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Homestay in China with a Chinese family

  • LOCATION

    30 to 50 minutes by metro/bus from the school

  • COMFORT

    Fully furnished single private room

  • BATHROOM

    Private or shared with the family

  • MEALS

    2 Meals/day with the family

  • ACTIVITIES

    Activities with the family

  • LANGUAGE IMMERSION

    Immersive Chinese language environment

Homestay in China

Clean, Safe, Convenient and Comfortable

Living with a Chinese host family transforms your language course into a cultural immersion, turning every meal and conversation into a natural stepping stone toward true fluency.

Linguistic Reinforcement

Beyond the classroom, you are immersed in a "living lab" where you must use Mandarin for real-world needs, rapidly bridging the gap between textbook theory and natural fluency. You will hear Mandarin spoken at a natural pace with varying tones and emotions. After class, you will spend some time with the host family, it could be visiting a market or playing games.

The "Home-Cooked" Advantage

In China, the dining table is the primary site of social bonding. This feature turns nutrition into a daily cultural seminar. You will have breakfast and dinner with the host family. You will have lunch at the school with the teachers and schoolmates. You won't just eat Chinese food; you’ll learn the logic behind it—such as the balance of "heating" and "cooling" foods or the specific way a family prepares a regional specialty like homemade dumplings. Helping your host family prepare a meal is one of the best ways to practice "action-oriented" language. Following a recipe or learning how to stir-fry provides a physical anchor for your new vocabulary.

Deep Cultural "Insider" Access

Observing how a family prepares for the Lunar New Year or the Mid-Autumn Festival provides a historical and emotional context that a textbook description simply cannot replicate. You may join your host family for a sànbù (evening stroll) or observe neighborhood "Square Dancing," gaining insight into how local communities bond in public spaces. You may see firsthand the "intense study routines" of Chinese children, providing a deeper understanding of why education is so highly prioritized in the culture.

Private Bedroom

The room is typically furnished to provide a "home-like" feel, helping you feel settled and secure rather than like a temporary guest in a commercial space. Having a private space makes the "24/7 reinforcement" of a homestay sustainable for the entire duration of your course, as it provides a clear boundary between social learning and personal rest.

Homestay is Available in 3 Cities

Choosing a homestay provides a secure, home-like environment that fosters significant oral proficiency gains by integrating you into the daily rituals and social support system of a local family.

Kunming

Choosing a homestay in Kunming while studying Chinese at Keats School offers a transformative experience that combines intensive academic study with genuine local living. Known as the "City of Eternal Spring," Kunming provides a relaxed environment that is perfect for students looking to dive deep into the language and culture.

Chengde

Accelerate your fluency in Chengde, the "Home of Standard Mandarin," where the local accent is famously clear. A homestay here offers deep "insider" access to imperial history and authentic Northern traditions. Experience rapid linguistic reinforcement and genuine cultural immersion within a secure, supportive local family environment.

Chengdu

Experience 24/7 linguistic reinforcement in Chengdu, bridging the gap between textbook theory and natural fluency. Enjoy deep "insider" cultural access through authentic domestic rituals and genuine Sichuan home cooking. This secure, home-like environment provides a supportive social system, fostering significant oral proficiency gains within a local family.

Homestay in China with Keats

Keats School's homestay program offers a transformative experience where you move beyond the "expat bubble" to achieve significant oral proficiency gains through 24/7 linguistic reinforcement and authentic domestic rituals within a supportive local family.
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Which Chinese Language Program
is right for you?

CHINESE LANGUAGE PROGRAMS

FAQ

How does the homestay process work?

We will send out a survey before you arrive to match you with a Chinese host family for you based on your preferences. We will pick you up at the airport or the train station and then take you to the school. You will meet your teacher at the school to discuss your learning goals and expectations first. Then your teacher will take you to settle down in your host family.

How do I handle the 'language barrier' with my host family early on?

Taking online lessons with Keats before departure is recommended to manage expectations and provide basic survival phrases. Most host families in Chinese immersion programs are accustomed to varying levels of HSK proficiency and use simplified language to help students adjust.

What are the common 'culture shock' triggers in a Chinese home?

Common stressors include adjusting to the family’s specific schedules, feeling uncomfortable in an unfamiliar domestic environment, and navigating different lifestyles.

What kind of daily activities will I do with the family?
  • Sharing Daily Meals: The dinner table is the primary site for social bonding, where families often ask questions to prompt your speech and help you practice “domestic” language.
  • Cooking and Food Preparation: You may be invited to help prepare authentic regional dishes, such as learning the specific art of folding dumplings.
  • Evening Community Rituals: It is common to join the family for a sànbù (evening stroll) or visit local neighborhood parks to observe or participate in community life.
  • Cultural Site Visits: Host families often take students to visit local cultural landmarks or historical sites, providing an “insider” perspective on the city.
  • Holiday Celebrations: If your stay coincides with a traditional festival, you will participate in authentic domestic rituals and private traditions that are usually closed to outsiders.
  • Daily Living Tasks: Engaging in routine tasks—such as navigating local markets or using mobile apps for daily needs—provides practical, contextualized learning opportunities.
Are meals provided?

Yes, you will have two meals with the host family, breakfast and dinner. You will have lunch at the school Monday to Friday with your teacher and schoolmates.

Will I have my own room?

Yes, you will have your own bedroom. But the bathroom can be private or shared.

Will I be able to take part in the school's activities if I choose homestay?

Yes, Keats organizes activities almost every day, and you are very welcome to take part in the school activities and make friends with other international students.

Viktor's Story at Keats My Chinese Family and My Chinese School

OVER 10000+ STUDENTS HAVE STUDIED AT KEATS

Aliza testimonial for keats chinese school

Aliza | USA

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

I found Keats School and I am so glad that I did. When you learn Chinese in China at Keats, you are fully being taken care of. My teacher is really great and we become lovely friends.

Emiliano | Mexico

Small Group Chinese Class

I come to Kunming because I think the environment in Kunming is better and I heard that Keats School is better. I like the small group Chinese class because my classmates study hard and our teachers are very good. I like the teaching method of Keats because I like the activities at Keats. I think Yunnan is a particularly beautiful Chinese province.

 

Sjoerd testimonial for keats chinese school

SJOERD | Netherlands

Small Group Chinese Class

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.

Kim | UK

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

I’ve had an amazing time at Keats. I am amazed at how much I’ve learned over the last 3 weeks and I will be really sad to go. We are already planning on our next trip of coming back because we had such a fantastic time here. They really tailor the Chinese language course to you and your individual needs.

David testimonial for keats chinese schoo

David | Australia

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

It has been notable because I have met a lot of people who I met first time last year like me to come back to Keats this year. The teaching has been fantastic. The teachers carefully prepare each lesson. I think this one-on-one approach is really a great way to rapidly increase your level of Chinese and increase your confidence and fluency with the language.

Mike | Australia

Small Group Chinese Class

I think Kunming is a great city, the weather is really good. I really like Keats school and found it is very organized. The teachers here are very good. They have a coffee shop and new classrooms, a new lounge area here now, so you can chill out with your friends and practice your spoken Chinese with natives. If you’re considering coming to Keats to study, I would really recommend it. It’s the best place to learn Mandarin and I think it will be a great experience for you.

 

Amauri testimonial for keats chinese school

Amauri | USA

Small Group Chinese Class

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.

Sully testimonial for keats chinese school

Sully | France

Small Group Chinese Class

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!

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