Looking to study Mandarin in Taiwan

[bumclouds]

Hey guys,

I'm looking around for scholarships to study Mandarin in Taiwan.. I've been learning Chinese really intensively on top of my Engineering degree for about 18 months now, and I would absolutely love to travel to a Mandarin speaking country and study there. Taiwan would be my #1 preference =).

While looking around - i found one which was absolutely ideal for me. But blast..! I missed the cut-off date.. here it is:

http://www.cultural.teco.org.au/english/?page_id=231

I've been searching hard, but I can't find any one that is quite this good.. Do you guys know of any scholarships for learning Mandarin in Taiwan (or maybe mainland China) that are similar to the one in that link?

Thanks!!!

- Andrew

[Daan]

The MOE scholarships are probably the best scholarships you can get for studying in Taiwan. But if the deadline has already passed, you could enquire with your university's office of international affairs whether they have any exchange agreements with Taiwanese universities.

[bumclouds]

Okay well if i have to pay, i have to pay. haha.

Could someone tell me, out of this list of accredited Chinese language centres in tw, are there any that particularly stand out to you as being good?

http://english.moe.gov.tw/ct.asp?xitem=9693&CtNode=417&mp=1

- Andrew

[chrix]

ICLP, but it's super expensive.

Then there's the CLD, and of course the MTC. I also heard a lot of good things about Fujen, but it's not in Taipei City...

[bumclouds]

What about these folks?

http://mandarin.nccu.edu.tw/english/course.php

Their low-intermediate chinese course seems just about perfect for me.

Arh! There's so many choices!!

[Daan]

ICLP is by far the best, but super expensive does not even begin to cover it. NCCU is pretty good, from what I've heard. I know quite a few people studying there now and from what I gather their courses are similar to the ones at NTNU's MTC. They seem happier with their NCCU courses than I am with my MTC courses (on which I've written earlier).

One downside, however, is that NCCU's campus is almost an hour away from downtown Taipei. But there are regular buses and there's an MRT stop. Being situated near the Maokong hills, the air quality is a lot better at NCCU, and it's a bit quieter around there. Much better than overcrowded downtown Taipei, if you ask me.

If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask!

[bumclouds]

Thanks Daan!!

I'm definately a person who likes busy bustling cities and big crowds. Wherever I am I like to be "in amongst it", not away from all the action!! That having said - if there's a campus which is slightly out of downtown Taipei, but has good student life and a good vibe to it.. I might really enjoy that too =).

[chrix]

Well, as I wrote, there's also CLD... (both ICLP and CLD are part of NTU)

[Daan]

If bustling cities and big crowds are what you like, you'll probably be a bit underwhelmed by the NCCU campus, which always strikes me as a place of heavenly tranquillity when I go there. At least when compared with the NTNU campus in downtown Taipei, right next to the Shida night market with restaurants and bars everywhere. And people. Oh man, if the chengyu 人山人海 was ever used more aptly, I wouldn't know where.

That said, it does seem to me that student life at NCCU is more vibrant, with more interaction between Taiwanese and foreign students. Of course, that's only my impression from the stories I hear from friends at NCCU and some activities there I've participated in.

I've just checked and neither allows international students to live in the dorms, so you'd have to look for your own place to live. Finding decent and affordable housing shouldn't be a problem, though.

[chrix]

Yeah, it shouldn't be a problem. I used to live in the area between Chengchi and NTU (it was virtually impossible to get into student dorms at NTU as well, though things might be different now, as 10 years ago already many students were opting to live off-campus instead of in dorms)...

[Daan]

They've recently built some new dorms for international students at NTU, which are supposed to be very good, but I don't know how difficult it is to get in. And I don't know whether they're open to students who are only attending language programmes, either...

[bumclouds]

I think right now for me it's between MTC, CLD and CLC. One of the major things I'm looking for, apart from the quality of the actual course itself, is a place where the students interact which each other really well. I really dislike places where the students just go to class, pack up their stuff, and then go home. Can't think of anything worse!! I would really like to make lots and lots of friends while I'm studying in Taiwan =).!!!

Edit: Wait on... CLC = NCCU?? That's the one that is miles out of town right... Sorry folks, I seem to be getting confused by all these acronyms.

Edit2: What is the CLC at Tamkung university like? according to this map, is it in a good location?

Edited April 14, 2010 at 01:43 PM by bumclouds

[Lu]

One of the major things I'm looking for, apart from the quality of the actual course itself, is a place where the students interact which each other really well. I really dislike places where the students just go to class, pack up their stuff, and then go home. Can't think of anything worse!! I would really like to make lots and lots of friends while I'm studying in Taiwan =).!!!

I haven't been to any of the other language schools, but NTNU's MTC has this in spades. The 7th floor of the building the center is in is the place where most of the students hang out there for a bit before/after class, meet with their friends in other classes, go for lunch in the night market, make plans... Great place.

[bumclouds]

^ Wow!! I'm almost sold on MTC.

Can anybody tell me anything about Tamkang Uni ?? I'm sort of drawn to the flashy look of their website and all the happy looking people..!! hehe http://www.dce.tku.edu.tw/index.jsp

Edited April 14, 2010 at 02:45 PM by bumclouds

[Lu]

It's also not in Taipei, but up in Danshui, about half an hour by metro from the city center.

[skylee]

up in Danshui

IIRC the very famous Taiwan artist Jay Chou went to school (or grew up) in Danshui.

[weirdo]

i think NCKU is a good option. you experience the nice taiwanese culture and I heard NCKU is second to Taipei Uni. the cost is also much cheaper compared to the other cities. it's comparatively warm down south too. a lot of foreigners love it here. =)