Connect with Former Fellows

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.

大家好! I’m Jalen, a junior in TD majoring in History with certificates in Chinese and Spanish. I began studying Chinese at Yale in L3, and this past summer I completed my third and fourth L5 courses at the Harvard Taipei Academy, hosted at National Taiwan University. Studying in Taipei was an amazing experience—I could see how much my Chinese has improved since I first started in college. While abroad, I also traveled to places like Pingtung and Tainan on our Social Study Trip, and enjoyed visiting beaches such as Baishawan. I’m excited to be back on campus and would be happy to share more about HTA, Taiwan, or studying abroad if you have any questions!

Hey everyone! I'm a sophomore in Timothy Dwight College majoring in Environmental Studies and East Asian Languages & Literatures. I studied abroad with CET Beijing the summer of 2025 and had the most incredible time not only learning about Chinese culture but bonding with our Chinese language partners. Some of my favorite memories include the weekly Chinese tables, wandering Beijing's hutongs, and CET's travel seminar to Chengdu. If you have any questions (or want to know the best flavor of tea at Chagee) don't hesitate to reach out!

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, I'm Oliver! I studied abroad in Summer 2025 with Princeton in Beijing. The courses, language pledge, and extracurricular activities not only helped me vastly improve my Chinese language proficiency but also allowed me to deepen my understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture. I trust that the lessons I learned while attending PiB will continue to shape my life and career. If you have any questions about the Light Fellowship, PiB, adjusting to life in China, or managing applications, please reach out!

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!

Hello! My name is Eva, a sophomore at Morse College majoring in Economics and East Asian Studies. Last summer, I spent 8 weeks in Taiwan studying at Harvard Taipei Academy. Those 8 weeks absolutely changed my life - not only did I find a deeper love for the Chinese language, my bonds with the local community, my friends and teachers, and my coursework elevated my experience and I left with a profound appreciation and inspiration for Taiwanese and Chinese culture. As a FGLI student, I also learned to navigate the financial and emotional challenges of living independently in a different country -- whether you are a fellow FGLI student, student interested in Harvard Taipei Academy, or you share an interest in East Asian culture, please feel free to reach out! I was fortunate to receive support from previous Light Fellows during my own fellowship term and I am very eager to help!

Hi all! I'm Ai-Li and I studied abroad in the summer of 2024 with CET Taiwan. Through class at NTU, meeting up with my language partners, and using my Chinese everyday, my language skills improved significantly. Not only did I improve, but I gained motivation and a better idea of my future path in language learning. In my free time, I hung out with my relatives (my mom grew up in Taiwan), biked around trying excellent vegetarian food, explored the island on weekend trips, and made new friends playing lots of Ultimate Frisbee. Do not hesitate to reach out, especially if you're interested in hearing about the frisbee scene in Taiwan, or my experience as a mixed person (half-Taiwanese, half-white) studying abroad!

Hello hello, 大家好! My name is Gabby, I’m in Trumbull college (MOORAH) majoring in Political Science with a Chinese Language Certificate! In the summer of 2025 I studied abroad in Mainland China with CET Beijing and had the best summer yet! As a Chinese adoptee that has been discovering her Chinese heritage and identity at Yale, this journey was incredibly important for furthering my self-identity and fulfilling a longstanding dream of returning to China. I was fortunate enough to travel to Chengdu, Shanghai, Nanchang, and even my hometown Suichuan County in Jiangxi. During my time in China, I learned more about Chinese culture, my adoption, and myself. I made amazing relationships during late night walks in Chengdu and in the Qipao store as I talked with another adoptee about our shared experiences. I ate amazing food and developed friendships with locals I’ll never forget. I had the best time in China and I’m excited to return in the future! Please reach out with any questions, I’m always happy to talk :)

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!

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

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!

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!

Hi everyone! My name is Millia, and I spent my summer of 2025 in Taiwan with Harvard Taipei Academy (HTA). This program gave me the chance to strengthen my Chinese through daily immersion while also learning more about Taiwanese culture, history, and society. Some of my favorite experiences included exploring night markets, making ceramics at Yingge, and having meaningful conversations with other students and teachers. Studying abroad in Taiwan was an unforgettable experience, and I’d be happy to share more about HTA or life in Taiwan if you have any questions!

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!

朋友们好!! My name is Angela and I spent my first-year summer abroad through CET Beijing. Now that I'm back in the States, I can happily say that my study abroad experience has left me with many friends, lessons, and memories that I will cherish forever. I'm very grateful for the time I spent in China because through late night conversations with my local roommate, spontaneous weekend trips, activities hosted by my program, and lunches with my Chinese class, I felt really immersed in Chinese culture and society. By the end of my two months in China, I did not want to leave because it felt like I'd only seen a tiny fraction of such a beautiful country. If you have questions about the Light Fellowship/CET Beijing or if you just want to hear some funny stories (I fear I spent my summer experiencing lore-worthy moments on the daily), feel free to contact me! :)

Hello! My name is Patrick (MY '28) and I recently spent my summer in Taiwan with Harvard Taipei Academy (HTA). Taiwan's food, from night markets eats to proper restaurants, scenery, from beautiful bike paths to strenuous yet rewarding hikes, and the nicest people ever all made this summer unforgettable. I genuinely had a great time in Taiwan and I cannot wait to go back. I'd love to help you learn more about HTA or any and all aspects of life in Taiwan!!

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!

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!

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 :)

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!