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Taiwan Language Schools

China Language Institute
Hsi-Chuan Language Center
Inter-University Program for Chinese Language Studies
Kuo Yu Jih Bao Language Institute
Mandarin Daily News Language Center
The Mandarin Training Center
National Cheng Kung University Chinese Language Center
Perfect Language Center
Pioneer Language Center
Taipei Language Center
YMCA Language School
Language Exchanges

Taiwan's better-known Mandarin Chinese schools are listed below.

China Language Institute

• One-on-one tutorial: NT$330/50 minutes
• Two students/class: NT$180/50 minutes
• Three students/class: NT$150/50 minutes

China Language Institute (and branches)
Lane 90, Number 4, 1st Floor
An Ho Road, Section 1
Taipei, Taiwan
(02) 708-7157

Hsi-Chuan Language Center

This school offers one-on-one Chinese language classes in all levels of proficiency. The cost is NT$6,000 for ten hours per week for eight weeks.

Hsi-Chuan Language Center
1 - 2 Wu Chung Street
Section 1, 4th Floor
Taipei, Taiwan
(02) 312-0632

Inter-University Program for Chinese Language Studies, Taipei

The Stanford Center is located at Tai Da, the National Taiwan University, and is considered the world's best Chinese language institute. It is very intensive and expensive. Interested graduate students should have at least one year of college-level Chinese.

Prospective applicants can apply through Stanford University:

Inter-University Program for Chinese Language Studies
300 Lasuen Street
Littlefield Center Basement
Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-5013
(415) 725-2575

Kuo Yu Jih Bao Language Institute

This school offers one-on-one instruction in Mandarin and several other languages.

Kuo Yu Jih Bao
Language Institute
Chung Shan Road
Tainan, Taiwan
(06) 2200-8701

Mandarin Daily News Language Center

As the name suggests, Mandarin Daily News is a newspaper publishing company; however, it also runs an excellent language school.

The school emphasizes proper pronunciation and applies the same methods used to teach Chinese youngsters to read and write. Some classes use Chinese grade-school texts.

Classes begin on the first day of each month, but registration begins a week earlier. Classes - especially smaller ones - fill up quickly. To register, bring 3 passport photos and money to cover any costs and the amount needed for tuition.

• One-on-one tutorial: NT$300/hour
• Two students/class: NT$180/hour
• Three to five students/class: NT$150/hour
• Six to nine students/class: NT$125/hour

Textbook costs are not included.

Mandarin Daily News Language Center
2 Fu Chow Street, 2nd Floor
Taipei, Taiwan
(02) 391-5134 or (02) 392-1133, ext. 1004

The Mandarin Training Center (MTC)

The popular Mandarin Training Center (MTC) at National Taiwan Normal University (Shi Da) offers classes for students of all levels. Credits transfer to many U.S. and Canadian colleges.

The academic year at Shi Da is divided into three three-month terms and two two-month summer sessions. Three-month group classes of five or more students cost NT$15,000 for ten hours per week.

Registration procedures are somewhat complex and require an application form, one letter of recommendation, an academic transcript, a photocopy of your high school diploma, a financial statement, and a health certificate. Complete applications should be sent well in advance of the semester you intend to study. There is a NT$500 registration fee in addition to textbooks, and a NT$495 charge every three months for health insurance.

Contact Shi Da directly or inquire at one of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Offices in the United States or Canada.

The Mandarin Training Center (MTC)
National Taiwan Normal University
Hoping East Road, Section 1
Number 162
Taipei, Taiwan
(02) 321-8457 or (02) 391-4248

National Cheng Kung University Chinese Language Center

There are two instructional tracks at this school: one focuses on culture and the other on language. The language program has three levels and all classes have five or fewer students; in fact, most of the instruction is one-on-one. Contact the school for tuition, fees, and application information:

National Cheng Kung University
Chinese Language Center
1 Ta-hsueh Road
Tainan, Taiwan
(06) 275-7575, ext. 52040
Fax: (06) 274-0715

Perfect Language Center

Perfect is a favorite among "Asia bums." It's relatively cheap and is centrally located near the Taipei train station.

• One-on-one tutorial: NT$300/hour
• Two students/class: NT$200/hour

Group classes meet ten hours per week. All levels of group classes are available, and the cost is NT$3,500 for one month or NT$6,000 for two months.

Perfect Language Center
Wu Chung Street, #1-2, Section 1, 4th Floor
Taipei, Taiwan
(02) 312-0632

Pioneer Language Center

Pioneer is quite good. At NT$280/hour, their one-on-one classes are a bargain.

Pioneer Language Center
200 Hoping East Road, Section 1, 6th Floor
Taipei, Taiwan
(02) 363-3535
Fax: (02) 368-3460

Taipei Language Institute (TLI)

Except for the Stanford Program, TLI is probably the best and most rigorous Chinese language school in Taiwan.

• One-on-one tutorial (1-9 hours per week): NT$260/hour
• Two - four students/class: NT$200/hour
• Five or more students/class: NT$100/hour

TLI's classes generally fill up several weeks before the beginning of the term, so write or call ahead to reserve a spot. They have four terms that begin around the first days of June, September, December, and March. There is a NT$400 registration fee in addition to the cost of textbooks. In order to receive a study certificate that can be used to extend your visa, you will need to register for a minimum of ten hours of classes per week.

Kaohsiung Center
507 Chung Shan, Second Road, 2nd Floor
Kaohsiung, Taiwan
(07) 215-2965 or (07) 251-3638

Taichung Center
28-5 Tai Ping Road, 8 - 9th Floors
Taichung, Taiwan
(04)225-4681 or 904) 225-4831

Hsin Yi Center, Taipei
104 Hsin Yi Road, Section 2, 7th Floor
Taipei, Taiwan
(02) 341-0022 or (02) 393-8805

Roosevelt Center, Taipei
50 Roosevelt Road, Section 3, 4th Floor
Taipei, Taiwan
(02) 367-8228 or (02) 367-8229

Shih Lin Center, Taipei
(opposite Shilin Municipal Courthouse)
238 Shih Dung Road, Tienmou
Taipei, Taiwan
(02) 832-7330 or (02) 832-8256

YMCA Language School

YMCA offers one-on-one tutorial classes only at a cost of NT$4,800 for fifteen hours of instruction.

YMCA Language School
Hsu Chang Street, Number 19, 2nd Floor
Taipei, Taiwan
(02) 381-4727

Language Exchanges

It is easy to arrange language exchanges, because so many Chinese people want to learn English. In most situations, a Chinese speaker and an English (or German, French, Spanish, Japanese, etc.) speaker get together once or twice a week and converse in their respective languages for about two hours. This enables you to get free conversation practice and meet new people at the same time.