Taiwan Today

Higher education institutions across Taiwan welcome students from around the world to their Chinese language programs.

This past February Jackie Wong checked off a major item on his life goal bucket list: completing two years at Mandarin Training Center (MTC) run by National Taiwan Normal University (NTNU) in Taipei City. The culmination of his studies was an intensely satisfying moment for Wong, who views his newly acquired language proficiency as critical to his career trajectory and personal growth.

“As someone of ethnic Chinese descent, I wanted to learn Mandarin to get in touch with my roots, and I knew the ability would be a good professional investment,” the 29-year-old Australian born to Malaysian Chinese parents said. “Since I’m interested in the history and culture surrounding traditional Chinese characters, Taiwan was the perfect place to base myself.” A friend’s glowing recommendation and the center’s global reputation for teaching excellence made the decision to apply to MTC an easy one.

“I feel blessed for the opportunity to study Chinese in Taiwan, where I had access to high-quality courses, a safe living environment, convenient transportation and fabulous food,” Wong said. “The experience heightened my drive to learn Chinese.” With Taiwan and Australia continuing to expand cooperation and exchanges, he intends to find a job in bilateral trade to capitalize on his language skills.

Founded in 1956, MTC is the oldest and largest facility of its kind in terms of courses offered and students enrolled per year. Since its establishment, more than 60 additional university language institutes have been set up nationwide, according to tallies compiled by the Ministry of Education (MOE). MTC Deputy Director Tu Chao-mei (杜昭玫) said around 3,000 students from some 70 countries attend the center annually. Courses for learners of all levels are offered in three-month quarterly terms covering the essential skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Small class sizes of six to nine people ensure each student receives ample interaction with their instructor while still enjoying a rich group experience with students from around the world.

“We’ve accumulated a great deal of experience over the years and built a strong reputation for delivering effective lessons in a friendly, supportive environment,” Tu said. “Our wide range of programs can be conducted in one-on-one, small group or customized formats to suit learners’ specific needs.” Online courses have also been available since 2013, with enrollment tripling over the past two years as many international students were unable to travel to Taiwan amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Attractive Destination

Highly rated programs are also offered by the Chinese Language Division (CLD) at the Language Center of Taipei-based National Taiwan University (NTU), the country’s top tertiary institution. Launched in 1999, one-on-one and small group classes are carefully designed to help degree-seeking and exchange students cultivate the ability to use the language in real-life situations, deepening their understanding and appreciation of Taiwan in the process.

Torbjorn Yttersian from Norway is among CLD’s satisfied customers. “I visited Taiwan in the summer of 2019, and it became clear that I wanted to pursue language studies here because life seems very relaxing and there are many mountains I’d love to hike,” the 29-year-old said. “I’m also a big fan of local musicians like Mayday and Jolin Tsai [蔡依林].” Teachers at CLD are open-minded and willing to adapt their teaching methods to meet student needs while incorporating fun and creative scenarios in the classroom, he said, adding that administrative staff is always ready to help out with any issues.

“Living in Taiwan has definitely broadened my outlook on life and pushed me to grow as a person,” the Norwegian student said. “After finishing my language courses, I hope to find a local job allowing me to stay in Taiwan for a couple more years because there are still so many things I’d like to see or do.” Though he began learning Chinese out of personal interest, he expects his language skills will prove a positive asset in his career.

Government Boost

According to Sung Li-may (宋麗梅), director of NTU’s Language Center, providing Chinese language courses for credit has made the university a more attractive option for international students. The Taiwan Huayu Bilingual Exchanges of Selected Talent (BEST) Program implemented by the MOE last year has also greatly assisted domestic universities in promoting Chinese language education in Australia, New Zealand, the U.S. and Europe, she said. The program provides subsidies for establishing and staffing Chinese language centers in target locations, as well as organizing online courses and teacher training workshops. So far, 18 institutions including NTU, NTNU and National Dong Hwa University (NDHU) based in the eastern county of Hualien have been approved to participate.

Under the MOE-funded initiative, Shih Chen-tao (史甄陶), head of CLD, said her university has signed cooperation agreements with U.S.-based Harvard University, Indiana University Bloomington, Temple University and University of Texas at Austin. A growing number of students at the four institutions are expected to take advantage of the center’s courses as interest in learning Mandarin continues to surge.

Similarly, Chu Chia-wen (朱嘉雯‬), director of the Chinese Language Center (CLC) at NDHU, said funding initiatives like the MOE’s Huayu Enrichment Scholarship and Taiwan Huayu BEST; Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Taiwan-Europe Connectivity Scholarships; and U.S. government-sponsored Fulbright Program are playing a pivotal role in drawing high-end talent from around the globe to enroll at the university which significantly bolstering campus internationalization. “Teaching Chinese as a second language is an important part of our strategy to cultivate diverse cultural influences at NDHU,” Chu said. “At the same time, there’s a strong demand for learning Chinese as it’s one of the world’s major languages.

Since its inception in 2013, the center has offered a wide selection of courses spanning one to 12 months to meet individual learner abilities, interests and needs. Academic courses taught in the morning are supplemented with cultural and recreational activities in the afternoon, such as calligraphy, Taiwanese opera, hang gliding, rafting and scuba diving. At the same time, the center’s location in picturesque Hualien helps promote the area as an ideal destination for studying and traveling. In fact, many international visitors take Chinese lessons at CLC while traveling around the county known for its beautiful coastlines, adventurous hiking trails and stunning Taroko National Park, the director said.

“Integrating Hualien’s cultural, historical and natural resources into language teaching has become the distinguishing feature of our center,” Chu said. “This strategy enables us to provide students with a unique educational experience and gives us a competitive edge.” Topics related to the county’s indigenous cultures and unspoiled natural beauty are especially popular with students, she added.

Student Satisfaction

Fulbright Scholarship recipient Steven Bernstein from the U.S. is currently enrolled in a one-year intensive course at CLC, after which he will begin a two-year master’s program conducted entirely in Chinese at NDHU’s College of Indigenous Studies. The 23-year-old decided to learn Mandarin because of its importance in the global arena and has studied at numerous locations throughout China and Taiwan.

“I prefer studying Chinese in Taiwan because it’s a beautiful and democratic country with freedom of speech and very welcoming people,” Bernstein said. “The curriculum [at CLC] is quite good as well. My teacher regularly augments classes with extra readings and videos. We also have weekly debates and essays.” Outside of the classroom, NDHU is a terrific place to practice Chinese and make local friends, including those from various indigenous groups, he added. After finishing his master’s degree, Bernstein intends to pursue a doctorate and work in academia before transitioning to the public sector. “I plan to use Chinese for the rest of my life,” he said. “Hopefully, one day I’ll be the Director of AIT [American Institute in Taiwan].

An increasing number of young people like Bernstein, Wong and Yttersian are flocking to Taiwan to study Chinese on the strength of the country’s quality education, cultural diversity, democratic values and foreigner-friendly atmosphere. “Chinese language teaching is a soft power tool with tremendous potential to expand Taiwan’s international exposure and influence,” NTU’s Sung said. “The trend is also accelerating the internationalization of local universities, promoting multicultural understanding and leading us into a brighter future as an integral part of our globalized world.”

Write to Kelly Her at kher@mofa.gov.tw