Program Overview

Introduction to the Middlebury School in Taiwan

National Sun Yat-sen University (NSYSU) has established the "Middlebury School in Taiwan" in partnership with Middlebury College in the United States. This program offers a 15-week immersive Chinese language learning experience.

Program Details

The first cohort of four students arrived in Taiwan to embark on this program, which includes two mandatory feature courses: "Wandering in Kaohsiung" for local cultural exchange and "One-on-One Independent Study." Students can also choose elective courses in "Business Chinese" or "Cross-Strait Relations." NSYSU has arranged for Taiwanese roommates to create an environment for continuous Chinese practice.

Course Offerings

• Mandatory courses:
  • "Wandering in Kaohsiung" for local cultural exchange
  • "One-on-One Independent Study"
• Elective courses:
  • "Business Chinese"
  • "Cross-Strait Relations"

Student Experience

Students have significantly improved their language proficiency, from struggling to understand at first to presenting their final reports entirely in Chinese by the end of the term. They have also utilized their spare time to explore various parts of Taiwan, experiencing its rich and diverse culture.

Independent Study Topics

Through the exclusive one-on-one independent study feature course, students chose topics of interest for in-depth study, including:

• Taiwanese women's literature
• U.S. policy toward China
• The development of transgender rights in Taiwan
• The impact of the Belt and Road Initiative on South Asia

Cultural Exchange and Exploration

In the mandatory "Wandering in Kaohsiung" cultural exchange and exploration component, students gained in-depth knowledge of Kaohsiung's history and culture, visiting famous landmarks such as the Pier-2 Art Center, Sanfeng Temple, and Fo Guang Shan.

Student Testimonials

• Zinzi Steele mentioned that her independent study topic was Taiwanese women's literature, which helped her gain insights into Taiwanese literature and culture.
• Charlotte Roberts noted that the Cross-Strait Relations course helped her understand the complexities and discover the diverse perspectives of Taiwanese people.
• Lucy Patton found the Cross-Strait Relations course highly relevant to her independent study topic on U.S. policy toward China.

Program Outcomes

The Office of International Affairs at NSYSU noted that this first group of students gained a multifaceted understanding of Taiwan through academics, daily life, cultural exchanges, and travel. Immersed in a fully Chinese learning environment, they not only improved their language proficiency but also enriched their cultural literacy, achieving significant results.