China Travel Guidesizy.cn

One sky. One dream.

Beijing Study Abroad: A Couple's Mandarin Journey

LIVING IN BEIJING, CHINA (as a Foreigner) 🇨🇳 First Week Studying Chinese!

Destination:ChinaCity:BeijingPopulation: 21.5 million
LIVING IN BEIJING, CHINA (as a Foreigner) 🇨🇳 First Week Studying Chinese!
Matt and Julia23 min

LIVING IN BEIJING, CHINA (as a Foreigner) 🇨🇳. This was filmed by Matt and Julia. Watch the full journey and explore the filming details and destinations on this page.

We are a British / Russian couple living in Beijing, China whilst studying Chinese at LTL Mandarin School. This is our daily life as foreigners studying in Beijing! Settling in to our new life in Beijing, and this routine of studying Chinese in a language school every day has been so interesting. Chinese is a difficult language to learn, but we have a fantastic teacher, and we are determined to get there, and share our progress along the way! Living somewhere for a month is something we haven't done for a long time, but we are so glad to be here in the capital of China! Lets gooo!

--- Matt and Julia
November 16, 2024, Autumn in China

Travel Guides & Tips in this video

British-Russian couple Matt and Julia document their first week living and studying Mandarin in Beijing. Their routine includes a 45-minute commute to LTL Mandarin School, fast-paced classes, mall lunches, evening exercises and dinner outings. They describe warm, sunny days as well as cool, misty October weather. A highlight is returning to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City nearly a year after their first visit. They also reflect on the school’s social activities and international student community, and look forward to the weekend.

Next travel video:

More about the current video:()

LIVING IN BEIJING, CHINA (as a Foreigner) 🇨🇳 First Week Studying Chinese!

A first week of Mandarin study

Matt and Julia, a British-Russian couple, spend their first week living and studying in Beijing. Their commute to LTL Mandarin School takes about 45 minutes, and the days are organized around classes and practice. They describe the lessons as engaging and fast-paced, with a lot of new information to absorb. They can write words in pinyin but still find pronunciation challenging. After class they study in the evening, work through exercises and make plans for dinner.

The video captures Beijing’s changeable October weather, from warm sunshine to cooler, misty conditions. Lunch often means a break at a nearby mall, where they can choose from several food options. They also talk about the social life around their language school: students can keep to themselves or join organized activities, and classmates come from different countries and age groups.

Revisiting Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City

Matt and Julia return to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City almost a year after their earlier visit. Seeing the places again gives them a chance to compare the return trip with what they have done since then. They comment on the Forbidden City’s scale and history, including the figure of 99,999 rooms mentioned in the video. Security checks take time, so visitors need to allow for them when planning a visit.

The week ends with the couple looking forward to the weekend and joking about wanting to try durian pizza. Their routine combines study, transport, weather, meals and a major historic-site visit, giving a picture of everyday student life alongside sightseeing.

FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)

Q: How was learning Mandarin during the first week?
A: Matt and Julia describe it as exciting but exhausting. They receive a lot of information in four hours and feel they are learning, while also needing time to absorb it. Pronunciation is difficult even when they can write words in pinyin.
Q: What is the social scene like at the language school?
A: The school offers social activities, but students can also keep to themselves. Matt and Julia mention classmates of different ages and backgrounds, including people from Germany, Italy, Russia, Britain and the United States.
Q: What was memorable about their return to Beijing’s historic sites?
A: Visiting Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City again stood out. It was almost a year since their previous visit, and seeing the sites again made them reflect on how much they had done since then.

Previous travel video:

Beijing Study Abroad: A Couple's Mandarin Journey

Matt & Julia's Beijing adventure: Learning Mandarin, embracing daily life, and loving their first week in China's capital!

Beijing Study Abroad: Mandarin Immersion & Forbidden City Exploration

A British-Russian couple, Matt and Julia, share their experience of living and studying Chinese in Beijing for their first week. They detail their daily life as foreigners navigating the challenges and rewards of learning Mandarin in a language school. Despite the difficulty, their enthusiasm and supportive teacher fuel their determination to master the language, promising to document their journey. They express immense joy at immersing themselves in the Chinese capital for an extended period.

Attractions in this video: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City