Student Profiles
Program alumni are the best resources for students interested in going abroad, and they are available to answer your questions. If you would like to talk to a recent student about their experience in Kaohsiung, get in touch with the advisor, Bill Mayers.
Aren Lau, Middlebury College
My semester (fall) in sunny, tropical, culturally-rich Kaohsiung, Taiwan, was without a doubt one of the best times of my life. Not only were classes enriching and professors attentive enough to cater to all language skill levels, but things like class field trips around the city and even off of the island broadened my view of both Taiwan, the Sinosphere, and the world. We also developed close, friendly relationships with professors and each other which have lasted to this day. I spent my free time going to the beach right down the hill on campus, venturing into the city for delicious food, visiting local temples, chatting with locals, and hiding snacks from cute but mischievous monkeys with my friends. Because Taiwan is situated right on the crest of Southeast Asia, travel destinations outside the island are also abundant — personally, two friends and I spent our October break in Thailand. Throughout the semester, others went to Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Cambodia! Taiwan may be an underexplored Middlebury abroad destination, but by no means is it underwhelming!
Charlie Fisch, Middlebury College
My semester in Taiwan was one of immense joy and enormous growth. I made wonderful friends who explored Kaohsiung’s many culinary offerings with me, and got to experience much of Taiwan’s beautiful natural landscape and welcoming people. At NSYSU, I challenged myself by taking a Chinese non-fiction literature class for native speakers, which improved my Chinese reading comprehension and comfort with fast-paced classes. In my one-on-one, I also began research on martial law and transitional justice in Taiwan, which has since developed into a senior thesis on transitional justice in the Asia-Pacific.
During my time there, I felt very integrated into Taiwanese society and used this comfort to explore the island. Taiwan has so much to offer, from the art scene in Kaohsiung to vintage stores and nightlife in Taipei to beautiful beaches and hiking trails in Pingtung and Hualien. I got to know the island extremely well, and being able to use my language skills to make connections wherever I went was incredibly special. The program’s small size and the island’s atmosphere made it feel homey, and I hope to find time to return to Taiwan soon!
Nadji Ngbokoli, Middlebury College
I often describe my time in Taiwan as a harmonious mixture between independence and immersion. Through forcing myself to step out of my comfort zone, what began as a normal study abroad experience, expanded into a much broader opportunity to explore a new setting and a new way to navigate the world.
The Middlebury program’s academic structure, coupled with the many cultural activities we experienced as a cohort, deepened my understanding of Taiwanese culture and allowed me to apply my knowledge to meaningful contexts. Intimate class sizes, engaging discussions, and frequent individual presentations expanded my capabilities and gave me a greater confidence with the language than I ever had before. Moreover, outside the classroom, our trips to Sun Moon Lake, the Alishan Mountain tea fields, and Meinong District instilled in me a yearning to learn more about the culture.
Outside of academics and class trips, I spent over a week biking up the island’s east coast. There was much uncertainty going into it– where to stay, what to do, how to do it– but it ended up being the highlight of my semester. I rode for hours each day, stopping in small towns, staying in hostels, and never shying away from an impromptu adventure with the many friendly locals I met along the way. I hiked to a mountain top with my hostel hosts in Taitung, rode my bike with a “tour guide” through the rice fields of Chishang, and swam in a little-known swimming hole with a motorcyclist in Hualien. And when I lost phone service in the rural Luye township, an elderly gentleman didn’t hesitate to give me directions to my destination in the next town over. All of this goes to show how welcoming the people are!
I mention all of these excursions, but one doesn’t even have to leave Kaohsiung or the surrounding NSYSU area to have a fruitful experience. Students can spend a day on the campus’ beach surfing, visit the plethora of night markets nearby, or spend an infinite amount of time meandering through Kaohsiung’s art district. And if you’re brave enough, you could try and eat a sandwich on the mountain trails behind the dorms before the monkeys get to it first!
Ultimately, the program in Taiwan challenged me, welcomed me, and reshaped how I approach new environments, and I think future students will feel the same way.
Devansh Dutta, Williams College
My four months at Middlebury’s program in Kaohsiung have been invaluable in enhancing my Chinese language comprehension. I took several engaging classes that provided insights into a wide range of topics, including the culture and history of Kaohsiung, as well as the political complexities of cross-strait relations. One of the highlights was my one-on-one class, where I explored a topic of personal interest: economic relationships across China, Taiwan and South Asia.
Outside of the classroom, we were all paired with a local roommate and spoke exclusively in Chinese, which helped me develop a deeper understanding of the language in everyday, casual settings. The program also offered the opportunity to explore Kaohsiung and Taiwan. All of us in the program made the most of the city’s cultural and historical abundance; we also frequently took weekend trips to nearby cities. During our spring break, I set off on a solo bike trip from Kaohsiung to Taipei, exploring towns and landscapes along Taiwan’s west coast and engaging with locals along the way.
