I joined a Language Exchange event recently in Taipei and I met a lot of people studying Chinese by themselves, or just enrolled in a university program.
When I mentioned LTL and talked a bit more about it, one question was very often asked:
How is studying a semester at LTL different to studying a semester at a university?
And I was soooo happy about this question because I actually spent a lot of time making research personally and I even wrote a paper about it a few years ago : University vs Language School || Which is Better?
Long story short the main takeaways are:
Studying languages at university:
Pros – It 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. As a large establishment you can meet a lot of people and join lots of student organised activities.
Cons – Class sizes are pretty big which allows less time to practice and speak the language studied. The environment is not as immersive, and you need to start your study program at fixed dates with no flexibility.
Studying languages at a language school:
Pros – It 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 – 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.
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What is your opinion on this ? Do you thrive more in a university setting or a smaller one like a language school?
