【Article by Chinese Language Center】

As Lunar New Year approaches, university application season for international students is about to begin. To help prospective foreign students prepare their applications for study in Taiwan, NCCU Huayu BEST Program Office hosted a special seminar on January 27th, featuring Gianni Kumar, a British student currently enrolled in the International College of Innovation (ICI) and an outstanding graduate of the Chinese Language Center. Gianni shared his journey and practical experiences transitioning from a Chinese language student to a full-time undergraduate in Taiwan.

Gianni originally planned to double-major in Chinese and Spanish at the University of Leeds in the UK. However, considering that most language programs in Britain only offered exchange opportunities to mainland China, and given his own aspirations toward Taiwanese society, he ultimately chose to attend Leeds while coming to Taiwan through a partnership program to study at NCCU Chinese Language Center. Gianni recalls that he first came to Taiwan in 2021 during the pandemic, originally planning to stay for just one year to learn Chinese. When he first walked into a convenience store alone and heard unfamiliar terms like “統編” (tǒngbiān, company tax ID), “載具” (zàijù, e-invoice carrier), and “悠遊卡” (yōuyóukǎ, EasyCard), he felt nervous and overwhelmed. However, the store clerk not only patiently explained everything but also proactively recommended local tourist attractions. The clerk's kindness left him with a profound sense of Taiwan's friendly and welcoming society. This moving experience sparked the idea of staying in Taiwan long-term after just one week in the country. After returning home, he resolutely left his homeland once again to pursue higher education in Taiwan.

Regarding his language learning background, Gianni began studying Mandarin in middle school, initially just hoping to achieve basic communication skills. However, as his understanding of Taiwan's language, culture, and society deepened, he developed an increasingly strong interest in Mandarin and began self-studying zhuyin (注音符號 / ㄅㄆㄇㄈ) and traditional characters. He notes that although he initially learned simplified characters, switching to traditional characters actually helped him better grasp stroke structure and tones, establishing a solid foundation for his subsequent language progress.

During his time at the Chinese Language Center, Gianni began auditing courses in the Korean Department and the International College of Innovation to determine whether he was suited for long-term study in Taiwan and to get accustomed to the pace of Taiwan's universities. He admits that balancing regular Mandarin classes while auditing university courses made his daily schedule quite packed, so he needed more time to adapt initially. However, he gradually discovered that this intensive exposure to Mandarin allowed him to rapidly build a solid language foundation in a short time. “At first it felt really challenging,” Gianni says, “but when I look back at how far I've come, the progress has been remarkable.”

Finally, drawing from his own experience, Gianni encourages Chinese language students considering studying in Taiwan that university courses in Taiwan tend to be more intensive with a faster pace. Precisely because of this, students often experience rapid growth in language ability, academic training, and self-management. He notes that, compared to the UK’s, Taiwan's university environment is challenging, because it offers greater flexibility and freedom in course selection and learning arrangements, allowing international students to adjust their learning pace according to their own goals and abilities. He also suggests that prospective students can consider auditing classes, understanding the requirements of departments and graduation thresholds, or consulting with peers who have relevant application experience before formally applying. This way, students can find the most suitable academic path for themselves.