What's the difference between University and Language School?

A university is an institution of higher education offering under graduate and graduates programs that can also lead to a PhDs or doctorates. Most of the time universities are funded by the state, but they can also receive private donations. They basically offer training in a lot of various domains, such as social science, medicine, law etc. Local and foreign students can study in universities. Language Schools are (most of the time) privately owned and do not depend on state funding. They offer programs in various foreign languages, and in the case of some language schools like LTL Mandarin School, schools offer courses in one specific language in the country of the language’s origin. LTL Mandarin School for example is a private language school based in China , offering Mandarin Chinese courses to students from all over the world.

What's the pros and cons of studying a language at University?

Pros - Studying a language in a university at home is a great way to ease into learning languages. You can take other classes on the side and enjoy life on campus, with lots of activities and clubs to join. Cons - Class sizes are pretty big which allows less time to practice and speak the language studied. For obvious reasons the environment is not as immersive as it would have been abroad, and you need to start your study program at fixed dates with no flexibility.

What's the pros and cons of studying a language in a Language School?

Pros - Studying a language in a language school abroad allows for a complete immersive environment, which means you can keep learning outside of the classroom. Class sizes are usually kept small (under 6 students per class) allowing for plenty of practice time. As a smaller institution, assistance and guidance is more personalised. Cons - Again, as a small institution there will be less social activities compared to campus life at a university, meaning the number of people you'll meet will also be less important. Private schools abroad also comes at a certain cost.

Which is better, University or Language School?

There is no fixed answer to that question , as we all study and make progress in different ways. As we’ve seen previously, whilst university will be a bigger setting and large social environment, class sizes won’t allow for much practice and won’t be very culturally immersive. A language school abroad will be a lot smaller in scale, allowing for smaller classes and thus more chance to speak and get the teacher’s attention. Immersion in both the language and culture will be deep and important, but is not for everyone. Studying a foreign language at university and a language school are both good options. Your choice will come down to what your goals are.

Which is better, Online vs Offline Learning?

This question is difficult to answer, as everyone’s situation is different. One might prefer a type of learning rather than the other according to their needs and availabilities. If you have a training center close to your location, prefer to travel and study in another place than your hometown, then offline learning is absolutely fine. If you prefer to stay home, need more flexible hours, don’t have the budget for a far away school or just learn better with digital technologies, then online learning is a great option . Check out our article on online vs offline learning here .

Category: Life in China

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Life in China

University vs Language School // Where to Learn a Foreign Language?

The Ultimate East vs West Battle // A Cuisine Comparison (for 2022)

Social Media in China 🗣 The Key Guide (for 2022 onwards)

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LTL Mandarin School Beijing

LTL Mandarin School Shanghai

LTL Mandarin School Taipei

LTL Mandarin School Beihai

LTL Mandarin School Chengdu

LTL Korean School Seoul

LTL Japanese School Tokyo

LTL Vietnamese School Saigon

Our Student Advisor Team

Our Student Advisor Team

University vs Language School // Where to Learn a Foreign Language?

The Ultimate East vs West Battle // A Cuisine Comparison (for 2022)

Social Media in China 🗣 The Key Guide (for 2022 onwards)

The Beginner's Guide to Chinese Rock, Punk and Indie Music

Guangzhou Travel Guide (for 2022) 🌍 Things You Have To Know

Traditional Chinese Medicine vs Western Medicine 💊 The Complete Guide

The Complete Guide to Handling Lactose Intolerance in China

I've Lived in China for 5 Years || Here Is What You Should NOT Do

A Guide to Baidu : the First Chinese Search Engine

Chinese Sleeper Bus 🚐 What Do I Need To Know

Football in China ⚽️ Ultimate Guide to Useful Vocab and Football Culture in China

Around The World In One Afternoon: The Beijing World Park