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.

Which Chinese Language Program

is right for you?

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.

LEARN CHINESE IN CHINA WITH KEATS

Jim's Story
IN KUNMING

OVER 10000+ STUDENTS
HAVE STUDIED AT KEATS

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.

Liam | UK
HSK Test Preparation Course

Last year I started studying Chinese at University. The reason that I came here is that currently, I’m preparing for the HSK 5 test. Also, I heard that this is one of the best schools to study Mandarin in China. After I came here I realized that Kunming is a pretty cool city to live in and with regards to the teachers’ teaching methods, I think they’re very professional. And I think the language environment is good so now I’m ready to take the HSK 5.

Steve | UK
Small Group Chinese Class

I really enjoy coming here because it is like kind of a home for me. It is a great environment to learn Mandarin Chinese in China and meet great people from all over the world. Everyone here is extremely friendly. Kunming has a really nice climate. It is a very good mix of the modern city and also a lot of historic Chinese culture. Probably got the cleanest air in China and possibly the cleanest water too. I invite you to come to study Chinese in Kunming.

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.

Claudia | Australia
Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

I’ve been at Keats school and Kunming now for one month doing the one-on-one Chinese lessons with two different teachers. I really enjoy it. Both of my teachers are very friendly and patient. They really helped me to improve my Chinese, both of my reading and speaking. I really enjoy studying Chinese in Kunming as well. This city is really beautiful and the weather is nice, the air is clean. It’s one of the best cities in China to study Chinese.

星河明 | Japan
Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

I took the one-on-one Intensive Chinese class for 6 hours a day. The classes are very interesting. The teachers are caring and the content the teacher teaches me is suitable for my level. It is an easy way to learn Mandarin. I have a lot of time practicing Chinese in class. The food is great here. I have improved my Chinese through this program at Keats.

Jean | USA
Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

I can’t tell you how much I liked it. The thing I liked about the teachers and the teaching method is that there is so much flexibility. The other thing I liked about the teaching is the combination of classic textbook learning and going outside. I loved it! I like getting to know other students. Everybody shared the same goal and that’s making their Chinese better. Kunming is a big city, but it is very safe to live here. Another thing I liked about Keats is the idea that people here help you. I can’t recommend it enough. I think it was a valuable experience. Looking forward to coming back!

Ramji | USA
Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

The best part of the school is the patience the instructors had and the time to focus on the fundamentals like pronunciation. I think it is very easy to skip over those and go to vocabulary. But by learning the pronunciation, I feel like it helped me gain a better understanding of the language.

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