suggestions on a school similar to Haerbin's Bincai - these are my criteria

[cotidiano]

Hi,

I am going to study for 2 - 3 months in China, and I though I really like the idea of attending Bincai in Haerbin (small classes, FREE 1 to 1 tutoring outside of class, modern teaching methods) I am not so sure about a Haerbin winter... and I would like to see what cities offer similar style schools

* a school with smaller classes (less than 10 students) and teachers who are willing to correct the students

* a school that emphasizes speaking much more than writing and listening to CD's - i like lively discussions and group chats, supplemented with other stuff of course

* outside a tier one/two city and anywhere not too far north of Shanghai would be excellent - someplace like Changsha, Ningbo, Xiamen, even a place like Guiyang!

I lived in (and really enjoyed) Jinan several years ago and i already speak pretty decent Chinese, also I don't care about access to western food or the club scene, so other than weather I'm down for anywhere. I just need to improve/practice my Chinese for work.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

Jaime

[kdavid]

Have you gone through a full winter here? It's really not as bad as everyone makes it seem.

The important things are to dress warmly and ensure your apartment is warm. Sure, transportation can be inconvenient at times, but that's the same in any big city.

As for your original question, you're likely to find schools advertising what you're looking for in many places. Have you tried a Google search?

[roddy]

If he's spent a winter in Jinan he's going to have a fair idea of what a winter in Harbin is like.

Of the cities you mention, we do have some good and recent information on Xiamen.

[imron]

Are we talking about the same Jinan? I'm guessing there'll probably be a 20 degree difference in the winter.

[roddy]

Gargh, I always get Jilin and Jinan mixed up.

[cotidiano]

Thanks everyone for the replies. kdavid, I have searched for other schools, and sure I've found lots and lots of private schools but they are much more expensive than Bincai, whose 800 RMB a month tuition is really attractive, and the tutor thing is just the gravy. I'm taking time off work to do this (and on my dime) so I need to be be frugal! I first read about Bincai a while ago, and it sounds so successful that I am surprised that there aren't copycat schools all over China.

For someone who spent many winters in Chicago I guess it might not be that bad, no? It's just that I am not much on being housebound and I really relish the chance to get out and put my Chinese to use... are people out and about a lot in the winter? I don't mean clubs (I'm middle aged, no interest in that) but coffeeshops, restaurants, walking on the pedestrian streets, etc. Besides Jinan I spent two years in Shanghai and I really enjoyed that vibrant city energy of folks out and about enjoying their city.

[kdavid]

it sounds so successful

While I haven't attended classes there, everyone I've known over the past five years who has gone there has had nothing but positive things to say.

For someone who spent many winters in Chicago I guess it might not be that bad, no? It's just that I am not much on being housebound and I really relish the chance to get out and put my Chinese to use... are people out and about a lot in the winter?

Outside of your classes and the tutoring, you'll have has many opportunities as you create. Walk into stores, restaurants, etc. and spark up conversation. Walk around on university campuses and speak to students. I could spend an entire day talking to the little out ladies who sell produce, the guys at the morning market, and shopkeepers in my area, and all these people work inside.