International House Qingdao

I appreciated the way the training schedule has been adapted to my wishes. Nothing to say about the classes. Location is good knowing that not too far from the subway to go downtown. Housing very close to the school was easy as well. No time lost.

I would add a special mention to my teachers, all of them listening to my questions and needs. A very nice staff in general and a good atmosphere.

I like:
Flexible teachers, professional teaching methods...
smal and individual classes.


Don’t like：
No wifi at the dometry...

They have good and friendly teachers who really want you to learn.

I am a 66 year old Swiss woman. Last year, I was travelling on my own to Qingdao, to "International House". When I arrived
at the airport, the housekeeper and a member of the organisation staff were waiting for me and brought me to the school - as we had arranged before. I was welcomed very warmly, and in the following weeks I felt quite at home and happy with the staff of the school and the teachers.
I was surprised that at the beginning there were only three students. After one week, another student from Germany joined us.
I had accommodation in the school, which was somehow practical. This accommodation was quite simple. Although I could have booked an apartment in a hotel in a better condition, I preferred to stay there. Sometimes I thought it would be nice to have breakfast in the house. I always appreciated having fresh drinking water available, and I could give my clothes to the very friendly housekeepers and have it washed.

Qingdao International House is in a very beautiful area near the ocean, but I think the building needs some refreshment...

Last but not least: Our teachers, two young ladies, did an excellent job! I liked their lively and communicative way of teaching very much. Chinese is still a very difficult language for me, especially because in our lessons at home we do not speak that much. Even though my spoken Chinese is still very hesitant, I have never spoke as much as I did during my stay at "International House". They made us speak! They answered all our questions and gave a lot of useful hints for visiting this beautiful town.

Students came from many different countries and I was lucky to be in class with M. with whom I shared interests. We had a good life as students, spending many hours at the coffee shop as lessons were just in the mornings. We travelled around Qingdao together, using the bus to go shopping at the cultural centre. We also enjoyed our lunches at the xiao chi cafés.

I am really satisfied with International House Qingdao. The location was nice, extremely close to an amazing beach of fine sand (石老人). I could spend my afternoons revising on the beach and enjoying this beautiful scenery at the same time. Although it is a little bit far from the city centre, this is not really a big problem as there are two huge supermarkets in the area, several convenience stores that are open 24/7, and a bunch of restaurants (ranging from very cheap to mid-range).
The classes were very interesting, mainly because of the fact that the teachers were extremely professional and enthusiastic. As I came during low season, most of the time we were 2 people in the classroom of my level, and this enabled me to make a lot of progress, as I could ask as many questions as I wanted about the language. The books were also well-chosen, the texts covered what any foreigner would feel about studying in China, or amusing anecdotes concerning Chinese culture.
The teachers were available and not only there to teach you the language. They would help me find good spots to visit in the city. One of them invited me to her house several times, and accompanied me to purchase an electronic dictionary (she showed her good bargaining skills and got me a very good price!).
As for housing, my situation was a little bit particular (and very lucky) because I came when the school was under renovation. For this reason, they provided me a nice room in a hotel that was only a 10-minute walk away from the school, for the same price as what I would have paid if I had to live in the school. The room was very comfortable.
Don't hesitate to ask the teachers or staff to make extra activities. I did and that's how we went to climb the Laoshan mountain. That was absolutely lovely.
If I had to say something I liked less, it would probably be the school facilities. I remember that one of the computers used by one of my teachers was extremely old and slow. The toilets are not the best too, but definitely acceptable. I've seen much worse in China. Also, it is good to know that the heating is never put on before November 15th in the whole city. The last days of October and first days of November were chilly in the school!

Ladies and Gentlemen, in Autumn 2011, September, I spent two weeks and in Autumn 2012, October/November, three weeks at International House Quingao (IH), 香港东路, learning Chinese. Before, in my home country, I had learned Chinese for several years at Vaduz/Liechtenstein, once a week, with a teacher from Beijing. So at IH Qingdao I could participate in higher level classes. I liked the small classes very much, all the well-prepared and friendly teachers (at each stay I had two teachers every day, two lessons each; in all I had four teachers). I admired the spirit of efficient learning. I very much appreciated that the whole learning process was totally in Chinese, only rarely some English explanation was necessary. So from day to day I made progress in understanding, speaking, writing. The mixture of grammar, new words and discussion on different cultural themes was very good and interesting. I also loved the location of IH Qingdao, so near the Sea, the beach, the whole scenery, near the Opera hall and Qingdao Museum, as well as the big, living city outstretched along the Yellow Sea, over the hills, leaning on the red mountains. The IH facility (house, rooms, furniture) I find okay. Only the toilet (Chinese style, not American or European) I had to get used to, and also to the fact that the heating in Autumn is not turned on until a specific date; yet I understood why it was so, and I had no problem with it. On the other hand, I very much preferred the small size of the IH Quingdao, where I soon felt at home. The activities were also very interesting as well as the information the teachers gave concerning museums, Polar Ocean Aquarium, cultural and natural points of interest.
The best reference, I think, lays in the fact that after the first stay in 2011, I came again in 2012. And I am planning to return to IH Qingdao once more this year, 2014.
To stay and study at IH Qingdao is a wunderful experience.

International House is located in a quiet and very pleasant district of Qingdao. The facilities are clean and comfortable. Classes are taught by young and enthusiastic teachers. I had a great time there and I warmly recommend this school.