Connect with Former Fellows

大家好！My name is Inez Chuidian and I'm a sophomore in Davenport College. This summer, I spent two months at the Harvard Taipei Academy, where I earned my Advanced Language Certificate in Chinese. The program was challenging, but it was also an incredible opportunity to immerse myself in Taiwanese culture while greatly improving my Mandarin. I truly believe the best way to learn a language is by surrounding yourself with its unique foods, traditions, and practices! I'm more than happy to connect with students interested in applying for the Light Fellowship or studying abroad in Taipei!

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 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!

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.

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 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 everyone! My name is Max, and I spent this past summer in Taipei! From chatting with locals to hiking in Taiwan’s mountains to exploring the street markets, I not only improved my Chinese but also gained a rich understanding of Taiwanese culture through this experience. I’m extremely interested in how Taiwan’s linguistic diversity impacts its citizens’ senses of national identity, as well as how Taiwan’s blend of Daoist, Buddhist, and Confucian religious traditions impacts Taiwanese people’s view of the everyday world, and I hope to return soon to investigate these questions! If you have questions about studying abroad, please feel free to reach out!!

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!

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 :)

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!

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! 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!

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.

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!!

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!

Hello, lovely people! My name is Andy Tan—Davenport class of 2027—, and I studied abroad in Beijing, China, with CET Beijing. I was initially drawn to this program for its intensive curriculum, but upon my departure, I say my favorite experiences came from the activities I did and the people I met outside of the classroom. During my time in China, I visited many cities, including Beijing, Chengdu, Shanghai, Taishan, Guangzhou, and Qingdao. From late-night city walks to learning dance choreography on the side of the street while having random conversations with food vendors, I gained a deeper understanding and appreciation for Chinese culture. If you have questions about studying abroad as a first-generation student, as a Queer student, or about the experience in general, feel free to reach out! I can't wait to connect with you all!

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!

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 everyone! I'm Robin. I studied abroad in Beijing through the CET Beijing program in Summer 2025, placing into the highest level of Chinese. I’m majoring in Economics and pursuing an Advanced Chinese Language Certificate. During my time in Beijing, I had the privilege of competing in a speaking competition and participating in an economics forum hosted by Tsinghua University. Feel free to reach out if you'd like to hear more about navigating intensive language study, engaging academically in Beijing, or combining economics and language learning!

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!