LTL Mandarin School Shanghai

I studied Chinese  with Winnie for several months   and I can honestly say she is one of the best language teachers I've ever had! Her teaching style is a perfect mix of patience, humor, and deep knowledge, making every lesson both enjoyable and highly effective.

First of all, Winnie is incredibly patient. As a beginner, I often struggled with tones and pronunciation, but she never made me feel embarrassed about my mistakes. Instead, she would gently correct me and give me clear examples to practice. Even when I asked the same question multiple times, she would explain it in different ways until I fully understood. Her patience made me feel comfortable and confident in my learning journey.

Another thing I love about Winnie is her great sense of humor. Learning a new language can sometimes be stressful, but she always finds ways to make the class fun. Whether it's through funny stories, jokes, or playful role- plays, she keeps the atmosphere light and engaging. I remember one time when she used a hilarious meme to explain a Chinese slang word, and it helped me remember it instantly! Her humor not only makes lessons more enjoyable but also helps me retain what I learn.

What really stands out about Winnie is her deep knowledge of Chinese language and culture. She doesn't just teach vocabulary and grammar-she also explains the cultural background behind words and phrases, which makes everything more meaningful. For example, when we learned about Chinese festivals, she shared personal stories and
traditions, making the lesson come alive. She also gives lots of real-life examples, which helps me understand how to use the language naturally. Whether it's slang, formal speech, she always has practical examples ready.

Because of Winnie's excellent teaching, my Chinese has improved so much, and I always look forward to our next lesson. I highly recommend her to anyone who wants to learn Chinese in a fun, effective, and stress-free way. I will definitely continue taking classes with her, and I'm excited to see how much more I can learn under her guidance!

I studied Chinese with my Teacher Winnie and I really enjoyed learning together with hear. She is one of the best language instructors I have ever had. Her teaching style is engaging, clear, and fun, making even the difficult aspects of Mandarin much easier to understand. 

First of all, Winnie has a deep knowledge of the Chinese language and knows how to explain complex grammar in a simple and practical way. As a beginner, I often struggled with sentence structures, word order, and the use of particles like “了” or “的.” However, Winnie always provided clear examples and comparisons that made everything click. Instead of just giving me rules to memorize, she would use real-life situations to illustrate how grammar works in natural conversation. For instance, when teaching the difference between “才” and “就,” she gave me multiple scenarios that helped me grasp the nuances immediately.

Another thing that sets Winnie apart is her excellent English proficiency. Many Chinese teachers can explain basic vocabulary well, but when it comes to abstract adverbs, conjunctions, or idiomatic expressions, it’s hard to find someone who can clarify them in English. Learning words like “反而,” “简直,” or “居然” is sometimes confusing, but Winnie always found English equivalents and explanations that made sense. Her bilingual skills make learning much smoother, especially when I need precise clarification on subtle meanings. 

Beyond language teaching, Winnie also cares about her students’ daily lives. Since I was new to Shanghai, she shared many useful tips on how to navigate the city, where to find good food, and how to make the most of my study experience here. She even recommended some great language exchange events and apps to help me practice outside of class. Her advice has been incredibly valuable, and it shows how much she wants her students to succeed not just in learning Chinese but also in adapting to life in China. 

Overall, my experience with Winnie has been fantastic. In just one month, my Chinese has improved significantly, and I feel much more confident in both speaking and understanding the language. She is patient, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate about teaching. I really hope I can continue learning with her in the future and highly recommend her to anyone looking for a skilled and fun to work with Chinese teacher. 

Thank you, Winnie, for making my learning journey so enjoyable and productive!

I can’t recommend Shanghai LTL enough. From start to finish, the staff and teachers made my time in Shanghai unforgettable and helped me make incredible progress with my Mandarin.

I first found LTL through a Google search and was initially unsure if it was legitimate, but those worries quickly disappeared. Mojca, the student director, was warm and welcoming from the start, helping me arrange all the details and answering my many logistical questions with patience and reassurance. Alex, the school director, was also very supportive, even allowing me to adjust my one-on-one hours and save the rest for future online classes.

