I’m bound for Taipei this summer, and want to study Mandarin. I’m more interested in conversational and business Chinese at this point. I’m arriving mid May and leaving mid August. I don’t have a lot of money to burn, so CLD seems like my best bet bet in terms of being able to spend maximum time studying, and spending as little as possible.
Is anyone else studying there? What is it like? Are the classes good?
My research, here and elsewhere, suggests I can get one visa extension by being enrolled in ICLP. True?
Any other schools to suggest? Does anyone think ICLP is worth the additional $90,000?
A bit about me:
I was an English teacher in Taipei for a year and a half. I learned my Chinese in bars and clubs, and from friends. I never bothered to learn to read. Upon returning home, I took university level Chinese for four months to get a handle on the characters. I’m still in the process of that. I have about 400 under my belt, and would like that to be 800-1000 upon leaving. I speak at a upper beginner level.
trep- Do you mean the NTU CLD program? I’m there now. Program seems pretty good. The placement testing program seems to be very accurate. My first teacher was excellent, second one is merely OK. Class two hours a day during the week, about 50 words at a time.
As for Visas, any of the MOE’s sanctioned schools can grant you the paperwork for visas and visa extensions if you are admitted. At NTU both CLD and ICLP can do that for you.
If you want to focus exclusively on reading and writing, maybe TLI or Shi-Da would work better for you?
I have been studying in NTU CLD for 3 semesters now.
I just would like to say that without all your flawless advice,
I maybe in a different school right now.
For more advice from your fellow NTU CLD students,
or if you want to check out what is going on on the in’s and out’s in Taiwan for
foreigners, we do have a Facebook group that could help make your decision or
stay in Taiwan awesome! Please join us if you ever decide to choose NTU CLD.
Thank you!
