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?

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.
LEARN CHINESE IN CHINA WITH KEATS

Jim's Story
IN KUNMING

OVER 10000+ STUDENTS
HAVE STUDIED AT KEATS

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.

Faith | UK
Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

I have 2 teachers, and I do 4 hours a day. So I have got Dong Laoshi and Jin Laoshi. Both of them are very good. They made the experience very nice to me. They are willing to help you whenever, so if you ever have a question here, the teachers are always there to help you whether it is visas, whether it is getting around the city. Everyone wants to talk to you.

Simon | UK & France
Small Group Chinese Class

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.

Alibaba | USA
Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

Kunming is a fantastic city. The weather here is great. The school is excellent. The instructors are very helpful, very friendly. I strongly recommend that anybody who is looking for a Chinese language school in China come here to study. Kunming and Keats school are much better than any other place.

Martine | France
Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

I really enjoy this place because we have private Mandarin lessons. I took the 6-hour program, 4 hours in the morning, 2 in the afternoon. Even though it is quite a lot, the teaching is complimentary. This is very helpful because I could review what I did before and learn new things. My 2 teachers are fantastic. We live in the school, so it is convenient. It is interesting to me to meet people from all over the world.

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.

Judith | USA
Intensive One-on-One Chinese Classes

Listening and speaking in the classroom every day has improved my communication skills. After three weeks, my new words and sentences became more and more natural and fluent. Now I am used to thinking in Chinese, and I understand better what other people say, to be able to have real conversations with other people.

Robert | Netherlands
Small Group Chinese Class

Since last semester, we started studying Chinese at Keats. It was the best choice we can ever make. It is a really good school. The classes are a lot of fun, you learn a lot, but very interactive, so you talk a lot which means it is not just books and writing. Kunming is a really pleasant city to live in, especially if you compare it to other cities in the east. If you like to travel, if you like to study Chinese in a fun way, Keats has the best Chinese language program for you.
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