Connect with Former Fellows

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!

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 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!

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!

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!

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!

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

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.

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! 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 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!

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 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!

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! 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!!

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!

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.

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!