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!

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!

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, 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!

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!

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!!

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.

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!

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.

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 :)

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!

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 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!

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! :)

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!

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, 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, 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!

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!

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!