I'd recommend GoEast in a heartbeat!
I was shopping around for language schools when I came across GoEast's website and YouTube channel. The fact that GoEast shares engaging, high-quality Chinese language-learning resources for free -- with comments of thanks from people all over the world! -- shows their passion for sharing Chinese language and culture. Their generosity in sharing resources was what prompted me to visit the school. The first time I walked into GoEast's French Concession campus, I was struck by how modest the space was -- modest in a good way, because it gives you the sense that they invest in teaching quality, not in a fancy space full of frilly bells and whistles. But what really sold me on that first visit was meeting with my language consultant, Liz. I told her my goal, which might be a bit ambitious: To take the HSK 5 exam and apply for a masters program taught in Chinese (I did say it was a bit ambitious!). Right away, Liz charted out what I would need to do to accomplish this goal, along with a rough schedule for registering for the exam, applying for scholarships, and so on. The way she showed me all the steps really moved me! It was the first time somebody had talked to me in a way that made me believe my goal was really achievable, just because she talked like she believed it even though we'd only just met. Since then, Liz has helped me register for the HSK exam, printed off admission materials from different universities, and helped me with the whole process -- all on her own initiative. I'm so grateful. Now onto the lessons! I've been taking offline one-on-one classes with my teacher 诗诗 (Shishi) for four months now. Our first lesson relied on a slide deck, but I gave the feedback that I didn't really like the pace, so we don't use slide decks any more -- just a whiteboard and marker. I don't really know anything about pedagogy, but 诗诗 speaks to me only in Chinese, which forces me to think and answer only in Chinese as well. 诗诗 is kind, passionate about teaching, and very fun to talk to -- and she's excellent at explaining concepts when the HSK textbook might be confusing. I am pretty sure she adjusts her diction to suit my level, and she weaves in vocabulary that's relevant to my interests, as well as slang, and recommends TV shows and movies that I might like. Every couple of days, 诗诗 assigns homework beyond the workbook and textbook exercises, like writing sentences or short essays using new vocabulary or grammar structures. (I actually find the homework quite fun!) When I started at GoEast, I was afraid to open my mouth. But in just a few months, I've became much more confident in expressing myself, to the point where sometimes I can't even believe how the words seem to flow out of my mouth by themselves. I sometimes even feel like I can't shut up! I never thought I'd feel that way about speaking Chinese. It's also clear that 诗诗 and Liz sync periodically about my progress, which I appreciate a lot! It feels like I've got a team supporting me in my goals -- it's a really nice feeling. Anyway, if you're looking for a Chinese language school, I'd recommend GoEast in a heartbeat.