we will send you instructions on how to get your student/tourist visa with help from Keats. Keats can also provide dependent visas for your spouse and children. Get started and plan your trip to learn Mandarin Chinese in China. You may also check out Keats Blog for more information about learning Chinese language in China and news about the visa.
50% Returning Students
Each year, over 500 students choose to enroll in small group classes. Over 50% of them choose to extend their Mandarin Chinese program with Keats. What keeps students studying at Keats is the fast rate of progress and the warm and friendly academic learning environment that helps sustain students’ motivation. The small group Chinese class is 4 hours a day Monday to Friday. If you are not a beginner, you can arrive on any Sunday and start your classes on Monday. The levels for the small group Chinese classes are: beginner, elementary, intermediate, and advanced.
CLASS OPTIONS
Beginner
The beginner class is designed for students who have never studied Chinese.
Topics covered in beginner class are the introduction of yourself, daily life, food, transportation, interests, and hobbies.
The levels of the students in one class might be slightly different. Please bear in mind that you might not have exactly the same level.
Beginner class starting dates of 2026: Jan 5, Feb 2, Mar 2, Mar 30, May 4, Jun 1, Jul 6, Aug 3, Aug 31, Oct 5, Nov 2, Dec 7.
Beginner class starting dates of 2027: Jan 4, Feb 1, Mar 1, April 5, May 3, May 31, Jul 5, Aug 2, Aug 30, Oct 4, Nov 1, Dec 6.
Elementary
The Elementary class is designed for students who have learned 500 Chinese words and 48 grammar points, and are able to recognize 300 Chinese characters.
Topics covered in Elementary are “socializing”, family life, study arrangements, shopping, dining, personal feelings, traveling experience, course situation, cultural and sports activities, festivals and customs, and career, etc.
The levels of the students in one class might be slightly different. Please bear in mind that you might not have exactly the same level.
You can arrive on any Sunday and start your classes on the following Monday.
Intermediate
The Intermediate class is designed for students who have learned 2245 Chinese words and 210 grammar points and can recognize 900 Chinese characters.
Topics covered in Intermediate are community life, healthy conditions, campus life, office communication, animals, and plants, interpersonal relationships, lifestyles, studying methods, natural environment, social phenomenon, social contacts, etc.
The levels of the students in one class might be slightly different. Please bear in mind that you might not have exactly the same level.
You can arrive on any Sunday and start your classes on the following Monday.
Advanced
The Advanced class is designed for students who have learned 5456 Chinese words and 424 grammar points and are able to recognize 1800 Chinese characters.
Topics covered in the Advanced class are socializing protocols, science and technology, culture and art, emotions, academic fields, political economy, philosophy, history, academic research, laws and regulations, business trade, and international affairs.
The levels of the students in one class might be slightly different. Please bear in mind that you might not have exactly the same level.
You can arrive on any Sunday and start your classes on the following Monday.
Locations Available for the Small Group Chinese Class
INCLUDED IN TUITION
4 hrs/day of Small Group Chinese Classes
- Each small group class has no more than 6 students.
- You will have Mandarin Chinese classes for 4 hours Monday to Friday, 20 hours/week.
- The teacher employs all kinds of activities/games to get every student involved.
- Improve your Chinese skills through active interaction with your teacher and classmates.
Single Room with Private Bathroom
- Located in the SAME building as the school.
- Clean, safe, convenient, and comfortable.
- The room contains a bed, bedsheets, desk and chair, wardrobe, fridge, water dispenser, 24-hour hot water, and wifi.
- Free room cleaning service is offered once a week.
Program Certificate
As an outstanding Chinese language institute that has been well-established for nearly 20 years, we offer students program certificates at the end of the program. You can use it for:
- Job application
- Degree program application
- Proof of a memorable experience
- Proof of your Chinese level
Free Services
FREE - 3 Meals a Day
- Authentic Chinese Cuisine: Keats Cafeteria uses fresh produce to prepare delicious Chinese meals with top-quality oil.
- We offer various choices for vegetarians.
- Keats Cafeteria is the best place to meet and chat with other students. It is also a good time to practice your Chinese with Keats teachers during meal times.
FREE - Airport Pick-up and Drop-off
We also offer train station pick-up and drop-off. Just email us your arrival and departure details, and we will make arrangements for you.
Free - Access to All Keats Facilities
You will have FREE access to Keats Fitness Center, Keats Library, Keats Cafeteria, Keats Time Cafe, self-study rooms, and laundry rooms.
Free - Evening Activities
- Every Monday: Movie night. With the big movie screen at Keats, you can choose any movie from our thousands of options.
- Every Tuesday: Market night.
- Every Wednesday: Chinese culture night. Learn to play mahjong, taste Chinese tea, make dumplings, watch traditional opera, make Chinese snacks, do Chinese painting, etc.
- Every Friday: Foodie night. Explore the local food with the advisor.
FREE - Saturday Excursions
In order to make the most out of your time at Keats, we take you to explore various interesting places during the weekend to help you have a deeper understanding of Chinese culture. We offer FREE excursions every Saturday. There are so many interesting places to visit in Kunming and Chengdu. We will take you to experience the real Kunming and Chengdu every Saturday.
