Immersion Program
CLI integrates reading, writing, speaking, listening, grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary into a fully personalized learning experience, guided by three unique one-on-one instructors and tailored to your level from day one.
Overview
CLI's Immersion Program is built around 20 weekly hours of one-on-one Mandarin instruction, divided among three dedicated teachers who each focus on a different dimension of your Chinese. There are no fixed semesters, no rigid class rosters, and no waiting for a term to begin. You start any Monday, and your curriculum is shaped entirely around your current level and personal goals.
Your instructors draw from CLI's comprehensive course syllabi to build a structured yet flexible learning path, selecting materials and pacing that fit how you learn best. The result is a curriculum that's as organized as a university program but as responsive as a private tutor.
Four hours of one-on-one instruction daily, Monday through Friday, divided among your three instructors.
No fixed terms or enrollment windows. Begin your program on any Monday of the year and study for any length of time.
Each teacher focuses on a different skill area, giving you varied teaching styles and well-rounded daily practice.
Whether you're a complete beginner or already conversationally fluent, your curriculum is calibrated to your exact starting point.
The CLI Method
CLI was founded on the principle that traditional large-classroom instruction slows learning because it gives students few opportunities to actually speak Chinese. One-on-one instruction solves this by maximizing the time you spend asking questions, practicing new vocabulary, and working through concepts in real time.
Your 20 weekly hours are divided among three unique instructors, each responsible for a different dimension of your learning:
Character recognition, stroke order, reading comprehension, and written composition
Pronunciation, tones, conversational fluency, and listening comprehension
Grammar, vocabulary, and daily review that ties all components together
This structure ensures you encounter Chinese from multiple angles every day. Because each instructor knows your progress, your lessons build on one another, vocabulary introduced in your reading class shows up in your speaking practice, and grammar points from your review sessions are reinforced across all three.
Lessons and topics are tested daily in real-life situations throughout Guilin, so you're not just studying Chinese. You're using it.
Course Levels
CLI's course syllabi provide the structured framework your instructors use to guide your progression. Each syllabus defines clear learning objectives, vocabulary targets, grammar points, and skill benchmarks, but your teachers adapt the pacing and emphasis to match how you learn. Think of these as the roadmap; your instructors choose the best route.
Click a level below to see the syllabi your instructors draw from at each stage.
For students with little or no prior Chinese. You'll build a foundation in pinyin, tones, basic characters, everyday vocabulary, and simple sentence structures.
For students who have a working foundation in Chinese. You'll expand your vocabulary, tackle more complex grammar, and begin engaging with longer texts and extended conversations.
For students approaching conversational fluency. You'll refine your grammar, build topic-specific vocabulary, and practice expressing nuanced ideas in both speech and writing.
For students with strong Chinese proficiency. You'll work toward professional-level fluency, tackling formal writing, academic reading, idiomatic expression, and culturally nuanced communication.
Assessment & Immersion
Learning Chinese isn't just about passing tests. It's about being able to use the language in the real world. CLI's assessment approach reflects this philosophy, combining formal evaluations with the kind of daily, organic practice that drives lasting fluency.
Your instructors use these assessments not just to track your progress but to continuously calibrate your curriculum. If a formal evaluation reveals a gap in listening comprehension, for example, your listening-focused instructor will adjust upcoming lessons accordingly.
