One-on-one instruction and complete immersion within a safe, friendly environment is among the most direct paths to learning Chinese.
Rather than vying for your teacher’s attention, your daily one-on-one lessons with three unique CLI instructors will give you an individualized opportunity to advance and validate your Chinese language skills hour by hour, day by day, and week by week.
Begin your stay any Monday of the year and immerse yourself in Chinese language and culture with CLI as your guide.
From the moment you contact us until your final day of coursework, CLI provides all necessary elements to ensure a highly effective learning experience, including airport pick-up and drop-off, housing accommodations, a comprehensive program orientation and introduction to Guilin, a carefully developed learning curriculum, 24-hour assistance, and much more.
For direct insight from CLI students themselves, please take a moment to explore our testimonials page.
In addition to four daily hours (Monday through Friday) of one-on-one instruction, CLI organizes weekly activities and monthly travel excursions designed to immerse students deeply into Chinese language and culture.
Join fellow CLI students and team members for bamboo boat rides down the Li River, hikes up Guilin’s breathtaking karst mountains, photography excursions to the Longji Rice Terraces, cooking lessons with Chinese chefs, tea house visits to Daoist monasteries, and more.
See the Included in Tuition section for details.
If you are interested in CLI’s joint program with Guangxi Normal University (GXNU), please visit the Study Abroad in China section of our website.
Study Abroad students begin coursework at the beginning of the university’s Fall or Spring semester (usually mid-February and early-September) and are required to enroll for at least one academic semester.
CLI’s Study Abroad program welcomes students of all ages.
Actively engaging in direct cultural exchange is a crucial part of studying in China. In order to help foster this opportunity, CLI has created the Pengyou Program as an optional add-on to your Immersion Program at no additional tuition cost.
The Chinese word for friend (péngyǒu, 朋友) includes two moon characters (月) side by side. Through the passage of time, and with the passage of each moon, long-lasting friendships are built and sustained.
At CLI, we strive to provide an educational environment that leads to lifelong friendships, and the Pengyou Program is just one way we pursue this goal.
If you choose to participate in the Pengyou Program, CLI will match you with a student from our local partner university who has also applied to join the program. We interview all candidates and make selections primarily based on personality and enthusiasm. We also require that all pengyous speak standard Mandarin, although many may also be excited to practice their English.
By taking part in the Pengyou Program, we ask that both you and your pengyou agree to the following:
When interacting outside of the program as outlined above, unless your pengyou strongly insists on covering your costs for any meal, activity, and/or taxi ride, all costs should either be shared 50/50 or covered by the CLI student.
If you would like to swap pengyous for any reason, you may do so one time every two months for the duration of your study at CLI.
If interested in participating in CLI’s Pengyou Program, simply follow the instructions when prompted on CLI’s application form.
CLI was founded on the principle that traditional large classroom instruction slows down learning speed because it affords students few opportunities to ask questions and actually speak Chinese.
CLI’s one-on-one instruction solves this problem by maximizing the amount of time each student has to ask questions and utilize new Chinese words and concepts learned each day. It also allows CLI’s Mandarin instructors to tailor class content and teaching style to each individual student’s needs.
With 20 weekly hours of one-on-one Mandarin instruction, daily learning-based extra-curricular activities, a variety of housing options, and travel excursions to remote parts of China, CLI’s Immersion Program is carefully designed to maximize retention and learning speed, allowing students to rapidly improve their language level in as little time as possible.
Although one-on-one classes are the primary mode of learning in CLI’s Immersion Program, we recognize that different students have different learning styles. Sharing class time with other students in a small group setting gives you the opportunity to learn from your peers, and it also provides an alternative classroom dynamic.
Keeping with the CLI tradition of fully customizable language learning, we want to give you as many options as possible, and we do our best to make small group classes an option for students who request it.
Arranging a small group class at CLI depends on several factors, including enrollment numbers, matching language levels, coinciding program lengths, and the preferences of other students.
In order to maintain CLI’s high standards of instruction while allowing students the flexibility to explore other methods of learning, small group classes are generally capped at three to five students.
If interested in CLI’s small group classes option, please contact CLI’s Director of Admissions (tania@studycli.org, subject line: “Small Group Classes”).
CLI provides each Immersion Program student with three unique Mandarin instructors.
Your 20 weekly hours of Mandarin instruction will be divided amongst three teachers according to your individual learning needs.
One teacher focuses primarily on your reading and writing skills, another on your listening and speaking ability, while an additional teacher ties all components together with in-depth daily lessons and review.
