On December 2, 2022, the Hunter College Chinese program held a symposium for The Taiwan Huayu BEST Program, entitled: “Life-Changing Study Abroad Opportunities for Your Students to Learn Mandarin Chinese in Taiwan”. This virtual symposium was sponsored by the Chinese Program and the Education Abroad Office at Hunter College, and by TECO New York, for the purpose of introducing the BEST program to U.S. institutions interested in joining. The symposium also showcased the You Hua Yu BEST program partnerships between many American institutions and their Taiwan counterparts. Hunter College of New York City is a new member of the BEST program, and is proud to partner with Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages of Kaohsiung, Taiwan. 

The symposium featured four panel discussions by study abroad directors and administrators, students participating in the program, and BEST program teachers.

Panel 1 - Relaunching Study Abroad for Students

The directors of the study-abroad offices at Hunter College, Juniata College, and the College of New Jersey (CNJ) each gave presentations on the challenges in restarting study abroad at their schools, including reestablishing their presence on campus and increasing the number of students studying abroad; risk management and managing mental and physical health while abroad; supporting economically disadvantaged students; and looking for new ways to expand faculty/staff collaboration with their Taiwanese partner schools. They talked about how student interest in studying Chinese in Taiwan has dramatically increased at their colleges.

Sarah Craver Director of Education Abroad Hunter College

Jamie Weaver Director of Education Abroad Juniata College

Christina Olson Executive Director The Center of Global Engagement The College of New Jersey

Panel 2 - Experiences of Studying Abroad in Taiwan by Huayu BEST Student Alumni

Four U.S. students from Hunter, Juniata, and CNJ shared their experience studying in Taiwan supported by Huayu scholarships. The students talked about their classes overseas, their positive interactions with Taiwanese people, their favorite foods, the places they visited, and the most rewarding aspects of their time in Taiwan. They also offered tips for future students: to challenge themselves to “be bold” and push beyond their comfort zones to experience as much as possible; to be open-minded; and to create a supportive community with other students and program staff while abroad.

Wesley Eaton Class of 2025 International Business and East Asian History Juniata College

Catalina Bedoya Class of 2024 Computer Science and Chinese Hunter College

Jason Rosen Class of 2022 Mechanical Engineering The College of New Jersey

Panel 3 - Language Program Preparing Students for Studying Abroad

College professors from CNJ and Hunter College discussed details on how to prepare their college students for study in Taiwan. The professors recommended that U.S. schools teach traditional characters and differences in vocabulary, and familiarize students with Taiwanese culture, etiquette, and laws. U.S. schools also need to determine course equivalencies between the partner schools so that students can earn the credits they need while abroad, and are ready to take next-level courses when they return to their home institutions.

Celia Liu Academic Director of Chinese Studies The College of New Jersey

Der-lin Chao Director and Professor Hunter College

Panel 4 - Teaching Chinese at the Huayu Best Institutions in the U.S.

Two exchange teachers from Taiwan currently teaching Mandarin in American institutions talked about how much they have learned in teaching different styles of classes – large, small, and individual tutoring – and about the workshops and conferences they were able to attend to enhance their professional development. They emphasized the importance of introducing cross-cultural understanding to their students. They designed and held very creative and engaging cultural events for their students to introduce them to Taiwan, such as a Tea Culture Experience, Mandarin Table, Night Market, Painting Opera Masks, and Chinese Bamboo Painting. They also held information sessions for their U.S. students on the study-abroad opportunities provided by Huayu scholarships.

Ya-Hui Weng Instructor The College of New Jersey

Ying-Jung Lai Instructor Hunter College

The symposium attendees came from 26 educational institutions across the United States. Ten institutions were from the TECO New York region. All participants attending the symposium expressed interests in either joining or continuing the You Hua Yu BEST program.

We hope that the symposium helped to inspire teachers, students, and administrators to reexamine the value of studying abroad as they prepare to restart their overseas study programs after a three-year pandemic-induced break. To conclude, this event showcased the importance of U.S.-Taiwan educational exchanges, and the benefits of international collaborations in cultivating future global leaders.

Click here to view the event flyer and agenda.