Language Learning in Taiwan

--By Rebekah Godfrey Translated by Irene Chiang

In the West, people talk about sports and the weather. In Taiwan, people talk about language. Learning more than one language has become a national obsession, and for good reason. Being bilingual gives you an edge. Being trilingual makes you the leader of the pack! But, since most of us don't have the time or energy to master three languages, we opt to learn two and hope we can achieve some degree of fluency. Both foreigners and Taiwanese are focused on language learning. Taiwan is home to some reputable Chinese language training institutions, and the number of foreign students coming to Taiwan for language study increases every year. Millions of Taiwanese are also giving up their free time to learn a second language; becoming bilingual is definitely en vogue. So where can you go to learn another language? You have plenty of options; read on.

Studying English
Cram schools, or bushibans, are popular venues to learn English. You can find a cram school in every city, almost on every corner, so choose one that suits you. Language centers like Global Village are also a top choice for older students. For a membership fee of over $20,000 for 12 months, you can take as many classes as you want, any time you want. Global Village has more than 50 locations island-wide, and offers Japanese courses as well.
Test-preparation centers are also scattered around the island, including UKEAS, a top-notch education and counseling service in Taiwan. For students who want to study abroad, UKEAS provides a comprehensive IELTS (International English Language Testing System) preparation program to prepare students for the IELTS test. But UKEAS is only one of many test centers in Taiwan that can help prepare you for tests like the TOEFL, GMAT, and TOEIC. Check any newspaper and you'll find plenty of advertisements for test centers.

Short on cash? You can learn English through a Language Exchange for free! Check out the popular websites, Forumosa.com or Heypersonals.com, to find a compatible language partner. Language exchanges work well if you can find someone who shares common interests and is willing to correct you when you make a mistake. Churches are also great places to practice your English. Many bilingual churches offer additional English activities throughout the week. On Friday nights in Taipei and Wednesday nights in Kaohsiung, students of all ages can attend Studio Classroom's weekly English Bible Study, and can interact with foreign teachers and native English speakers. Over 200 students attend the Taipei Bible study each week, which consists of music, drama, games and small group interaction.
And let's not forget the plethora of language-teaching magazines, television shows, radio programs, and Internet chat rooms. You can also listen to radio stations with English programming or watch Formosa Television (FTV) at 11 p.m. several nights a week to hear English news. The bottom line is that English learning opportunities are everywhere. Go find something that works for you!

Studying Chinese
Many foreigners come to Taiwan with the goal of learning Mandarin Chinese, a language spoken by over one billion people. Chinese is not an easy language; it's ranked as one of the four most time-intensive languages to learn. So, if you're serious about achieving fluency, taking time to study and speak the language must be a priority. Of course, the ideal option is full-time language study but, since most people don't have that luxury, they can opt to take part-time or hourly classes. For example, Survival Chinese classes are offered at the Community Center in Taipei several times a year. You can also try the Taipei Language Institute (TLI), which has four centers around Taiwan and offers group classes, one-on-one instruction, and online teaching. As a student of the TLI Kaohsiung branch, I was pleased with my Chinese teachers and have benefited from their custom-tailored approach. For the truly serious language student, a Chinese university is a good approach. At least 13 Chinese universities offer non-degree language and culture programs that are accredited by the R.O.C. Ministry of Education. For a complete list of these schools, click on the website link listed with this article. Most university classes have a small ratio of students per teacher, and these classes usually meet daily and provide plenty of group interaction.
You can even download free Chinese lessons on your iPod at www.chinesepod.com, so you can practice the language while doing other things! It's a multi-tasker's dream!

Studying Other Languages
So you want to learn a language like Turkish or Arabic? Take a class at National Chengchi University in Taipei. Or visit Sun Cafe in Taichung, which is staffed by foreign language teachers; at least seven foreign languages are taught at the school, including Japanese, Korean, Spanish, Italian, and French. If you really are serious about learning a language other than Chinese or English, your best bet would be Japanese, which is taught at most language centers and universities. Or go to Forumosa.com, heypersonals.com and see if you can find a language exchange in the language you want to pursue: whether it's German or Cantonese, someone is bound to speak it! And, of course, don't forget to check the Taiwan Fun classifieds for classes and other opportunities. If all else fails, turn to the omnipresent Internet---you can learn almost any language online, and some of the courses are free! So go ahead and learn Italian while living in Taiwan---why not?

Overseas Study Opportunities and Services
This month, two large education fairs will be held in Taiwan. The combined American and Canadian Education Expo (AEE/CEE) is a four-day overseas education exhibition that attracts over 10,000 attendees. The expo will be in Taipei at the World Trade Center on March 4-5, in Taichung at Fengchia University on March 6 and at the Kaohsiung Business Exhibition Center on March 7. AEE participants can also participate in a TESL Training Conference that is designed to bring overseas instructors and Taiwanese English teachers together in an academic-exchange environment. The American International Education Foundation (AIEF) has been hosting education recruitment fairs for over a decade. On March 18 and 19, the Taipei fair will be held at the Howard Plaza Hotel. On March 20, it will move to the Grand Hi Lai Hotel (Kaohsiung), and the Evergreen Laurel Hotel (Taichung) will host the fair on March 21. For education in the UK and information on upcoming fairs, check the UKEAS and British Council websites listed with this article.
So what are you waiting for? Get out there and become bilingual or trilingual! Taiwan is a great place to learn another language.