Of course this is is different for each person, how quickly you make progress and how much mandarin you learn will depend greatly on the length of your course and which options you go for. For example, choosing the intensive program will get you ahead faster than going for the standard one. Living with a homestay family really helps too because you'll get the chance to practise your Chinese outside of the classroom. However, it's safe to say that coming to study in an immersive environment like Chengde gets you ahead much faster than a more international environment such as our schools in Beijing and Shanghai.