Connect with Former Fellows

Hi! My name is Kevin, and I studied in mainland China with CET Beijing, where I had an amazing experience learning more about the language and culture. Apart from really improving my reading and writing skills and conversing with natives, I had a great time going on excursions to places like the Forbidden City and Chengdu (where I got to see famous pandas!) and having fun with other study abroad students! I'm really thankful to the Light Fellowship for allowing me to have an incredible experience, and I would love to talk with interested applicants about my time in China!

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 everyone! My name is Zander, and I studied intermediate Chinese (L3 & L4) at the Princeton in Beijing program. I had an awesome time biking around the city, eating amazing hotpot, and exploring Datong and Shanghai! If you have any questions about preparing for Light as an international student (especially regarding visas!) or any questions in general, please don’t hesitate to reach out! :)

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 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! 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 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!

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 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!

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.

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!!

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.

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 Addie, a senior in Hopper majoring in English and East Asian Studies. I spent this past summer (2025) in Taipei studying Mandarin at ICLP and had an amazing time. I particularly loved exploring different night markets, cafes, and art museums. My teachers at ICLP were amazing, and I'd be happy to answer any questions about the program or about studying abroad in Taipei.

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! 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! 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! 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!