#1Chinese Gap Year (CGY) in Taipei 華語菁英壯遊專班
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May 22 Update: Please click here to view our current planning around possible scenarios for this fall.
**We are closely monitoring the coronavirus situation around the world and here in Taiwan. As we learn more, we will directly contact all applicants and post updates here. Please refer to Taiwan’s Bureau of Consular Affairs website for the latest information on travel restrictions.*
Introduction
Chinese Gap Year (CGY) in Taipei is the sister program of National Taiwan University’s world-renowned International Chinese Language Program (ICLP), which has been educating students and scholars of Mandarin Chinese for nearly 60 years.
Launching in September 2020, CGY is a nine-month gap year experience for recent high school graduates who are excited to learn Chinese, experience life in Taiwan, and grow as young people. It is open to recent high school graduates of all Chinese proficiency levels, and features:
- An intensive and immersive Mandarin Chinese program
- Suite-style university housing, with a private bedroom and bathroom
- Social and cultural immersion on campus, in the city, and around Taiwan
- Personalized attention, resources, and around-the-clock support
- A safe and friendly environment for living and learning
- A memorable and meaningful gap year experience!
Take a look at the experiences of two recent students, Laurence and Monica, who did a gap year and studied at ICLP, prior to the creation of CGY. Or keep reading to learn more about how students will Learn, Live, and Grow right here in Taipei!
Learn
Founded in 1962 to train and develop the oral discursive ability of America's academic elite, ICLP has provided instruction over the past half-century to hundreds of students who now serve in academia and government. Following these instructional practices, CGY students will have three to four hours of Chinese language and culture classes (including daily one-on-one instruction) plus about three to four hours of daily homework. An instructor will also hold weekly evening office hours.
In addition, students will be paired with a language partner, who is a current National Taiwan University undergraduate student. Beyond that, since the classroom space is a Chinese-only area, students will have many opportunities to engage in Chinese with program staff and classmates. And since Mandarin Chinese is spoken by Taiwan’s 23 million residents, every interaction provides students an opportunity to strengthen their skills and accelerate their progress.
After nine months in Taipei, students who start from scratch will be able to communicate with confidence in daily-life situations and will be prepared to begin engaging with complex texts and more abstract topics.
Learn more about the textbooks students will use and the progress they will make.
Live
CGY is much more than an academic experience. It is also a living experience, and creating a sense of community among students, teachers, and program staff is important to us. With program enrollment limited to 30 students, the teacher/staff-to-student ratio of 1:2.5 or lower ensures that all students will receive individualized attention.
As a group, we’ll host weekly social and cultural events, plus weekend trips within Taipei and around Taiwan. In addition, students will participate in a once-per-quarter multi-day trip that will allow them to deepen their understanding of Taiwanese culture and society.
Taiwan is “The Heart of Asia”, and as Taiwan’s capital city, Taipei is a wonderful place to call home. In fact, for two years in a row it has been named the best city in the world for expats because of its safety and affordability, great public transportation and healthcare systems, and friendly and accommodating locals residents.
Students will be able to explore mountains and beaches, temples and night markets, aboriginal culture and cutting-edge technology companies. And through it all, they will be forming lifelong friendships and engaging in Chinese.
Just a few of the benefits of life in Taipei:- Get to the mountains in less than 20 minutes on Taipei’s worldclass subway system.
- Enjoy the sunshine and make the most of the heat (yes, Taiwan can get pretty hot!) by taking an hour’s train ride to Fulong’s beautiful beaches.
- Or stay in the city, exploring temples and enjoying the many tasty snacks in Taipei’s numerous night markets.
- Visit every corner of the city on Taipei’s extensive and convenient bike sharing system.
- Raining? This may be the home of bubble tea, but Taipei also has an amazing coffee shop culture. Hunker down in one of Taipei’s countless independent coffee houses and chat with friends, do some journaling, or of course study Chinese!
And we’ve got housing covered. Students will be living nearby in suite-style university housing. Each student will have a private bedroom and bathroom, with a shared living room/kitchen space. They will be right near the subway, numerous restaurants, a popular night market for food and shopping, and most importantly NTU’s campus and CGY’s classroom space. (Want to take a peek at the dorm? Check out this great video we found from Sweet Potato Island's YouTube channel!)
While on campus, students will be able to take advantage of NTU facilities, including access to the largest library in Taiwan, the university’s fitness and health centers, and multiple on-campus cafeterias and restaurants. Perhaps most importantly, students will have the ability to join NTU student groups and make friends with Taiwanese students.
Grow
CGY in Taipei will be an opportunity for students to learn a language, explore a different part of the world, and discover more about themselves.
We recognize that this is a special and important time in our students’ lives, and we take seriously their safety, health, and wellbeing while here. Students will strengthen their independence and be even more prepared to succeed in college, and while they will be expected to be responsible and proactive, they should also know that the CGY community will provide the support they need to have success.
What’s Next?
Scroll up and click on the tabs to read through the calendar, program fees, the application process, and textbooks. You can also click the links to learn more about the visa process or read Frequently Asked Questions.
Other questions? Get in touch directly by email.
