Nationality: American
Occupation: Graduate, Brown University

Jessica's Experience

As a recent college graduate who didn't know a word of Mandarin before arriving in Beijing, I sought a program that would create almost immediate and steady progress--and to my surprise, 1MonthMandarin provided this type of program. The people were really supportive and nice--the ease of living in Beijing increased exponentially after just a few days in the program. Suddenly, I had significantly improved in directing taxi drivers and ordering food, a feat that the teachers made so simple.

I met other people studying Mandarin at larger universities in Beijing, but their progress was stilted and slower due to their large classes and outdated learning techniques. In my program, I had personal attention, small classes and a personal tutor who tailored our sessions to my teaching needs. The heavy emphasis on correct pronunciation places students of this program at a great advantage--students in other programs rarely get the opportunity to have a tutor help them so thoroughly.

The teachers were professional, friendly and genuinely cared about our progress. I never dreaded going to class--it was an opportunity to learn in a comfortable atmosphere. As soon as I walked outside, I could immediately practice my new words on the streets of Beijing.

People consistently are surprised that I knew so many words although I only studied for one month. I began another Mandarin program and was placed on the same level as a student who had been studying for six months--in fact, I would say we are pretty equally matched conversationally, although I may actually know more words. Also, Matthew has done extensive research on ways to improve your Mandarin after the program ends. He provides several software programs that he has personally tested.

I definitely recommend the program for anyone who wants to dive in and learn intensely for a month so they can get the speaking basics down. It's perfect to take the edge off of the intimidation Mandarin usually provokes in people and provides a solid base for speaking.