The Ultimate Super-Whopping-Mega Guide to Learning Chinese in Taiwan

Having previously written a lengthy post titled The Ultimate Guide to Learning Mandarin Chinese in China, I felt it was time to create something similar for Taiwan.

This post answers a lot of questions you might have about learning Mandarin in Taiwan, so make use of the hyperlinks below.

Where is the Best Place to Learn Chinese?
Reasons you Should Learn Chinese in Taiwan
Where Can I study Chinese in Taiwan?
– Language Centres in Taiwan
– University Language Courses in Taiwan
Can I Learn Chinese in Taiwan for Free?
Learning Chinese in Taiwan FAQs
Mandarin Learning Resources

Where is the Best Place to Learn Chinese?

If you’re learning Mandarin Chinese and you want an immersive experience, Taiwan could be the perfect place to go. However, it would be irresponsible of me not to point out the following:

The best place to learn Mandarin is where you are right now.

You have to spend a lot of time reading, watching, listening, and studying Mandarin to reach a high level, and you can complete these activities wherever you are in the world. You don’t have to live in a Mandarin speaking country to learn Mandarin Chinese.

Language learning is about your attitude, not your location.

Too many people believe the only thing coming between them and their goals for fluency is simply being present in the country where their target language is spoken. It’s not true. I know people who have lived in China for 10+ years and they can’t speak a lick of Mandarin.

Having said that…

Tenaciously learning Mandarin and living in a Mandarin speaking country can be a very powerful combination.

When learning Mandarin, people often speak of the benefits of immersion:

Endless opportunities to speak, listen, and read Mandarin.
Opportunities to learn about Chinese culture.
In-person language exchange and tutoring opportunities are plentiful.
You can have an incredibly interesting experience!

Reasons you Should Learn Mandarin in Taiwan

Taiwan is accessible – Taiwan is open to language students and student visas are currently available. Visa free travel is available to nationalities from all over the world, a list of which you can find here.
In-person classes are available – Both university language courses and private language centres are offering in-person classes throughout Taiwan.
Taiwan is awesome – Taiwan is a beautiful island with so much to offer. Friendly people, beautiful scenery, great food, and all of it can be accessed by high quality and reasonably priced transport links. Taiwan has also done an excellent job of preserving it’s historical culture.

Where Can I Study Chinese in Taiwan?

There are a number of different cities and institutions where you can learn Mandarin in Taiwan.

Taiwan has both university language courses and private language centres available, but be warned that distinguishing between the two can be a little confusing sometimes. Many universities in Taiwan have private language schools attached to them.

The main differences between a university language course and private language centre course in Taiwan are costs and scheduling.

Language centres tend to cost more but you have more customisation options with your study program.
University language programs are in centres attached to universities and follow a semester schedule. They will be cheaper, but class sizes will be larger and leaning methods might be more ‘old school’. There is wider choice when it comes to university language courses compared to independent Chinese language centres.

Things to keep in mind when choosing a specific location in Taiwan are:

Costs – living costs in Taipei will be considerably higher than anywhere else on the island, especially for rent.
School options – The trade-off for the high cost of living in Taipei is it’s home to the widest choice of good Mandarin schools.
Climate – For a small island, Taiwan has a lot of different micro-climates. The north is on average a few degrees cooler than the south, and Taichung has more sunny days than any other city on the island. Read more about the climate of Taiwan here.

Taiwan is a very diverse island with Mandarin schools in most larger cities. Map courtesy of worldmaps.com

Language Centres in Taiwan

Below you’ll find information regarding the most popular private language centres across Taiwan. As expected, there is a higher concentration of renowned language centres in the capital – Taipei. However, there are still options in other cities.

When it comes to studying Mandarin at a private Chinese language centre in Taiwan, keep in mind the following:

Private language centre courses tend to be more expensive than university languages courses
Private language centres don’t usually offer a student visa – the average course length at language centres tends to be shorter.
Private language courses tend to be more customisable than university courses – you can have 1-on-1, small groups, intensive classes, etc.

Taiwan Mandarin Institute

Located in central Taipei, the Taiwan Mandarin Institute is probably the most renowned Mandarin teaching school in the city. Plenty of foreign students have come through the doors over the years and many of them speak very highly of their learning experience.

Cost: NT$ 15,600 for two weeks (intensive 4 hours per day small group classes)
Student Visa: No
Accommodation: Yes
Location: Taipei – Google Maps
Website

Taipei Language Institute

The Taipei Language Institute has branches in four different Taiwanese cities: Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung and Shilin. Custom classes are available and prices for classes fluctuate depending on which campus you decide to study in.

Cost:
Student Visa: No
Accommodation: No
Location: Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung, Shilin.
Website

Globe Mandarin

Also located centrally in Taipei, Globe Mandarin is only a few minutes walk away from the Taiwan Mandarin Institute and the Taipower Building metro station in Da’an district.

Cost: NT$22,000 for two weeks (intensive 4 hours per day small group classes)
Student Visa: No
Accommodation: Unavailable
Location: Taipei – Google Maps
Website

Pioneer Language Institute

Probably the most budget friendly language school on this list, Pioneer Language Institute offers standard small group classes (4 weeks/40 hours) for only NT$7,000. There are a range of other course customisation options at Pioneer, and the centre is conveniently located in downtown Taipei.