We’re excited to hear from you, and we can’t wait to begin this journey with you! -
2020-2021 Chinese Gap Year in Taipei
FALL QUARTERWEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16 TO FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2020
9/16 (Wednesday) Arrival date 9/17-9/18 (Thursday-Friday) Orientation and excursions 9/21 (Monday) Classes begin 10/1-10/4 (Thursday-Sunday) National Holiday: Mid-Autumn Festival (CGY closed) 10/9-10/11 (Friday-Sunday) National Holiday: Double-Tenth Day (CGY closed) 11/16-20 (Monday-Friday) Culture and Language Activities Week 12/4 (Friday) Last day of Fall Quarter WINTER QUARTERMONDAY, JANUARY 4, 2021 TO FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 2021
1/1-1/3 (Friday-Sunday) National Holiday: New Year (CGY closed) 1/4 (Monday) Classes begin 2/10-2/16 (Wednesday-Tuesday) National Holiday: Chinese New Year (CGY closed) 2/17 (Wednesday) Classes resume 2/27-3/1 (Saturday-Monday) National Holiday: Peace Memorial Day (CGY closed) 3/4-6 (Thursday-Saturday) Culture and Language Activities Week 3/19 (Friday) Last day of Winter Quarter SPRING QUARTERMONDAY, MARCH 29, 2021 TO SATURDAY, JUNE 5, 2021
3/29 (Monday) Classes begin 4/3-4/6 (Saturday-Tuesday) National Holiday: Tomb-Sweeping Day (CGY closed) 4/28-5/1 (Wednesday-Saturday) Culture and Language Activities Week 5/3 (Monday) Deferred Holiday: Labor Day (CGY closed) 6/1 (Tuesday) Exit Exam 6/2-6/4 (Wednesday-Friday) Final Week Activities and Graduation Celebration 6/5 (Saturday) Move Out Day
Note: The above schedule is subject to change in accordance with the announcement made by the Central Personnel Administration, Taiwan.
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► CGY 2020-2021
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#Application Fee
US$100/NT$3,000 (To be applied toward the Fall Program Fee.)
#Program Fees = US$24,500 (Includes tuition and textbooks, housing and utilties, and some activity costs)Breakdown of Fees USD Due Date Non-refundable Enrollment Deposit US$1,500 As specified in admission letter
$500 to be applied toward the Fall, Winter, and Spring Program Fees, respectively.Fall Program Fee US$8,500 August 6, 2020 Winter Program Fee US$8,000 November 26, 2020 Spring Program Fee US$8,000 March 11, 2021 Total Program Fees: US$24,500
► All program fees are charged in New Taiwan Dollar by credit card; hence, the exact amount in US dollar is subject to change without notice.
► The program fee covers textbooks/materials required for your classes, along with housing/utilities and some activity costs. The program fee does not cover day-to-day living expenses or insurance, which students will have to purchase before arriving. In accordance with Taiwanese law, ICLP is only able to provide insurance to students who are 20 or older.
► Note: although we encourage all students to have the shared experience of living in the dorm, if a student is graduating from an international high school in Taiwan and is already living in Taipei, then the total nine-month program fee without housing/utilities will be US$19,500.
► *Special Pricing Discount for 2020-21 Academic Year*: In light of uncertain global conditions, a special group plan is being offered. If someone enrolls with a friend, then both individuals will receive a $500 tuition discount (applied toward fall tuition fee). Each additional friend who enrolls will be eligible for the same tuition discount.
#Refund Policy
If students need to withdraw from the Program, the following refund guidelines must be observed:- Students who submit a refund application prior to the first day of class are entitled to a 90% refund of the program fee.
- Students who submit a refund application before the end of the first third of classes are entitled to a refund of 50% of the program fee.
- There will be no refund after the first third of the classes.
- If courses of an entire quarter are cancelled due to low enrollment or other reasons unrelated to the student, a full refund will be issued without interest.
- Except in the event of Item 4, no refund will be issued for the application fee.
- Refund applications shall be submitted by 17:00 of the due date. Please submit the following documents to the CGY Office in person (the procedure takes about 1 hour):
- Application form (filled out at CGY);
- Payment receipt (original);
- NTU student ID card (original);
- Photocopy of national ID card, passport or ARC;
- Photocopy of the applicant's bank passbook (bankbook) cover page, which should clearly indicate the account name, account number and the name of the bank branch.
- The refund policy is in compliance with the Regulations for Implementation of Continuing Education at Higher Education Institutions (專科以上學校推廣教育實施辦法修正條文; 100.1.11教育部令) enacted by the R.O.C Ministry of Education.
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2020-21 Chinese Gap Year in Taipei
Students who would like to apply to this program must be recent high school graduates who have not yet begun university.
If you are currently in university, or have already graduated from college, then we encourage you to apply directly to our main ICLP Academic Year Program. For that program, you can study for one quarter or for the entire academic year.
Application Deadline (Taiwan Time, UTC +8):APPLICATION REFERENCE LETTER Regular Deadline June 22, 2020 June 29, 2020 If the program has not reached capacity by June 22, then applications will continue to be
accepted on a rolling basis until August 1, 2020, or until the program reaches capacity.
Note:- Admission decisions will be announced within two weeks after the receipt of applications fully completed.
► 2020-21 CGY Application Requirements & Instructions
► CGY Online Application System
► Questions? Contact us directly.
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