CHIN 25
Taiwan Study Tour Winter 2024

Interested in learning first-hand about Taiwanese culture and becoming acquainted with what has been called the “Taiwan (economic and political) miracle”? Want to improve your knowledge of Mandarin, the language with the largest number of native speakers in the world? Then join us on this 24-day study tour to Taiwan. We’ll spend the first two and one-half weeks in Taipei, the capital city, where 3 hours of Mandarin language classes at levels from beginning to advanced will be scheduled each morning at the Language Center of National Chengchi University. After class we’ll meet as a group for lunch and discussion. Visits to cultural, economic, and political/diplomatic sites of interest and activities with students from several Taiwanese universities will be scheduled for some afternoons and Saturdays, with other afternoons as well as evenings and Sundays free for self-study and individual exploration. During the last week, we’ll travel to central and southern Taiwan, staying at small hotels and youth hostels. Two orientation sessions will be conducted on campus in the fall to help participants prepare for their experience. Requirements include background readings in English on Taiwanese history, culture, and society; satisfactory preparation for and performance in the language classes; active participation in all scheduled activities; and the writing of a 10-page paper on a topic related to Taiwan that also incorporates your experiences and reflections. Scheduled activities will come to about 30 hours per week, with 15 hours per week spent in the classroom during the first 2 weeks. There will be 3-4 mandatory field trips each week to sites of interest.