The best language in China

[wendyww518]

I am a student in BFSU (Beijing Foreign Studies University). Before my going here, I thought it was the best language school in China. But it seems that everyone here is talking about Beida and BLCU. Is BFSU only the best language school for Chinese student? [/u]

[woodcutter]

Do you mean the actual best, or the best to boast about?

I'm afraid that Beida is better on the latter score, and on the former, individual teachers are more important than schools. Are your teachers good?

[keith]

I think BLCU is better as it specializes in CFL and it's likely to have the best teachers , in contrast, Beida is just another uni that happens to have a CFL course.

[sudasana]

The best school is probably the best for you. Do you want to be pressured and study in a competitive environment or be left alone to study your own way? Do you want a lot of tongbaos around or be relatively isolated and forced to interact with people you might not normally? The quality of the school probably varies with the staff and studnets in a given year, so last year might not even be the same as this.

In the end though, you probably only get out of the school what you put in.

[keith]

I think BLCU is better as it specializes in CFL and it's likely to have the best teachers , in contrast, Beida is just another uni that happens to have a CFL course.

Ooops. Didn't realize Wendy was talking about the teaching of English, not Chinese.

Well Wendy, my guess is that if BFSU is a specialist foreign language institute it must be quite alright. OK, so Beida maybe more famous by reputation alone, but it doesn't mean anything if their expertise is in an area irrelevant to foreign language learning. For instance, it's like going to the USA to learn about something which the Americans are not particularly good at, e.g. French. Put it this way, would you go to Harvard or Princeton to learn French when you could go to a quality language institute in France instead?

[Adam]

what is this 'CFL' your talking about?

Im heading to bfsu to study chinese in november, only for 3 months so i dont think the difference in teaching will be much of an issue? Keith you recommend BLCU?

[keith]

CFL = Chinese as a Foreign Language (it's borrowed from EFL)

That depends Adam on what you want. Better quality teaching or a better social life? with non-Chinese? or Chinese?

Like you said the teaching quaity difference is minimal cos you are only there for 3 months, so I assume you prefer the social life?

If so, I heard BLCU is really great for socialising, i think a substantial chunk of foreign students end up at BLCU.

There is also an added plus at BLCU. Since you're a Kiwi I guess you're into rugby as well? Apparently BLCU have their own team and their own pitch as well so it might suit you.

PS: I love the All Blacks, they have been my favourite rugby team since 1985.