Cost: NT$7,000 for 40 hours of small group classes spread over 4 weeks.
Student Visa: No
Accommodation: Unavailable (helpful list of nearby options on their website)
Location: Taipei – Google Maps
Website

American Councils Intensive Summer Language Program

There are a few entry requirements to get on this course. It’s also incredibly expensive. Undergraduates, graduate students, recent graduates, and working professionals who have completed 1-3 years of university-level Chinese or the equivalent are eligible. As the name implies, this course takes place in the summer months between June and August.

Cost: 8,239 US Dollars for 8 week course
Student Visa: Unavailable
Accommodation: Unavailable
Location: Tainan – Google Maps
Website

University Language Courses in Taiwan

National Taiwan University Library, Taipei

As mentioned earlier, there are many university language courses available in Taiwan. If you decide to go with a university language course, you’re going to have a wider choice of Taiwanese cities to study in.

Although not all university language courses are created equally, course content tends to be quite similar across the board.

Class schedule – usually around 3 hours of classes daily from Monday to Friday.
Semester schedule – most university language courses run in 10-12 week blocks. If you were to study for a full academic year, you’d be learning for 12 weeks at time with a short breaks in between.
Cost – fees will be much cheaper than private language schools, but your class sizes are likely to be larger. Your studies may also have a more ‘academic’ feel to them with textbooks, regular class dictation, graded homework, etc.

National Taiwan University (International Chinese Language Program)

The most popular and well-regarded university language program attached to the highest ranking university in Taiwan. This place attracts a huge number of international students who take part in the semester Chinese courses.

Schedule: 3 group classes + 1 individual class per day (1 class = 50 minutes) Monday to Friday.
Cost: 1 semester (11 weeks) – NT$141,000
Location: Taipei – Google Maps
Website

National Taiwan Normal University (Mandarin Training Centre)

This course might not be quite as highly-regarded as the one at National Taiwan University, but it’s fairly similar in structure and more budget friendly. Group classes will most likely have more students in them than at NTU. 1-on-1 tutoring isn’t included in the fees here, although you can pay extra for individual classes.

Schedule: 3 group classes daily (1 class = 50 minutes) Monday to Friday.
Cost: 12 week semester (6-10 students) – NT$36,000
12 week semester (13-20 students) – NT$28,800
Location: Taipei – Google Maps
Website

National Cheng Kung University (Chinese Language Centre)

National Cheng Kung University is in the smaller city of Tainan. It probably has the most well-respected university language course of any university outside of Taipei. The city of Tainan offers a more immersive experience for learning Mandarin as there are fewer foreigners there and fewer English speakers in general.

Schedule: 3 group classes (6-12 students) daily Monday to Friday.
Cost: 11 week semester group classes – NT$32,000
11 week semester 1-on-1 classes – NT$78,000
Location: Tainan – Google Maps
Website

National Sun Yat-Sen University (Chinese Language Centre)

One of two university language centres in the southern city of Kaohsiung (the other is Wenzao Ursuline University of Foreign Languages). The Course at Sun-Yat Sen is rumoured to be more organised and slightly more intense, making it a great option for really serious learners.

Schedule: 3 group classes 15 hours a week (part-time classes available)
Cost: 11 week semester group classes – NT$29,700
Location: Kaohsiung – Google Maps
Website

National Taichung University of Education (Chinese Language Centre)

If you’re looking for a fairer climate, Taichung has the best weather out of any other city in Taiwan. It’s located half-way down the western coast of Taiwan between Taipei and Kaohsiung. If you’re looking for cheaper prices with a fairly big city feel, you should consider Taichung.

Schedule: 3 group classes (5-14) students daily Monday to Friday.
Cost: 11 week seasonal block of classes (180 hours/3 months) – NT$25,200
Location: Taichung – Google Maps
Website

Can I Study Chinese in Taiwan for Free?

A wise person once said that nothing comes for free, but that person had never read my blog post Learn Chinese for FREE | Free Apps, Sites, Courses, and Media!

You don’t need to pay to study at a language centre or university in Taiwan to improve your Mandarin. Enrolling in a Mandarin language institution certainly isn’t going to hurt your progress in the language, but it isn’t essential.

One of the other plus points to being in Taiwan is that you have countless opportunities for language exchange, which if done correctly, is completely free. If you want to know how to get the most out of a language exchange, check out Language Exchange: The Pros and Cons of a Language Partner .

FAQs

Is Taiwan a good place to study Mandarin?

If you’re looking for an immersive learning experience then Taiwan is the place to go. There are so many learning institutions to choose from, the island is very easy to navigate, and Taiwanese people are incredibly warm and friendly.

How much does it cost to study Mandarin in Taiwan?

The cost of your studies in Taiwan will depend largely on the institution you’re studying with and the city you’re living in. The cheapest semester university course can be around NT$25,000 for a 10-12 week block of daily classes. Any private language school will cost a lot more than this. You can check out a cost of living guide for Taiwan here.

Can I study in Taiwan without knowing Mandarin?

Yes. There are so many language programs and courses directed towards newbies to Mandarin Chinese. Don’t be worried about your day-to-day life in Taiwan as a non-Mandarin speaker – the standard of English is really good in Taiwan. You’ll probably find a lot of locals wanting to practice their English with you.

Do they use traditional or simplified characters in Taiwan?

Taiwan uses traditional characters. Some university language courses offer study materials with simplified characters, but not all. For more details on the differences between simplified and traditional characters, check out Simplified and Traditional Chinese Characters | Which Should I Learn?

Mandarin Learning Resources

You don’t have to be in Taiwan to learn Mandarin, and even if you are, many of the resources listed below can help learn Mandarin independently from any location.

If you’re looking for more Mandarin learning tips and resource reviews, check out the search function on the home page or check out some of the following posts.

再见！