Written by Max Fischer (Carleton College), Student Correspondent for CET Taiwan, Fall 2025
Welcome to Taiwan!
Although it has only been a couple of weeks so far, studying abroad in Taipei has been an incredible experience! Now that I am here, it is hard to imagine that I could have picked any other place or program. However, picking the right study abroad program can be a difficult decision, so I want to talk about some of the factors that went into my decision to choose CET Taiwan.
Mandarin!
The biggest consideration that factored into my decision to study abroad was the ability to continue studying Mandarin. I have been learning Mandarin since high school. I started because I wanted to take on a challenging language that I knew little about. However, CET Taiwan offers the opportunity to really step up your language learning, allowing you to rigorously study Chinese both in and out of the classroom, while also having a great time!
Language classes are taken through the Chinese Language Division at National Taiwan University (aka 臺大), and Chinese classes are a lot different from how they are structured in the US. Classes are limited to 8 people, speaking skills take a more central role, and only Chinese is spoken from the start of class to the finish. It can seem a little intimidating at first, but the satisfaction that comes from putting the new language skills into practice outside of the classroom is unmatched.
Of course, there are also ample opportunities to work on your Chinese out and about around Taipei. You can practice your skills with local roommates, business owners, new friends you make, or with your language partners. Language partners are assigned at the beginning of the term, and each week CET will reimburse you for a meal or cultural activity with your partner!
Having a language partner from around Taipei is a great way to see incredible attractions and get to know the city better. Me and my language partner have already tried some local Taiwanese cuisine and visited the National Palace Museum. I was also super excited to get to know my local roommates! Not only are they super cool, but they are also great resources to learn more about Taipei, Taiwan, and Taiwanese culture. Our apartment has had a great time getting dinners together and discussing different memes/jokes in the US and in Taiwan.
Other electives!
Besides taking Chinese while I’m here in Taipei, I am also taking an elective class: Cross-Strait Relations Between Taiwan and China. Cross-strait relations are an important part of Taiwanese identity and culture, and I am excited to apply what I learn to both my general studies of political science and to my discussions with people around Taipei. As part of the class, we even have the opportunity to do a policy analysis! If politics isn’t your thing, there are also a range of programs from environmental health to indigenous studies and sinophone cinema. If you are looking to apply your skills into a Taiwanese work environment, you can even get an internship!
So Much More!
There are so many other reasons to come to Taiwan that I am only just beginning to explore. Taipei is complete with incredible food, beautiful scenery, exciting things to do, and a vibrant and unique culture. I have loved hiking Elephant Mountain and Yuanshan (圓山), and I highly recommend both of them! Ultimately, there is so much that I have yet to explore, and I am excited to document my adventures here!