My experience in Taiwan
Thanks to the scholarship awarded to me by the Taipei Mission in Sweden, I had the amazing opportunity to study Chinese at the Cheng Kung University in Tainan. Cheng Kung University is ranked as one of the top four universities in Taiwan and from studying there, it is clear why. The teachers were very passionate and knowledgeable about their subjects. The pace of study was intense and the expectations of the students were high. The Chinese Language Center of Cheng Kung University is well known for its many activities and school excursions; we often went sightseeing around Tainan and even made trips to Pingtung and Sun Moon Lake. Overall, the NCKU CLC was very professional and highly generous. I would therefore recommend anyone to study Chinese at Cheng Kung University.
There are multiple reasons why I chose to study in Tainan:
- If your goal is to improve your Chinese, then Tainan is preferable as you can't rely on English all the time. In addition, you will also have the opportunity to learn and practice Taiwanese, thus being able to breach yet another layer of Taiwanese culture (and not to mention puns!).
- Tainan is the oldest city and former capital of Taiwan. Here you will find a plethora of historical sites which take you through the history of Taiwan. The Museum of Taiwanese Literature is also located here for this very reason.
- Tainan is cheap! If your budget is an issue, then Tainan is definitely the place to go. Food and accommodation are very affordable which will make your scholarship money go further.
- You often hear people say the pace of life is slower in Tainan, perhaps because it's a smaller city which doesn’t have its own metro. Although I would disagree in some aspects, I feel that the city’s infrastructure actually forced me to take to the streets and strike up conversations with people. Getting outside of my comfort zone might not have been so easy in other cities.
- I also had the opportunity to travel around elsewhere in Taiwan. Together with my newly made friends, we went on trips to almost every major city in Taiwan. Thanks to the Taiwan High Speed Rail (THSR), it was very convenient to make your way around the island. Although the island is small in size, it makes up for it with a most diverse natural environment. You can go strolling around the beaches in Kenting for one day and then the next day go hiking up in the mountain of Alishan. It’s easily accessible and well connected with public transport.
To summarize, I feel like my stay in Taiwan has significantly improved my proficiency in Chinese, even though I only studied for two semesters. The exchange has also given me insight into the culture and daily life of the Taiwanese. I have made a lot of new friends who have enriched my life with new perspectives, therefore I hope I’m able to see them soon. I’m grateful for the scholarship awarded to me that made this trip possible and I would also recommend anyone to begin their own journey!
- Hampus Agéli