United States of America
After researching NTNU, I discovered its reputation as one of the best schools for a Teaching Chinese as a Second Language (TCSL) program, along with its renowned Mandarin Training Center.
I have dreamed of being fluent in a second language since I was little, and coming to Taiwan was a huge step toward making that dream come true. My primary motivation was to further my Mandarin studies in an environment where the language is spoken daily, especially within an academic setting. Beyond the language, I have fallen in love with the culture—specifically the night markets. I have so much fun exploring the different stands and trying foods that can’t be found anywhere else.
Taiwan’s environment is also beautiful. I grew up in a flat inland region of the US, but my favorite place was a mountainous area about a 30-minute drive away. Coming to Taiwan where there’s mountains, sea, city and rural regions all near each other, I felt like it was a mix of all of my favorite outdoor regions! This is made even better by the public transportation. In Taipei, the buses and MRT can take you anywhere conveniently, and the trains make it incredibly easy to see the rest of what the island has to offer. It is truly amazing.
I first heard about NTNU through the Fulbright scholarship program. After researching the university, I discovered its reputation as one of the best schools for a Teaching Chinese as a Second Language (TCSL) program, along with its renowned Mandarin Training Center. I knew I wanted to pursue my degree while having access to one of the top language schools in the world. Even after I was named an alternate for the Fulbright program and realized I would not be receiving their funding, my mind was already made up. The combination of the program’s prestige and its placement in the heart of Taipei made it the only school I wanted to attend.
Toward the end of my undergraduate years, I realized I had a deep interest in linguistics. The TCSL program here approaches teaching Chinese from linguistic, cultural, and psychological perspectives, which felt like the perfect fit for my interests. I was also drawn by the research of specific faculty members, such as Dr. Yu-Ju Lan. I am particularly interested in Dr. Lan’s work with virtual reality in educational contexts, as this is something I’ve been wanting to look into more as a possible future pathway!
The professors here have been incredibly helpful and accepting of our varied backgrounds. Some, like Dr. Edwin Yang, have gone out of their way despite busy schedules to provide extra learning resources and cultural experiences. Because of him, I was able to try Hakka cuisine for the first time, and he even drove some of my classmates and me to Taichung to try Taiwanese Indigenous food. His open-minded nature and willingness to help made a significant positive impact on my first semester.
I would describe my university as connected, affordable, and tight-knit. It is "connected" not just because of its physical location, but because of the alliance with NTU and NTUST, which allows us to take unique and interesting courses across all three campuses. Compared to US universities, getting an education here is significantly more "affordable," making the dream of studying abroad a very realistic option. Finally, the school is "tight-knit." NTNU does a great job of fostering community through organizations and events. I frequently bump into friends and classmates while walking across campus, and I have felt a great sense of belonging in a very short period of time.
My experiences outside the classroom have been just as enriching as my formal studies. Last semester, I had the opportunity to be part of a live audience for a talk show discussing Taiwan’s future amidst US-China relations. While the topic was specialized and the presenters occasionally switched into Taiwanese—which I didn't understand—I gathered a lot from the nuanced opinions expressed. Hearing a representative from the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) share suggestions for Taiwanese citizens gave me a much deeper understanding of the global geopolitical landscape.
I have also worked hard to deepen my historical knowledge of the island. By auditing a course on Taiwan’s history, I learned about the significance of "old streets" (老街) leftover from the Japanese colonial period. I was fascinated to learn that their "Western" appearance was due to Japanese architects who had studied in Europe. These insights have vastly deepened my cultural appreciation for the places I visit.
The most challenging aspect of learning Mandarin is sounding like a native speaker. My pronunciation still needs work, but more importantly, my sentence structures are often noticeably influenced by English grammar. To combat this, I have taken advantage of the 1-on-1 tutoring hosted by the Office of International Affairs. Through it I was able to make connections with Taiwanese students and, through chatting with them, have slowly progressed in using more local language patterns. I also spent my winter break studying daily at the Mandarin Training Center, which helped me learn a great deal in a very short time. Every interaction at university events helps me progress; it’s been amazing meeting so many cool people here.
My experience in Taiwan has changed my future plans significantly. Before participating in a summer language exchange here in 2023, my plan was to find a software development job in the US. However, that trip changed my outlook entirely. While I always had an interest in languages, I realized that pursuing a career in language education was a very realistic and exciting possibility.
Now that I have begun my master’s program, the possibilities feel even more open. I may continue in academia to focus on Second Language Acquisition research, specifically regarding Chinese and English. Alternatively, I could pursue developing digital teaching tools and curriculum. Staying in Taiwan after graduation is a very possible option for me; if I can find the right employment here, I would prefer to stay. Taiwan leads the way in technology development, making it the perfect place to bridge my interests in digital tools and language education.
