Connect with Former Fellows

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!

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.