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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

Hitanshu testimonial for keats chinese school

Hitanshu | UK

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

It doesn’t matter what level of Chinese you have, or even you can start from the zero level. Your teacher will prepare the lessons according to your requirements. The advantage of living in the school is that you will have your tutoring, you will have your private accommodation with your own bathroom and all the meals provided. I highly recommend everybody to actually take the whole package because you get to meet other students.

Paul | UK

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

All teachers are really lovely. The teaching level at Keats is so much higher. I really love the city. It is very comfortable to get around. I fully recommend Keats. It is a great place to study Chinese in China. We are looking forward to coming back again later this year.

Joleen | Germany

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

About studying Chinese here, I think the living condition is very convenient because the dorm is very close to the classroom. Our teachers really enjoy teaching Chinese. They are also very passionate. Compared with other cities in China, Kunming has really good weather.

Nicholas | Canada

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

At Keats, I have a lot of opportunities to practice what I have learned. I really like this school, because I can learn Chinese in one-on-one style, so I think this is the best immersion program in China and my teacher is the best teacher. I feel that without my teacher, my Chinese will definitely not improve so much. I’m very happy because, at Keats, I have improved my Chinese significantly.

Ben testimonial for keats chinese school

Ben | USA

Small Group Chinese Class

My first semester that I studied at another school, and the pressure there was pretty high, the classroom hour was long, and the homework was pretty tedious. Since I came to Keats, I found I have a lot more opportunities to speak in the classroom. My classmates all are fluent and love speaking and participating in the class. We have great classroom dynamic.

Duwenyu testimonial for keats chinese school

杜文宇 | Netherlands

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

So during my first week at Keats, I didn’t dare to speak any Chinese words. I found out that my Chinese level quickly improved since then. Although I have many options to study in China, for example, some other schools have homestay, I found I could immerse myself and fully focus on learning Chinese by staying at Keats.

Sylvia tetimonial for keats chinese school

Sylvia | USA

Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

One thing I really liked was that I was able to work with my teacher to make an individual plan of study. Another really nice thing is that you live at the school, you feel completely safe.  You always have a group of people who are willing to do things with you on the weekends or in the evenings. They are serving you all the 3 meals a day, the food was excellent.

Vanya testimonial for keats chinese school

Vanya | BULGARIA

Small Group Chinese Class

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.

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