Culture and language aren't learned in the classroom–embrace that! August 28, 2023
By A student (International Studies, Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/26/2023 to 05/18/2023 with
CET Taiwan
I gained friends, language proficiency, confidence
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 6 months+ |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The quality and intensity of Chinese language classes, of which you will spend 15 hours in weekly, varies greatly between instructors. Be EXTREMELY careful the first week not to end up with an instructor you don't jibe with. The elective classes are content heavy and enjoyable. |
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration is incredible. |
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
|
| * Food: |
Taiwan is a culinary paradise for someone on a student budget (can't speak for those with eating restrictions) |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
By far the strongest aspect of the program. Not only do CET students live with at least one Taiwanese housemate, the program provides multiple social/cultural activities weekly where both international and local students participate. The language exchange program is another guaranteed way to make a local friend. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
CET was supportive, but the student clinic at NTU has incredible service and is unbelievably affordable, even without insurance. I paid under $15 for two visits and a lab test. |
| * Safety: |
|
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
In my opinion, the crux of study abroad is to engage with local people, culture, and language. On these fronts, CET does a fantastic job of facilitating students' integration into Taipei. |
Finances
|
* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
|
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Eating in the NTU cafeterias is the best bang for your buck–but restaurants on 118 are incredibly cheap. Get a bunch of language partners, and go out to eat with them with the CET reimbursable money! You'll save a lot, make local friends, and learn Chinese:) |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
|
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
The vast majority of CET social/cultural events were conducted in Chinese with English translation available for those who needed it. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 300 Chinese |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | If you want to learn Chinese, make Taiwanese friends with whom you use Chinese to communicate. Even if you're pretty introverted, try to introduce yourself and get to know local students whenever you can–it will pay off! |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | The point of study abroad is to experience culture and language, these aren't learned in the classroom. Other study abroad programs might be have better language instruction, more hours of class time, ect, but CET students have the most resources and balanced class-hours to thrive in Taiwan. To be honest, I would not have picked this program had it not been picked for me by my university, but it blew my expectations out of the water |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Sinophone Cinemas, 1980-2000 |
| Course Department: | Film |
| Instructor: | |
| Instruction Language: | English |
| Comments: | For someone who had never taken a film studies class previously, the pace of the class was a little faster than I had hoped, but Professor was always helpful. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | No |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Upper-Advanced Chinese |
| Course Department: | NTU CLD |
| Instructor: | |
| Instruction Language: | Chinese |
| Comments: | I was not a fan of the Professor's teaching methods, which consisted primarily of memoization and recitation. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
