Set on the campus of National Taiwan University in the heart of Taipei, Chinese Gap Year (CGY) in Taipei is a 3, 6, or 9-month gap year experience for pre-university students who want to rapidly improve their Chinese, immerse themselves in local culture and society, and experience the freedom to grow and make friends.
The program features:
- An intensive and immersive Mandarin Chinese language and culture program.
- Housing option that balances safety and support with independent living.
- Social and cultural immersion on campus, in the city, and around Taiwan. Personalized attention and around-the-clock support and resources.
- A CGY teacher and staff-to-student ratio of 1:2.5 or lower. Weekly, monthly, and quarterly activities and excursions.
- A safe and friendly environment for living and learning. A memorable and meaningful gap year experience!
Learn more about how students will Learn, Live, and Grow right here in Taipei!
Learn
Founded in 1962 to train and develop the oral discursive ability of America's academic elite, ICLP has provided instruction over the past half-century to hundreds of students who now serve in academia and government. Following these instructional practices, CGY students will have three to four hours of Chinese language and culture classes (including daily one-on-one instruction) plus about three to four hours of daily homework. An instructor will also hold weekly evening office hours.
In addition, students will be paired with a language partner, who is a current National Taiwan University undergraduate student. Beyond that, since the classroom space is a Chinese-only area, students will have many opportunities to engage in Chinese with program staff and classmates. And since Mandarin Chinese is spoken by Taiwan's 23 million residents, every interaction provides students an opportunity to strengthen their skills and accelerate their progress.
Live
CGY is much more than an academic experience. It is also a living experience, and creating a sense of community among students, teachers, and program staff is important to us. With program enrollment limited to 30 students, the teacher/staff-to-student ratio of 1:2.5 or lower ensures that all students will receive individualized attention.
As a group, we'll host weekly social and cultural events, plus weekend trips within Taipei and around Taiwan. In addition, students will participate in a once-per-quarter multi-day trip that will allow them to deepen their understanding of Taiwanese culture and society.
Taiwan is “The Heart of Asia”, and as Taiwan's capital city, Taipei is a wonderful place to call home. In fact, it is often listed among the best city in the world for expats because of its safety and affordability, great public transportation and healthcare systems, and friendly and accommodating local residents.
Students will be able to explore mountains and beaches, temples and night markets, aboriginal culture and cutting-edge technology. And through it all, they will be forming lifelong friendships and engaging in Chinese.
Just a few of the benefits of life in Taipei:
- Get to the mountains in less than 20 minutes on Taipei's world-class subway system.
- Enjoy the sunshine and make the most of the heat (yes, Taiwan can get pretty hot!) by taking an hour's train ride to Fulong's beautiful beaches.
- Or stay in the city, exploring temples and enjoying the many tasty snacks in Taipei's numerous night markets.
- Visit every corner of the city on Taipei's extensive and convenient bike-sharing system.
- Raining? This may be the home of bubble tea, but Taipei also has an amazing coffee shop culture. Hunker down in one of Taipei's countless independent coffee houses and chat with friends, do some journaling, or of course study Chinese!
CGY students have the option of living in the Taipei Paradise apartment building on the edge of campus or other options that are also used by ICLP students, and students can also find their own housing.
No matter where students live, while they are on campus, they will be able to take advantage of NTU facilities, including access to the largest library in Taiwan, the university’s fitness and health centers, and multiple on-campus cafeterias and restaurants. Perhaps most importantly, students will have the ability to join NTU student groups and make friends with Taiwanese students.
Grow
CGY in Taipei will be an opportunity for students to learn a language, explore a different part of the world, and discover more about themselves.
We recognize that this is a special and important time in our students' lives, and we take seriously their safety, health, and wellbeing while here. Students will strengthen their independence and be even more prepared to succeed in college, and while they will be expected to be responsible and proactive, they should also know that the CGY community will provide the support they need to have success.
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