CLI’s Immersion Program integrates all aspects of the Chinese language (reading, writing, speaking, grammar, listening, pronunciation, and vocabulary) into a completely unique learning experience.
Lessons and topics studied are tested daily in real-life situations to provide constant language growth and validation.
CLI’s Immersion Program ensures that students are not just studying Chinese, but actually learning Chinese. For deeper insight into our course syllabi, frameworks, and structure, please see pages 24 to 105 in CLI’s Course Catalog.
Under the careful guidance of your three unique one-on-one Mandarin instructors, daily learning objectives will be pursued and, once achieved, validated through an organized system of assessment.
Day to day objectives may include learning new vocabulary words, grammar points, radical sets, word pronunciations, idiomatic expressions, social etiquette, and so on.
Short-term students are given a formal Chinese language assessment once every two weeks, and daily informal assessments in the form of homework assignments, in-class questions and games, and organic real-life interactions throughout the city of Guilin.
The CLI Method stresses the importance of total language immersion and thinking and speaking in Chinese as much as possible. To help foster these crucial learning components, CLI has a flexible language pledge program, which allows students to opt in or out at any time.
How does it work?
Opting in: The CLI Language Pledge is optional and flexible. If you put on your CLI Language Pledge wristband, you’re “opting in” to the CLI Language Pledge program. You must speak only Chinese while wearing your wristband. And members of the CLI Team will speak only Chinese with CLI Language Pledge students.
Opting out: We recognize that different students have different needs and different modes of learning. Keeping with the CLI tradition of fully customizable language learning, students can “opt out” of the CLI Language Pledge program at any time simply by removing their wristband.
Although the CLI Language Pledge program is optional, we strongly encourage all students to participate, regardless of language level. The more you challenge yourself, the faster your Chinese will improve!
The one-on-one structure of CLI’s Immersion Program allows you to begin your study on any Monday of your choosing (except in late January or February, due to the Spring Festival holiday), and you may study for any length of time.
Admissions are rolling. Accepted students will receive notification within five business days of submission.
Please plan to arrive on the Saturday or Sunday prior to your session’s start date to allow for sufficient time to settle into Guilin.
Your CLI accommodations will be available to you beginning at 3:00 PM on the Saturday prior to your program start date until 11:00 AM on the Saturday following your program end date. CLI’s orientation is typically held on the first Monday of your program (some activities may be held on Sunday as well).
If you wish to arrive prior to the Saturday before your first Monday class, you are welcome to stay in a private room at CLI for 150 RMB per night (subject to availability). Just let CLI’s Admission’s Manager know during the pre-departure enrollment process.
A delicious, authentic home-cooked Chinese lunch is served at CLI Monday through Friday. You may sign up for the CLI meal plan in advance for 20 USD per week, or pay for individual meals after you arrive in Guilin for 30 RMB per meal.
If you would like to sign up for the CLI meal plan, please select “Sign me up” when asked about this on CLI’s application form.
Please note that lunch at CLI is not served while the school is on break for Chinese holidays. Please see the next section on this page, Holiday Schedule, for more information.
CLI observes Chinese holidays according to national regulations in China. Please see China's official holiday schedule below.
Beyond China's official holiday schedule, CLI's academic calendar may differ from the above. Please consult CLI's Admissions Manager or your teachers for our most up-to-date academic calendar.
To make up days in which CLI is on holiday, you have the option of:
All three class make-up options are arranged free of charge and only by way of pro-active request to CLI.
If you prefer option 1 above, please inform CLI's Admissions Manager of your choice prior to arrival in Guilin. If you decide on option 1 after your arrival, or for options 2 and 3, simply inform your one-on-one Chinese teacher anytime throughout your term.
Please note that lunch is not served at CLI during holidays. If you sign up for the CLI meal plan in advance, these meals can be made up to you in any of the following ways, per your preference:
Please coordinate directly with CLI's Admissions Manager should you prefer option #2 or 3.
