Can you recommend summer language course 3 – 4 weeks?

[Noodlesz]

Hi, I currently live in HK and want to move to China for a month to study mandarin. My Cantonese is ok but mandarin pretty non-existent so I’m looking to learn the basics to survive/travel/get-around in China within 3-4 weeks. Anyone have a recommendation on the school/program I should join? Also, do these courses all focus on reading/writing and speaking? Mainly my 1st goal is speaking. Reading 2nd, writing I don’t care since my time is limited and I don’t particularly care for the simplified Chinese.

I need to be completed by Jul 31.

I saw BLCU has a 4 week program starting in late June, but the price and housing costs there seems a little on the high end. I’m also worried about all the red tape with so many foreigners there. Anyone have any experiences on the 4 week program they’d share?

I also noticed Beihang but the web site is quite outdated and couldn’t get much useful information. Anyone know when the program is and the quality? Prices seem reasonable including the accommodations. This is the site I saw http://is.buaa.edu.cn/eng/chinese.asp

How about private schools? I was thinking of a uni because I figured it’d be easier to meet friends and I wouldn't have to worry as much about housing.

Thanks, appreciate all your input and thoughts.

[chaq8]

I've been looking at summer language courses myself. So far I'm liking the Tsinghua one - http://www.coace.tsinghua.edu.cn/date/english/tws.asp and have just posted a new thread on this. Hope this helps!

[Noodlesz]

Hi thanks for the Tsinghua suggestion. Some people have actually replied to me, but all through private message.

The Tsinghua course is quite expensive, and I'm actually going to have less time in Beijing now. Maybe two weeks, so I will take up some private language schools I think.

Also, since i know cantonese already, A lot of people suggested learning with a private tutor since I'll be much faster than those with no chinese knowledge.