FREE - PLACEMENT TEST
Each student has his/her Chinese language background. Don’t worry! We will offer a free placement test before you start the small group Mandarin Chinese class. The teacher at Keats will suggest one class that is most suitable for your level.
Life Advisor
Your “Life Advisor” will be helping you with
- School orientation;
- A tour of the surrounding area (supermarket, hospital, SIM card, metro station, restaurants, post office, etc.)
- Accommodation registration;
- Arranging room cleaning and bottled water ordering;
- Arranging airport drop-off.
Study Advisor
Your “Study Advisor” will be helping you with
- Collecting your learning feedback;
- Tracking your satisfaction with the program;
- Answering questions in learning Chinese;
- Arranging make-up lessons;
- Arranging lessons if you want to extend your stay or add extra lessons.
Chinese Language Partner
- To create more opportunities for you to practice Mandarin Chinese outside of classrooms and immerse yourself in a better Chinese learning environment, Keats provides the opportunity to make friends with Chinese people.
- You will be paired with a Chinese who can speak standard Mandarin.
- You will help your language partner to practice English and your language partner will help you to practice Chinese.
FREE - 24/7 Support
Whenever you need help, we are here to help. We understand that living abroad can be stressful, especially for the first time. We are here to ease your concerns and make your transition smooth. Keats is your home in China and is with you all the time. Learn Chinese in China and explore China by taking the small group Chinese class.
Keats Student ID
As a Keats student, you can request a student ID. With the student ID, you can receive student’s prices or discounted prices at 80% parks in China. This saves you a lot of money which you can invest in your Mandarin Chinese language courses. The student ID provides the best opportunity to travel in China on a budget. Kunming is an amazing city with great air quality and is an ideal destination for people who love outdoor activities. Check out a list of reasons to learn Chinese in Kunming Yunnan.
VISA APPLICATION ASSISTANCE
Keats is a legally registered and licensed Chinese language school approved by the Chinese education department. Keats offers support for your student visa application. After you complete your registration at Keats, we will send you instructions on how to get your student visa with help from Keats. Keats can also provide dependent visas for your spouse and children. Please make sure that you choose a licensed school for your language course to ensure that your legal rights as a student are being protected.
Help to Purchase Medical Insurance
As a Keats student, you can get medical insurance for your entire stay from our partner insurance company at a discounted price of USD 60 to USD 120, if:
- you are a student visa holder
- you are between 8 and 69 years old
WHAT'S A TYPICAL DAY LIKE AT KEATS?
8:00am – 8:30am Breakfast at Keats Cafeteria
8:30am – 12:30pm Small group Chinese class or free time on your own
12:30pm – 1:20pm Lunch at Keats Cafeteria
1:30pm – 5:30pm Small group Chinese class or free time on your own
6:00pm Dinner at Keats Cafeteria
7:00pm – 9:00pm Movie night/Cultural activities
OTHER FREE SERVICES
OVER 10000+ STUDENTS
HAVE STUDIED AT KEATS
The teachers at Keats know how to read the students and how to help students learn Chinese language easily. They know the level of the students. I am a slow learner, but they managed to adapt to my learning. They made the class very fun, very exciting. I am pleased that not only I got to learn the culture and the language, but I also got to make amazing friends, really unbelievable, Chinese friends and European friends, American friends, from all over the world.
All my classmates stay together for one year and we improved so much! The teachers at Keats are all very great. They like to organize a lot of activities to help us learn Chinese. I like Keats! I like Kunming!
Before I came to Keats School, I had no confidence in my Chinese proficiency. I did not have the confidence to speak Mandarin Chinese and chat with Chinese people. However, after 4 months of study at Keats, I become more and more confident in speaking Chinese now. Studying Chinese in China at Keats School has been the best decision I have ever made. There are many games in the class, and my teacher’s teaching methods are also very interesting. My experience at Keats School has changed my view of China and Chinese people.
The visa application was really straightforward, because Keats School helps us a lot with that. Keats has a big emphasis on conversational practice, so we learn a lot of vocabulary and daily life plans which is very convenient for us to go around town and speak with Chinese people which is the whole point of learning Chinese in China.
I really had a wonderful experience at the school. The teachers are very very friendly. In my class, we practice speaking, listening, reading, and writing. We play games and other fun activities. We have trips around town. The staff at Keats is phenomenal. My teacher is one of the best teachers I have ever had in my educational experience. She comes in with a smile every day.
Kunming is a great place to learn Chinese in China because not many Chinese on the street speak English. Keats has been a great school for me and a lot of other foreigners who studied in China recommended it to me. I think they are all right. The study method here is really structured. They make learning Chinese really easy. There are also a lot of cultural and natural places to visit.
We use a lot of games to learn grammar and new words. We have really good teachers, really patient. She helps us a lot. Our class is really nice and we have people from all over the world, different countries. We often discuss topics in Chinese in our class. I live in the dorm of Keats. It is very convenient. I don’t have to spend time traveling. You can just focus on learning Chinese.