| Private Room at CLI | Homestay | Private Apartment* | Apt. w/ Chinese Roommates* | |
| Duration | Short-Term Study | |||
| 2 Weeks† | 1,490 | 1,760 | N/A | N/A |
| 4 Weeks | 2,870 | 3,440 | N/A | N/A |
| 6 Weeks | 4,280 | 5,100 | N/A | N/A |
| 8 Weeks | 5,590 | 6,650 | N/A | N/A |
| 10 Weeks | 6,980 | 8,340 | N/A | N/A |
| 12 Weeks | 8,375 | 9,985 | N/A | N/A |
| Duration | Long-Term Study | |||
| 3 Months‡ | 8,840 | 10,520 | N/A | N/A |
| 4 Months | 11,420 | 13,600 | N/A | N/A |
| 5 Months | 13,860 | 16,490 | N/A | N/A |
| 6 Months | 16,140 | 19,190 | 22,090 | 24,290 |
| 7 Months | 18,250 | 21,710 | 24,980 | 27,470 |
| 8 Months | 20,230 | 24,080 | 27,700 | 30,470 |
| 9 Months | 22,090 | 26,270 | 30,230 | 33,250 |
| 10 Months | 23,800 | 28,310 | 32,570 | 35,830 |
| 11 Months | 25,400 | 30,230 | 34,760 | 38,240 |
| 1 year | 26,870 | 31,980 | 36,780 | 40,460 |
All tuition amounts are listed in US Dollars (USD)
* Apartment options subject to availability
† 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9-week terms available under “Desired Term” in CLI Application Form; tuition equals average of weeks immediately before and after
‡ On average, 4.35 weeks per month (e.g., CLI’s 6-month program is 26 weeks)
The famous Chinese proverb 桂林山水甲天下 (Guìlín shānshuǐ jiǎ tiānxià) claims that “Guilin’s scenery is the most beautiful under heaven,” and rightly so.
Surrounded by picturesque limestone mountains, the bustling city is comfortably located along China’s famous Li River in the gorgeous province of Guangxi. Guilin’s natural landscape has proven so charming throughout history that it is even celebrated on the back of China’s twenty-yuan bill.
Explore the CLI Center
The core of your learning experience will be CLI’s Immersion Program, which includes 20 weekly hours of one-on-one intensive Mandarin training with three unique Chinese teachers.
CLI’s orientation is designed to make sure you hit the ground running. We will introduce you to your new living and learning environment and will share tips and advice on how to navigate your China experience and how to maximize your language learning.
Your orientation includes a welcome meal with local team members and other program participants, an introductory tour of Guilin, and a comprehensive look at how to make the most of your upcoming studies.
See CLI’s Immersion Program Orientation Book and Orientation Slide Deck for a look at some of the things we will cover in your orientation.
We know that many students who travel to China are doing so for the first time. At CLI, we pride ourselves on providing comprehensive support and assistance to students.
From the moment you arrive in Guilin until the day you leave, CLI will be there to assist you with questions, problems, and logistics in order to make your transition to China as smooth as possible—your tuition even includes airport pick-up and drop-off. In addition, we have team members on call 24/7 to assist with any emergency situations that may arise.
The cost of rent is fully covered by your program tuition. All living accommodations include heating and A/C, hot and cold shower water (some sinks do not have hot water), and Internet connection.
Your CLI accommodations are available to you beginning at 3:00 PM on the Saturday prior to your program start date, while check out is at 11:00 AM on the Saturday following your program end date). If interested in arriving earlier or departing later, please email tania@studycli.org for options. Custom arrangements are typically possible!
Apartment options additionally include a washing machine, refrigerator, and cable television. Weekly maid service is included in all housing options.
Each week, CLI hosts a variety of events and activities for the entire CLI community. In order to build a vibrant learning environment, CLI invites all program participants, pengyous, Chinese student-roommates, and CLI team members to take part in our excursions and weekly activities.
Activities include group potlucks, tours of Guilin and its surroundings, boat rides on the Li River, guest lectures at GXNU, movie and games nights, bike rides to the countryside, Calligraphy class, supplemental language activities, and much more.
In addition, CLI helps students organize optional local travel on select weekends and provides free travel arrangement assistance (e.g. ticket-purchasing assistance, safety tips, travel itineraries, recommendations for lodging) to all students who wish to travel on their own. Students are encouraged to take advantage of breaks and long weekends to explore China’s diverse cities and provinces.
These excursions allow students to take a broader look at southern China’s rich culture and offer an additional opportunity for students to practice their Chinese language skills. Popular travel destinations include the Longsheng Rice Terraces, Yangshuo, Nanning, Guangzhou, Kunming and other locations throughout Southwest China.
CLI provides all Immersion Program students with assistance in obtaining a short-term (X2, ≤ 180 days) or long-term (X1, > 180 days) visa to China. Visa costs are the responsibility of the student and are not included in tuition fees.
Accepted students receive comprehensive visa assistance from CLI’s Director of Admissions. Please explore our Pre-Departure To-Do List and Chinese Visa Application Guide (X2) for further insight.
CLI’s newly renovated 5-story learning center is the perfect location to live, study, eat, relax, enjoy China, and learn Chinese. The CLI center has a maximum occupancy of 30 students and is also home to several of CLI’s Mandarin teachers.
