ICLP vs. BLCU

[Culcet]

Hi guys,

I just found out last night that I was accepted into NTU's ICLP program. While initially elated, I'm starting to wonder whether ICLP would be a good fit for me. I'm also looking at the MTC at NTNU and CLD at NTU.

Just a little background information- I've studied for about three years at a strong Chinese program at a top liberal arts college. I've also spent two semesters in Beijing, one of which was an intensive program (CET Beijing). I've definitely lost quite a bit since I took a break senior year, though I'm certainly no beginner. I'm planning on spending one year studying Chinese, primarily to get my speaking proficiency as fluent as possible. Also, I've spent the last two years studying simplified characters, though my first year was in traditional. I currently have a Norther "Beijing-err" accent.

I don't want to study my brains out like before to simply memorize characters- my overall priority is to clean up my tones and develop the best pronunciation I possibly can. Learning the writing is also important to me but being able to make a strong first impression as someone of Chinese ethnicity is my overall priority. I've heard that ICLP is very "academic" in that it stresses being able to read and write but speaking not so much. Is this the wrong place for me?

Secondly, I was wondering if anyone here had any experience studying in both Beijing and Taipei? Will it be possible to retain clear, standard Mandarin pronunciation in Taiwan? I visited Taiwan for the first time this past summer and loved it, but I am very intense when it comes to my Chinese (speaking) ability. Should this affect my decision to go to either Beijing or Taiwan? Thanks so much.

[amandagmu]

Check out my previous post(s) on ICLP. I studied in both places. I can honestly tell you this: I've never been able to find the quality of instruction at ICLP anywhere else. Of course, I've never studied at IUP Tsinghua, CET, or Middlebury, but I know some people who have and still say what I've just said.

Also: don't worry about the pronunciation. IMO, most people in Taipei speak fairly standard putonghua. With that said, there is no er-hua and your tones must be good for people to understand you. Furthermore, the vocabulary can be different for routine things (e.g., don't ask them about the 空调 or if they have any 一对一课； 冷气、热气 and 单班课 instead).

The best part about the program is that even though the books or lessons may sometimes be dry, many of your teachers will have quite a bit of experience in teaching (like any school, there are a few exceptions, so promptly complain to get switched to one of the better ones) and your classmates will deliver the competitive pressure you need. Yes, it sometimes feels like studying to death (seems the way they like to do it) but if you want to learn a lot in a short amount of time it's worth it.

If you want to study conversation you might as well go anywhere, get a bunch of Chinese friends, and sign up for some 1-on-1 classes or a tutor to help you repeat phrases. They will give you the conversation at ICLP, but I don't think it's what their *best* at doing.

[amandagmu]

One more thing I forgot to mention. I know some people in Beijing who studied at BLCU several years but decided not to pay much attention to their tones. At ICLP, and in Taiwan, this was really really not OK. We had a special pronunciation class Monday afternoons at ICLP (optional, free) taught by my favorite Chinese teacher ever (since I've had something like 20 Chinese teachers over the years this is quite an accomplishment). When I moved back to Beijing last November, after a few years totally off, there's no doubt that my friends in Beijing had a much deeper ability to converse with people on the street or in casual situations, but most still have little ability to produce correct tones and few can read or sit through anything in formal language (a college lecture at the graduate level). Luckily, while I may not know every variant of the word "bulls**t" in Beijinghua, I can definitely interact with professionals and professors.

[gato]

I think it might be easier to develop friendship with locals in Taipei vs. Beijing, which in turn would help you improve your speaking skills. I personally think Taipei is incomparably better than Beijing as a city.