I found Keats to be very good, teachers are excellent and really take the students seriously. Kunming is the best place to learn Mandarin in China. The environment is awesome, no pollution. The air quality is great, good weather. The people here are very friendly. I come to take classes every day. I feel comfortable studying Chinese at Keats. I learned so many things, although I only studied at Keats for 2 months. I am really satisfied with my teacher. For us foreigners, Keats is the best Chinese school in China. Therefore, I would highly recommend Keats to all of you.
FAQ
Is there an age limit to attend this program?
Yes, people who can register for this program are from 16 years old to 65 years old. Since there will be other students in the small group classes, you will need to accommodate other students’ learning speeds. The teacher for the small group class will get everyone involved and make sure that each student has enough attention.
If you prefer to take a completely customized course designed exclusively for you, you can take the Intensive One-on-one Chinese program. The teacher for the one-on-one Chinese program will prepare the lessons according to your level of Chinese and your learning goals to ensure that you learn the most Chinese in the shortest possible time. The Intensive One-on-one Chinese course will be designed to target your weakness and help you learn Chinese at your own pace.
I am a beginner. Can I arrive on any Sunday?
If you are not a beginner, you can arrive on any Sunday and start your classes on Monday.
If you are a beginner, the beginner class starts once a month.
Beginner class starting dates of 2026:
Jan 5, Feb 2, Mar 2, Mar 30, May 4, Jun 1, Jul 6, Aug 3, Aug 31, Oct 5, Nov 2, Dec 7.
Beginner class starting dates of 2027:
Jan 4, Feb 1, Mar 1, April 5, May 3, May 31, Jul 5, Aug 2, Aug 30, Oct 4, Nov 1, Dec 6.
Wow, this is exactly the program I want to take! How can I enroll?
You can register here or click the “APPLY NOW” button on the top right and send the deposit of USD 200 to reserve your room and your spot in the small group class at Keats. After we receive your deposit, we will send you a booking confirmation and an invoice with payment details for the balance. Then you can arrange the payment through bank transfer. We will send you the official Admission Notice to apply for an X2 student visa. After you receive the visa supporting materials from us, you will be ready to apply for a student visa at the Chinese embassy or visa center in your country. Once you get the visa, you are ready to start a wonderful journey at Keats! Click here for a detailed description of the enrollment process.
If I want to accelerate my progress, can I switch to the Intensive One-on-one Chinese program?
Absolutely! You can just let us know at least one week before you plan to switch, and we will make arrangements for you.
You can pay the difference of the programs for the rest of your stay.
If I want to find my own accommodation, can I just take the small group class at Keats?
No problem!
The tuition fee for the small group class without accommodation is USD 540/week in Kunming.
The tuition fee for the small group class without accommodation is USD 640/week in Chengdu.
This includes 20 hours of small group class per week. Since this is a systematic program, 20 hours/week is a fixed amount of lessons. You can’t choose to study for 10 hours/week or any other amount of hours.
20 hours/week of Chinese classes is the minimum hour requirement to be eligible for a student visa.
Living outside of the school does not come with free services. If you need to book any of the free services that come with living at the school, you can contact us for a quote.
You are welcome to join all Keats activities for free.
What's the check-in date and check-out date?
Your accommodation at Keats starts on Sunday. You can arrive on a Sunday and start your lessons on Monday. The check-out date is Saturday after you finish your lessons on Friday. If it is hard to find the best flight to arrive on Sunday or to leave on Saturday and you need to arrive one day earlier or leave one day later, that’s also possible.
The extra cost for accommodation in Kunming is RMB 200/night.
The extra cost for accommodation in Chengdu is RMB 300/night.
DO I NEED A VISA TO TAKE THE CHINESE LANGUAGE PROGRAM IN CHINA AT KEATS SCHOOL?
Citizens of the following countries and territories will be able to enjoy a 30-day visa-free stay in China:
Europe (34 countries): Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
Oceania (2 countries): Australia, New Zealand
Asia (9 countries): Bahrain, Brunei, Japan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand
South America (5 countries): Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Uruguay
If the Chinese language program you take at Keats is longer than 4 weeks, then we can send you the necessary documents to apply for a student visa that can cover your entire stay at Keats.
What are the school holidays? Can I come during the Golden Week?
Keats opens all year round except for a 1-week break during the Spring Festival, which is usually in February.
There is a 1-week break during the Spring Festival 14/02/2026-22/02/2026, and 05/02/2027-13/02/2027. Accommodation will be provided for free for this week at the Kunming campus and the Chengdu campus. Classes and meals will not be provided during this week.
You can also travel to other places in China during this week.
We are open during other holidays such as Christmas, National Day, Labor Day, New Year, etc.
Are there cultural activities or social events organized for students?
Yes, you can check out the events planned on this page:
As a Keats alum, I’m planning to stop by with my family and friends during my next visit. Is it okay for me to show them around?
Yes, welcome back to Keats!
We have an alumni program that offers your family and friends a complimentary meal at Keats and a trip to a famous local landmark. This program is completely free of charge. Please email us with your travel dates and the number of guests so we can make the necessary arrangements for you.