All rooms have a range of amenities, including free WiFi, heating and AC, hot and cold water, and a Western-style bathroom.
For many students, the best way to finish a long day of intensive study is to relax at one’s own apartment. Live in the city environment in a comfortable one- to three-bedroom apartment while attending four hours of one-on-one Chinese language courses at CLI during the day.
All apartments are fully furnished and ready for you to move in. It’s our job to make it easy.
One of the most enriching ways to discover China is through CLI’s homestay program. Share your living space with a local Guilin family, discuss Chinese culture over dinner with your host parents, and immerse yourself in Chinese society through its most basic unit — the family.
CLI’s homestay option provides direct insight into a typical Chinese family’s lifestyle. If you choose this option, you’ll be provided a private room in the host family’s apartment. Apartments usually consist of a dining area, family room, kitchen, two full bathrooms, and three bedrooms.
Host families provide dinner four nights per week—from Monday to Thursday—but it’s up to you whether you’d like to take part in these meals. All homestays are within comfortable travel distance of CLI, and we carefully select our host families from within the CLI community.
CLI’s homestay program is the most immediate and intimate way to immerse yourself in Chinese society and culture – each day becomes a learning experience. Western students living in a Chinese household quickly learn cultural intricacies they may not otherwise encounter. For example, one rule that is fairly universal in Chinese households that students are often surprised to hear is that underwear and socks are not to be washed in the family’s laundry machine. Most Chinese families require that these items be washed separately by hand.
Many CLI students have built lasting bonds with their host families, and have cited shared meals and family excursions throughout the city and its surrounding areas as some of their most memorable experiences.
Integrated housing offers students a fast track to Chinese fluency. Live with two to three GXNU university students in a Western-style apartment and discover China while constantly immersed in the Chinese language.
You will amaze yourself with the speed at which your Chinese improves. All CLI students who choose to live in an apartment with Chinese roommates are provided a private bedroom.
A minimum program length of three months is required to take part in this housing option.
In an effort to enable students with financial need to attend our various programs, CLI awards several scholarships each year. Applicants are selected to receive this scholarship based on two factors: financial need and academic merit.
To apply for a CLI Scholarship, please e-mail CLI’s Admissions Manager (tania@studycli.org, subject line: “CLI Scholarship – Immersion Program”) with a 300–500 word essay answering the following two questions:
In addition to scholarships awarded directly by CLI, there are countless online resources available to students seeking financial aid for study abroad. Please see the other info boxes in this section for links to some available options.
www.finaid.org – Offers a comprehensive source of student financial aid information, advice, and tools.
www.iefa.org – Provides a college scholarship search and grant listing, as well as international student loan programs and other information promoting study abroad.
www.fafsa.ed.gov – The U.S. Federal Student Aid office provides money for college to eligible students and families, including grants, loans, and work-study.
www.iiepeer.org – Features detailed descriptions of hundreds of study abroad scholarships, fellowships, and grants for U.S. undergraduate, graduate, and post-graduate students, as well as working professionals.
www.internationalstudentloan.com – Offers access to a range of student loan options for U.S. students studying abroad.
www.fgscholars.org – The Foundation for Global Scholars is a non-profit organization whose mission is to create global citizens and leaders by assisting students in achieving their personal and professional goals of obtaining cultural and academic experiences abroad.
www.borenawards.org – U.S.-based undergraduate and graduate students are eligible for full scholarships at CLI through the National Security Education Program’s (NSEP) Boren Awards, which provides fellowships and scholarships to US citizens studying in critical regions.
www.gmsp.org – The Gates Millennium Scholars (GMS) program was created by Bill and Melinda Gates to aid underrepresented minorities (Hispanic Americans, Asian Pacific Islander Americans, African Americans, and Native Americans) in achieving an undergraduate education.
www.clascholars.org – This scholarship is open to any student who is presently attending a College Language Association (CLA) member college or university and wishes to study abroad.
www.rotary.org – Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarships make up one of the world’s largest privately funded international scholarship programs, and are open to citizens of countries all over the world.
www.jkcf.org – Scholarships are provided through the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation to undergraduate and graduate students from the U.S. and abroad who demonstrate high achievement and financial need.
www.iie.org/gilman – The Gilman Scholarship Program offers study abroad awards for undergraduate students who are receiving the U.S. Federal Pell Grant at a two-year or four-year college or university.
FundMyTravel gives travelers and language learners their own platform for raising money.
CLI has teamed up FundMyTravel to provide even more students with opportunities for authentic travel and immersive study in the Middle Kingdom.
