Type Private Headquarters Beijing, China | Founded March 2005 Number of locations 5 schools | |
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Industry Language Education, Internships Founder Jeremie Rossignol, Jan Wostyn | ||
Hutong School is a Mandarin language teaching school and internship provider in China. It is the leading foreign owned Chinese language school and welcomed already more than 8,000 students since its opening.
Contents
- History
- Intensive Chinese Program
- Internship Program
- HSK Exam
- China
- Outside China
- Partner Organisations
- References
It was founded in March 2005 by a team of French, German, Korean, Flemish and Chinese entrepreneurs. It is the first Chinese language school under foreign management officially licensed by the Chinese Ministry of Education. It provides Chinese language courses and matches students with internships in China.
History
Hutong School started its business in 2005 introducing the internship program. The school has been founded in a tiny office in the hutongs of Beijing which gave the school also its name. It has always been very important to the founding team that Hutong School provides a cool atmosphere in a typically local environment. In 2006, Jeremie Rossignol, one of the founders let a renovation project of an old, traditional courtyard at Shuangsi Hutong.
In 2007, around two years after its foundation, Hutong School started to offer intensive Chinese classes in addition to internship placements. In 2009, Hutong School welcomed its 1000th student. The continuous growth led to the decision of opening a second office in Beijing to be able to accommodate the growing team.
In 2010, Hutong School’s network counted 200 partner companies. This continuous growth enabled the institution to open a branch in Sanlitun in the same year. In 2012, Hutong School made a huge investment in opening a big office in Shanghai, offering both programs there as well. Through acquainting InternAsia, the institution could build up rapidly an extensive network in Shanghai as well giving its students several opportunities. Although the name had been questioned in the beginning since hutongs are findable exclusively in Beijing, the area around the new office in Shanghai with its tiny streets and little houses delivers quite the same feeling as the hutongs in Beijing. Therefore, the name has not been changed.
In 2013, Hutong School started to expand its business on an international scale. With the opening of facilities in Brussels, Belgium, Hutong School became the first private Chinese school, teaching Mandarin in China and the West. Further openings in other European cities like Milan and London followed in 2014. In cooperation with other companies, the institution does now provide Mandarin teaching also in Paris, Sydney and Moscow and is going to provide classes in Guadalajara, Mexico starting from Mid 2016. Since January 2017 the school has further expanded and now also offers Mandarin classes and Internship placements in Hangzhou.
Intensive Chinese Program
Hutong School in China offers an intensive Chinese program which contains 20 hours of language classes per week. Students are taught in small groups, individual teachers are available upon request. Hutong School adopted its teaching method especially to Western students and is separating the spoken Chinese from the character recognition. The program duration can be selected by the student. The program can be very customized and can therefore range from classes only to a full service package including accommodation, assistance services and participation of in-house Chinese cultural activities.
Internship Program
The Internship Program is a concept to provide international students with internships in China. Hutong School is reviewing the students talents, educational background and skills and is then matching the student with a suitable internship position of the institutions company portfolio. In addition to this, the school provides a bundle of services to ensure a smooth arrival and comfortable living. Usually, accommodation is provided as well as welcoming students at the airport and providing them with information about the city. Hutong School organizes several typical Chinese cultural activities like calligraphy courses, Chinese cooking classes, introduction to Tai Chi.
In addition, all internship students receive four hours of Mandarin classes per week. Internships are usually available in the cities Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu.
HSK Exam
Since 2015, Hutong School Shanghai is a licensed HSK Center. Students can take the HSK exam with Hutong School to proof their language proficiency. HSK exams are usually offered on a monthly basis and Hutong School provides special preparation courses.
China
Hutong School currently offers its Intensive Chinese program in Beijing, Hangzhou and Shanghai. Internships are available as well in these cities and may also be available in Chengdu.
Outside China
Hutong School has three locations outside China in Brussels, London and Moscow. These locations are typically designed for preparation courses which are taken by students in advance to their China immersion.
Partner Organisations
Hutong School is cooperating with several Chinese language institutes and is therefore offering more locations worldwide. Currently, these are Milan, Paris, Sydney and starting from 2016 also in Guadalajara, Mexico.