( Formerly BLI, Beijing Language Institute ) has the reputation of being the good place to study Chinese in Beijing. The problem this creates, of course, is that it attracts swarms of foreigners. "It's sort of like not being in China," said Damon Brennen, a recent University of Colorado graduate who plans to seek a job here once his Mandarin is good enough. But he says the school does not emphasize repetition and rote learning as much as some other schools: "I think they have a much better handle on how to teach Westerners."
The steady stream of students attracted by BLCU's reputation appears to have made its waiban (foreign office) considerably less service-oriented than those at some other schools. A foreigner who recently asked if he could observe a class was basically laughed at and told, in essence, that he could fork over some money first. (Other schools graciously complied with the request.) With the exalted reputation come slightly higher- than-average fees: $2,500 for a year's tuition, compared with $1,800-$2,000 for most other schools. Rates for housing are on a sliding scale ranging from $3.00-$4.00 a day for a double with a shared bath and few amenities to $17 a day for a single with A/C, bathroom and a phone.