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!

Hi everyone, 大家好! My name is Nilab, and I’m a junior in Murray studying EP&E. This past summer 2025, I spent two months studying abroad with Princeton in Beijing, where I completed my Chinese Language Certificate. I was on the Fourth-Year track at PiB; the program was challenging, to say the least, but it was also an incredible opportunity to immerse myself in Chinese culture while significantly improving my Mandarin skills. Like many of you, I had only ever studied Chinese in a classroom before, but this summer I was able to learn by chatting with local students on campus, bargaining with vendors at 虹桥 market, and ordering 酸奶 and 北京烤鸭 wherever I went. I’ve found that the best way to learn a language is by immersing yourself in the place and with the people. My experiences this summer have without a doubt shaped both my life and my career aspirations, and I came away with lifelong friends and unforgettable memories. Please feel free to reach out with any questions; I’d be more than happy to connect!

Hi everybody! My name is Jonas, and I studied in Taiwan at the International Chinese Language Program in Summer 2024. While I was initially unsure if ICLP was the right choice for me, I am so glad that I took the jump and traveled to Taipei! I really enjoyed my host program, as the curriculum was intense but not overwhelming, the teachers were invested in our learning, and my classmates were all amazing people and super friendly. In my free time, I got to travel all over the island, make friends with the local Taiwanese, and eat as many Taiwanese delicacies as I could find. I highly recommend ICLP and Taiwan to any students who want to improve their Chinese proficiency (especially with regards to their speaking ability and reading traditional characters) or who just want to learn more about Taiwan and its unique blend of Chinese, Japanese, Western, and Indigenous elements. Please don't hesitate to reach out!

大家好！I'm Sara, a Global Affairs major in Morse. I studied abroad Spring 2025 at MiB (Middlebury in Beijing). It was one of the most valuable experiences of my life and I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to improve their Mandarin and make lifelong memories.

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! My name is Jessica， and I spent my 2025 Summer at Princeton in Beijing as a Light Fellow. As you may expect, my language skills improved so much through the program's class for heritage speakers, and I met so many wonderful people, from classmates to teachers! Outside of the classroom, I was able to travel a lot through the program as well as with friends, gaining a deeper understanding of the language and culture. My time in China was unforgettable, and I'd be more than happy to talk to anyone interested in the Light Fellowship. Please don't hesitate to reach out!

大家好！My name is Sophia Zhang, and I'm a sophomore in Davenport from New Haven. I participated in CET Beijing during my first-year summer, and it was one of the best experiences of my life so far! I had so much fun learning Chinese, bonding with classmates and teachers while enjoying delicious food, yapping with new friends, and making lots of special memories while exploring Beijing and other cities, such as Shenzhen and Hohhot. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about CET Beijing, studying abroad, or just want to hear some fun stories!

Hey! I'm Leo, and I studied abroad in Taiwan during the summer of 2023. CET Taiwan connected me with my cultural roots, left me with many great memories that I will forever cherish, and allowed me to grow in so many aspects of my life. Go into this program with an open mind and a willingness to learn in inside and outside the classroom. I was exposed to so much even though I lived in China for a short period of my life.

Hi! I'm Carly, a sophomore in Berkeley. I just completed a summer study abroad in Taiwan with Harvard Taipei Academy. It was such a great time of trying new foods (Taiwanese night markets are amazing), connecting with locals (had some life-changing interactions), and of course, intensively learning Chinese (hard, but so worth it)! Studying abroad was not only a great opportunity to immerse myself in another culture, but to also learn more about myself and my heritage. Please reach out with any questions you may have – I would love to chat! :D

Hello! My name is Ryen. I am a Global Affairs major pursuing an Advanced Chinese Language certificate in Branford College. I studied abroad in China with CET Beijing during the summer of 2025, and I loved everything about my experience! From the weekend excursions to famous landmarks like the Great Wall and the Forbidden City to the traveling seminar in Chengdu, there was always someplace new to explore. I also feel so much more comfortable in my language skills now that I have had eight weeks of experience speaking only Chinese with native speakers and navigated the streets of Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu with my friends. If you want to learn about being in China as a Black person, what tea to drink during what season, or how to eat Peking duck, please feel free to reach out!

My interest in Mandarin, and in language study more broadly, lies in its power to serve as a window into culture and tradition, and as a bridge for cultural exchange and enrichment. For me, language learning language is ultimately about cultivating understanding. This past summer, while studying at ICLP in Taipei, I experienced impactful exchange and growth in the classroom, while exploring the city, and building meaningful connections with people across Taipei. My most salient takeaway from those two months is realizing how much I have yet to learn— both in advancing my Mandarin and in deepening my understanding of the people I meet. If you have any questions about studying Chinese, Taiwan, or anything in between, I’d be glad to share more.