Additionally, enough cannot be said about my teachers. In just six weeks, I learned more than I ever imagined possible:

• Winnie, my group teacher, went far beyond textbook explanations. She broke down the nuances of each word, showing us how to use them naturally in daily life. I often walked out of class able to immediately apply what I’d learned with my host family. She also genuinely cared about her students (such as checking in on us when we weren’t feeling well and offering to help) and made class fun and engaging. I looked forward to every lesson with her.
• QinQin, my other group teacher, was incredibly sweet and effective. She taught with such clarity that I left every class confident in new grammar structures and vocabulary. She always came prepared with extra notes and resources, and even gifted me a book she had written herself. Her thoughtfulness and dedication made a huge impact on my learning.
• Katniss, my one-on-one teacher, was equally amazing. She tailored our lessons to my personal goals, focusing on speaking and real-life conversations rather than just reading. Thanks to her, I learned practical language for complex discussions with my family - the exact reason I wanted to study Mandarin in the first place.

All three teachers were patient, knowledgeable, and inspiring. They pushed me to improve while also making class a joy. Because of them, I now feel far more confident in my speaking abilities and can’t wait to use my Mandarin with my extended family.

Beyond the language, LTL gave me an incredible community. I made wonderful friends, learned about Chinese culture, and fell in love with Shanghai.

If you’re looking for a welcoming school with excellent teachers and staff, LTL is the place. Thank you to everyone who made this experience truly unforgettable.

I just finished my 4 weeks of school at LTL and I am extremely happy with my time there. The teachers are very nice and happy to answer all your questions, from language to culture or good restaurants and leisure activities. (Shout-out to my teachers: the most fashionable teacher Winnie and confusian-grandmaster Ray for all the lessons and talks we had).

The teaching style is very informative. Although the pace can feel quite fast at times, there’s a good balance between speaking, grammar, and vocabulary practice. I only had group classes, usually with 2 to 4 people. From what I experienced, if you combine both 1-on-1 and group classes the workload might become a bit too much. With 6 hours of lessons per day, it can be difficult to also review properly, focus on characters, and still make time to explore the city. Maybe only chose both classes if you have a short time to learn (1 to 2 weeks) or are just a very avid student. 

That said, the balance in the group classes kept the lessons engaging rather than overwhelming, and by the end I learned more than I initially expected.

The management / administration staff are very helpful (Thank you for all the help Alex). You can go to them with any complaint or concern, whether it’s about changing classes, apartments or dates and they will very likely provide a satisfactory solution. I haven’t heard of any student who had an issue that wasn’t resolved in a timely manner.

The student community at school are a pretty tight group. Almost everyone is very  sociable and welcoming. Most people are open to making new friends and finding things to do after class. Every week new students arrive from all over the world, so there’s no need to worry about fitting in.

I personally stayed in a shared apartment, in which 2 other LTL students also stayed. Nice rooms with good AC and had no problems sharing the bathroom. The Host familiy nice, but didnt see them often. Location was a bit far (50 minutes by metro) it was a nice neighbourhood where I otherwise would never have come. Honestly didn’t mind the commute.

If I had to choose a language school again, I would without a doubt choose LTL again. 

10/10 would recommend

I absolutely loved LTL Mandarin School in Shanghai. It’s been a perfect blend of solid lessons, fun after‑class activities, and a vibrant community. The classroom sessions are engaging and well‑structured, and the extracurricular events give us plenty of chances to practice what we’ve learned while meeting classmates from all over the world.
Coffee breaks are a highlight too; chatting with people from every corner of the globe over a good cup of coffee makes the whole experience feel like a little international festival every day.
The teachers really make the difference. Kristen and Jason are outstanding, always prepared, enthusiastic, and full of practical tips that help us survive and thrive in China. Their advice goes beyond the textbook, giving us real‑world insights that you can’t find elsewhere.
Overall, the school offers a wonderful mix of education, culture, and community. If you’re looking for a place where you can learn Chinese while having a great time and making friends worldwide, this is the spot. Highly recommended!