One Of The Best Experiences Of My Life Past Review
By Chandler Crates (The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 07/14/2018 to 08/11/2018 with
American Councils (ACTR): Tradition and Modernity in Taiwan (TMT)
This was my first time studying abroad without knowing anyone traveling with me beforehand, and was my first time traveling alone internationally. This forced me outside of my comfort zone, and over the course of the program I gradually felt more confident in my speaking abilities. By the end of the program, I did not hesitate to approach local speakers and start conversations. Additionally, the program's coursework provided me with a rich understanding of Taiwan's politics, history, and society, and I feel as though I have retained most of the information I learned nearly four months later.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
This program included coursework in Taiwan's politics, history, culture, and contemporary issues. The professors and course material were incredibly engaging, and assigned readings adequately supplemented course material while still allowing for free time to explore Taiwan's rich cultural scene. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Scott Osdras, the American Councils' representative overseeing the program in Taiwan, is incredibly kind and easy to talk to. One day during the program I was not feeling well, and Scott did not hesitate to accompany me to the hospital and afterwards checked in on my recovery. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I loved my roommate! The American Councils did a wonderful job matching us together, and I enjoyed getting to talk and hang out with her during the program. We lived in a beautiful international student dorm within walking distance from all of our classes. |
| * Food: |
I am a vegetarian, and had no problem finding delicious vegetarian food on campus. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Outside of class, I frequently explored the Taipei community and conversed with local people. One of my favorite experiences through this program was traveling to Yilan aboriginal village. While in Yilan, we hiked through beautiful mountains while learning about the aboriginal peoples' way of life. That night, a few of my friends and I sat down with a local family and conversed in both English and Chinese, discussing the popular cultures of both Taiwan and America, and eventually teaching one another dances; we taught them how to do the cupid shuffle while they taught us a local dance. We laughed, talked, and listened to music for hours and it is a night that I will never forget. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
The hospitals in Taiwan are extremely clean and efficient, and many are within driving distance of National Chengshi University. The program staff was sensitive to health related issues, and accompanied me to the hospital to overcome language barriers and assure that I was okay. |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
The Tradition and Modernity in Taiwan Program provided me with invaluable memories, lifelong friendships, and a rich academic and cultural understanding of Taiwan. Some of my favorite memories include visiting Taipei 101, the National Palace Museum, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Tzu Chi Recycling Center, and Yilan aboriginal village. I am incredibly grateful for the time I spent abroad in Taiwan this summer, and given the opportunity, would not hesitate to participate in this program again . |
Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $100 (US currency) |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
In addition to program coursework, we received daily language instruction centered around practical language application. During class, we conversed with classmates in Chinese and our instructor gave us assignments that encouraged us to go out into the community and converse with local speakers. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Intermediate |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Accelerated Second Year Chinese at the University of Texas at Austin |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Actively go out into the community! The best way to learn a language is to step outside of your comfort zone and place yourself in situations where you can converse with local speakers and apply your language skills in real world scenarios. The people in Taiwan are incredibly nice, and it means a lot when you make the effort to talk to them in Chinese rather than English. Don't be afraid to take risks; in my experiences it's the best way to rapidly improve your speaking abilities while simultaneously cultivating a sense of cultural understanding through connecting with someone who innately understands that culture. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Before going on this program, I wish I had been less afraid to travel independently into the Taipei community. I had several friends who did so, and they gained a lot from these experiences that forced them to be independent and converse with local speakers. Towards the end of the program, when I felt more confident in my speaking abilities, I decided to take some time to explore Taipei independently, and I now cherish the memory of these moments. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