The program provided a truly immersive experience and is an incredible opportunity to strengthen one’s Chinese skills
Marcus Helm, Middlebury College
My time in Kaohsiung is certainly something I’ll never forget. I made so many great friends and experienced so much of the culture in a town that feels very genuine and true to itself. Academically, learning traditional Chinese characters is a challenge that I think is worthwhile for anyone studying this language, and helped me take a deeper dive into things like Classical Chinese and literature. In addition, the Taiwanese accent of Chinese is incredibly unique, and is something I really missed when I left Taiwan.
The NSYSU campus is located right on the beach and has breathtakingly beautiful scenery. Also, the MRT (metro), light rail, and system of public bikes make travelling around the city super easy, whether to find food to eat or to see a new museum. The local tea culture is something I also really appreciated, as while Taiwan grows world class tea leaves and has a lot of tea traditions worth learning about, bubble tea is a modern take on this heritage that I also really enjoyed. I feel lucky I got to experience Middlebury in Taiwan, and hope that one day I’ll eventually be back!
Zinzi Steele, Middlebury College
Studying abroad in Kaohsiung was not only an amazing way to push my Chinese progress forward, but also was an incredible opportunity to explore a new country and part of the world. During my time in Kaohsiung, I was able to make great strides in my Chinese both in and out of the classroom. From rigorous and engaging Chinese classes, communicating with my roommate solely in Chinese, and immersing myself in the city and culture, my ability to communicate in Chinese improved daily.
Having the opportunity to explore Kaohsiung and the country of Taiwan was an experience I will never forget. Taiwan has such a diverse variety of places and terrains to travel to: big cities, vast mountain ranges, beautiful beaches, and more! I loved traveling to many different cities and towns all over Taiwan, and getting to bike, hike, swim, and explore in different cities and destinations outside of Kaohsiung. While I spent the bulk of my time in Taiwan, Kaohsiung also served as a great launching pad to travel relatively easily internationally. While abroad, I was able to travel to Seoul, Phuket, Tokyo, and Hanoi, all trips I feel very lucky to have taken and will never forget!
One of my favorite parts of my time abroad was joining a CrossFit gym in Kaohsiung. At the gym, I was fully immersed in a Chinese speaking environment. Being in this setting was so special, and I learned so much by taking the classes all in Chinese and was able to connect with a new demographic of people in Taiwan with a shared interest and find a community outside of school. If you choose to study at Middlebury in Taiwan, I highly encourage you to find a community in Kaohsiung beyond the program and university; it really will give you a stronger connection to the city and its people.
While linguistically and culturally challenging at times, studying in Kaohsiung was such a special experience, and students have great professors and leadership supporting them along the way. Looking back, my semester in Kaohsiung was the experience of a lifetime and will remain one of my most unique and amazing experiences
Lucy Patton, Middlebury College
The opportunity to study abroad in Kaohsiung, Taiwan was truly amazing. This program allowed me to advance my Chinese skills in so many different ways in such a short period of time. The opportunity to take classes entirely in Chinese was challenging but ultimately super rewarding. It’s an amazing feeling looking back and thinking about how much content I learned about Cross-Strait Relations, the culture of Kaohsiung and how business is conducted, entirely in Chinese.
In addition to my classes, I loved exploring a completely new place. The efficient public transportation system in Kaohsiung allowed me to explore so much of the city. My weekends were filled with trips around Taiwan, and I feel so lucky that I was able to experience the bustling city of Taipei, the scenic mountains of Alishan, the beautiful coastline of Taidong and so much more. I even had the opportunity to travel to many amazing places outside of Taiwan, such as Japan, Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The program staff and professors were super supportive throughout the entire semester, and because it was such a small program we were able to become so close in such a short period of time. Studying abroad through Middlebury’s program in Taiwan was such an amazing experience and I would recommend this program to anyone looking to practice their Chinese language skills, meet some amazing people, and explore a new place.
Rachel Peterson, Spelman College
My time in Kaohsiung with Middlebury was transformative, to say the least. Not only was I able to meet so many amazing people through the program, but I also gained a deeper understanding of Taiwanese culture and improved my fluency in the language. While challenging, the language pledge pushed my language abilities further than I thought possible in just 4 months. An aspect of the academic program I sincerely enjoyed was my One-on-One topic, where I explored similarities and differences between Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine. Exploring a topic of personal interest allowed me to create more meaningful connections with my professor there.
While the academics were stimulating, having the ability to relax by the beach or study at a cafe really amplified my time in Taiwan. The scenery is stunningly beautiful, and the open access to the ocean made all the hot days so much more enjoyable. I would spend some time studying by the beach, learning to body surf, and soaking up the sun. I also enjoyed exploring many late-night cafes around the city of Kaohsiung, which all had their own unique ambiance. Kaohsiung may not be the most bustling city, but there is something for everyone if you are willing to look for it. I recommend this program for anyone looking to deeply immerse themselves in Taiwanese culture and have a once-in-a-lifetime experience.