I came to ICLP with very high expectations and am happy to say that my classes not only met but exceeded those expectations. My teachers were excellent and clearly dedicated to their craft. The classes were carefully structured but also allowed sufficient freedom to challenge students to express their own ideas in their own words. Having studied both modern and classical Chinese for many years in a number of different schools and countries, I can honestly say that ICLP is the best language learning environment I have experienced.

　It is difficult for me to express what a wonderful program the ICLP is. Let it suffice to say that I cannot imagine that you could find a better Chinese Language Program anywhere. The teaching methods are extremely effective and efficient, and the teaching materials well chosen. The faculty and administration are devoted, warm, generous, very good at their jobs, and willing to bend over backwards to help in any way they can. The students who come here are bright, mature, kind, interesting people. What else? Every couple of weeks there are interesting free lectures about Chinese culture by scholars or fellow students. There are student trips to beautiful or interesting places in and outside of Taipei. And there is a Friday night club that takes students out to reasonable restaurants all over town. There is an almost family-like atmosphere here. And a feeling of great good will. Everyone I have met here has been very, very happy--and our Chinese has improved immeasurably--even in a matter of just months!

　I can't say enough good things about ICLP, and anyone who I speak to about it hears no end of praise for the teachers, the environment, the textbooks, and everything else. All of the personnel involved with the program are excellent. The teachers at ICLP are among the finest I've had the pleasure of studying with. My tongxue and I frequently marveled at just how skilled and talented some of the teachers are. They really are outstanding. I have studied with very few teachers here in the U.S. who could compare favorably with the fine teachers at ICLP. I was likewise very impressed with the quality of the teaching materials we used, particularly the textbooks. They were generally much better than the ones I have used here in the U.S. I was so impressed with the textbooks produced by ICLP that I purchased several of the ones that are beyond my current Chinese proficiency level, and brought them back with me to the U.S. so I may, given time, use them here to continue improving my Chinese.

　ICLP is the only program to study at if you're fully committed to learning Chinese. I believe it's the teachers that set ICLP apart from the other language programs in Taipei. They demand all of your time and attention while you're at school, and they push you to keep work harder, to constantly work at getting the tones right, memorizing the vocabulary, enunciating, using proper grammar, etc. This program is not for the weak at heart or mind -- it's an extremely exhausting and intensive process but the end result is that your Chinese will be the dramatically better for it (even if it is at the expense of your English).

　I went into ICLP as an advanced beginner or lower-intermediate speaker of Chinese, with sloppy tones, pronunciation problems, and very limited character recognition. One year later, I am able to read newspapers, listen to the news, and my tones and pronunciation are much improved. I’ve just accepted a job with an American firm working in China, a position that I would never have been capable of fulfilling if not for the relentless efforts of my excellent teachers here at ICLP. The curriculum and texts are top notch, and the learning environment is great, but what really makes ICLP the best Chinese program available anywhere is the quality of the staff and instructors. If you come to ICLP, you are in for a year of very hard work, and very tangible rewards.