Connect with Former Fellows

Hi! My name is Cynthia, and I was abroad for the last two semesters in mainland China, first for CET-Beijing and then through another travel fellowship working on some independent film projects. I was also abroad the summer of 2022 through CET-Taiwan. I still keep in touch with all the creatives that I’ve met in China, which has helped with current projects and learning how to make films from different cultural perspectives. Please get in touch if you have any questions on living for a longer period of time abroad or if you’re interested in the arts in a foreign country!

安安！ My name is Lucas and I am a senior in Morse College. I took a gap year to study at ICLP in Taiwan and had an incredible experience. Being able to learn Chinese in classes and in real life, all while having access to amazing food and nature, made this year unforgettable. I am happy to talk about the program, heritage seeking, food recs, or anything else!!

Hi everyone! I'm Sebastian, and I studied abroad in Taiwan at the Harvard Taipei Academy the summer of 2024. After reaching L5, I knew that I wanted to jumpstart my Chinese language skills, and studying abroad in Taiwan definitely helped me achieve that goal. I enjoyed the opportunity to immerse myself in the culture, discuss modern Taiwanese society with my teachers, and see the beautiful island. I look forward to visiting Taiwan again soon. Feel free to reach out with questions!

嗨！I am Tim and I studied at CET Taiwan during the summer of 2022. I couldn't have asked for a better summer experience after my freshman year! I loved having all the time and resources to focus on improving my Chinese skills, both in a classroom and real life setting. I had the best time with my teacher and five classmates - we chatted about everything and anything over tea or dinner (in Chinese!). Speaking of, Taiwanese food brought me so much joy, as did the many trips to museums, beaches, and mountains I was lucky to go on. Always happy to chat about the program, do send a note!

Hi everyone! My name is Lauren, and I studied in Taiwan with CET Taiwan during the summer of 2024. The summer was unforgettable in how it improved my Chinese fluency, and because of the many opportunities I had to meet other Taiwanese students and learn about Taiwanese culture and society. I've made long-lasting friendships that have crossed borders and memories that will last forever. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out!

Hey! My name is Steven and I attended the Inter-University Program in Beijing during the 2023 Fall Semester. I really enjoyed interacting and learning with my classmates and teachers every day, trying new foods from street stalls, and exploring different parts of the country. I truly had a wonderful time abroad and would recommend anyone with even a remote interest in Asia to apply for the Light Fellowship! Feel free to reach out any time if you have any questions about taking time off Yale to study abroad or living/exploring around China!

I study East Asia because of its unique combination of ancient tradition and dialogue with the West; experiencing the incredible history and diversity of Taiwan while living in the heart of Taipei put me at the nexus of Chinese, European Japanese, Southeast Asian, and American traditions. At ICLP, I studied the local Taiwanese language (on which each of these cultures has left it’s mark) and spent a ton of time hiking the country, Alishan to Yangmingshan to Taiwushan! What made my experience hiking in Taiwan special was learning the unique role mountains play in Taiwanese culture: they represent centers of Buddhist learning, separated the Hakka, Hokien, and Aboriginal ethnic groups, inspire debates between land rights interests and environmental groups, and are the site of many a ghost story! I can’t wait until I can return to explore more of Taiwan’s many historic trails.

Hi! My name is Lynn and I studied in Taiwan over the summer of 2022 through the Light Fellowship. The past summer was honestly a blur; it was a life-changing experience. I spent almost every weekend travelling (my photo is from the beautiful Alishan and I woke up at 3 AM this day for the sunrise) and soaking in all Taiwan had to offer. I fell in love with the city, the food, the culture, and my classes at ICLP. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions!

Hey everyone，大家好！My name is Jerry Feng, a current super sophomore in Davenport. I took a gap year to study abroad in Taiwan at ICLP for the academic year from 2022–2023 with Light. Needless to say, one of the best choices I ever made in life: learned so much about my own culture that I never knew before in addition to finding out lots of new passions and interests related to Chinese language and culture. Travelled to a lot of places in Taiwan as well, so please do not hesitate to reach out regarding anything related to ICLP, Taiwan, China, learning Chinese at Yale, etc!

Hi! My name is Alicia Gan, Berkeley class of 2026 :) I traveled to mainland China with CET Beijing, and had an incredible summer full of language learning, weekend excursions (some with CET, some independently— including Shanghai, Chengdu, and Suzhou), bike rides, hot pot, and family time (my parents are first generation immigrants from China). If you have any questions about CET Beijing, navigating China as a Chinese-American, or just want shopping recs, feel free to contact me!

Hi everyone! I’m Paris, and I studied in Beijing this past summer through the Light Fellowship at Tsinghua University. Having daily one-on-one classes devoted to improving my Chinese language was an amazing experience, and living in Beijing as a university student provided a myriad of additional opportunities to practice Chinese, whether it be ordering takeout, bargaining for souvenirs, or conversing with local Beijingers. I loved getting to meet other motivated students from across the world, having a snapshot of what living in Beijing would look like, and forming a deep impression of the culture that I will hold forever. Please reach out if you have any questions or would like to talk!