Hello! My name is Hiroko, a sophomore in Trumbull College. I studied abroad in Taiwan (CET) for Chinese in the summer of 2023 through the light fellowship. I had an incredible 10 weeks of immersing myself in Taiwan – from the most engaging classes, weekly excursions to the mountains, local friendships, so much good food, starting a blog, and more! Please reach out with any questions about studying abroad, Chinese or Taiwan :)

Hi, I'm Bryant! I studied advanced Chinese in Beijing during summer 2024, and my two months were nothing short of transformative. Not only was I put on the fast track to fluency, but I also rethought so many pre-existing notions I had about Chinese society and culture, got to reconnect with family and friends all over the country, and had a blast exploring the corners and alleys of Beijing with my friends. Please reach out if you have any questions about studying abroad!

大家好！My name is Thomas, and I am a Sophomore in Morse College. I spent my past summer at Tsinghua University's Inter-University Program for Chinese Language Study (IUP). I'm glad that I was able to use my Light Fellowship summer to build upon my Chinese foundations and explore my academic interests in philosophy in the Chinese context, as I read many great ancient and modern Chinese thinkers. Outside of the classroom, I was able to enjoy the amazing local food, play basketball and snooker with local Tsinghua students, as well as go on late-night skewer runs. I'd love to talk about study abroad, Light Fellowship, and China with anyone who is interested so please feel free to reach out!

Hey everyone! My name is Kalina, and I’m a sophomore in JE planning on studying Cognitive Science and Film! The summer of 2025, I traveled with CET Beijing to mainland China through the Light Fellowship. During eight weeks in China, I had the opportunity to visit cities such as Chengdu, Shanghai, and Xian, make friends with the locals, and eat lots of incredible good. If you’re thinking about applying for the Light Fellowship, traveling to China or even just traveling abroad, feel free to reach out!

I am a Brazilian international student and a sophomore in Saybrook College, majoring in Economics and Political Science with a Certificate in Chinese. When I arrived at Yale, I began Chinese in Level 1 with no prior experience. My motivation to learn Mandarin was simple: I wanted to build friendships with Chinese students and further understand Chinese culture. Now, I can say my goals have become a reality. Over the summer, I completed Level 3 and Level 4 at CET Beijing, hosted at Capital Normal University and there my Chinese improved dramatically. When I first landed in China, I could barely introduce myself, but, by the end of the program, I was able to hold meaningful conversations with any Chinese person on a wide range of topics. Beyond the classroom, my travels across China changed my worldview of the country. From Chengdu, the panda city, to the cyberpunk skyline of Chongqing, to Zhangjiajie, the breathtaking site that inspired the movie Avatar, I saw a China far richer and more diverse than stereotypes often suggest. Every day in China I would challenge my assumptions and break misconceptions I once held. I am excited to share my experience and to inspire others to start the rewarding journey of learning Chinese.

Hi everyone! I'm Sofiia, and I spent my first-year summer at CET Beijing. I had a wonderful experience in Beijing, with the program's traveling seminar to Chengdu, and my individual travel to Shanghai, Xi'an, and Pingyao. I highly recommend CET for those interested in improving their Mandarin through both formal classes and real-life situations. Feel free to reach out with any questions about Light Fellowship, CET Beijing, language acquisition, or anything else!

你好！My name is Esther-Josette, and I’m a sophomore in Pierson College. Over the past summer, I studied abroad in Taiwan with the Harvard Taipei Academy. I had a blast trying new foods at night markets and in different parts of the country, interacting with locals as well as my host family, and even conducting a field research study on gender equality, access to higher education, and jobs in the countryside. Most importantly, I spent time intensively learning Chinese, which was a struggle at first, especially with the language pledge, but so worth it! Studying abroad was an incredible opportunity to immerse myself in a new culture, step outside my comfort zone, and create unforgettable memories. Please feel free to reach out with any questions!

Hello or 你好! My name is Kai, a junior in Davenport College who studied in Taiwan over the summer of 2024! My time in Taiwan was truly life-changing (life-breaking even). I learned so much, and not just in terms of Chinese language acquisition, but also important life skills like managing relationships with friends, talking to strangers, and yes, you betcha, cooking! It was truly an incredible time in Taiwan, and I encourage everyone to give studying abroad a shot!