Preparing for
STUDY ABROAD
in Mainland China & Taiwan
As students in the Chinese Language Flagship Program prepare for study abroad, including their Capstone year, they may find these interactive short texts about Mainland Chinese and Taiwanese culture and society useful. A wide range of topics from what to pack to how to buy a cell phone or handle interactions in public is included. Click on a tile below to start learning what to expect as you prepare for study in these Chinese-speaking regions. Each interactive booklet begins with a table of useful words related to the topic.
Travel & Settling In
Explore the basics about packing and traveling, taking public transport, obtaining medical services, and getting set up with banking, a cell phone, and essential smartphone apps.
Social & Linguistic Diversity
Learn about how language varies within Mainland China and Taiwan as well as across the Taiwan Strait. Gain insight into ethnic diversity.
Nations, Regions, Societies
Survey essential knowledge about the history, politics, religion, demographics, sociology, education, environment, cultural products, and family structures of Mainland China and Taiwan.
Personal Interactions
Get some guidelines regarding social taboos and expected behaviors as a guest in Taiwan and Mainland China.
Internship Handbook
Focus on workplace need-to-knows, such as workplace cultural norms, as part of your preparation for serving an internship in Taiwan.
For more learning about cultural perspectives in Chinese-speaking communities such as Mainland China and Taiwan, visit the Culture App.
Credits
Principal Investigator: Yea-Fen Chen
Committee Members:
Jianhua Bai, Kenyon College
Yingling Bao, Indiana University
Der-lin Chao, Hunter College
Charles Egan, San Francisco State University
Tiao-Guan Huang, Taiwan Normal University
Zhuo Jing-Schmidt, University of Oregon
Neeli Kasdorf
Mingying Li, Hunter College
Jianling Liao, Arizona State University
Xiaoying Liles, Indiana University
Tianyu Qin, University of North Georgia
Julio Rodriguez, University of Hawai‘i
Madeline K. Spring, University of Hawai‘i
Stephen L. Tschudi
Project Coordinators:
Neeli Kasdorf (IU Chinese Flagship alum)
Drew Kunard (IU Chinese Flagship alum)
Special thanks to:
Ying-Ju Chen
Andrew Fluegel (IU Chinese Flagship alum)
Yuhshi Lee, Wenzao Ursuline University of Languages
Adam Molon (IU Chinese Flagship alum)
The Chinese Language Flagship Initiative project was supported by a grant to Indiana University from the Institute of International Education (IIE), acting as the administrative agent of the National Security Education Program (NSEP), Defense Language and National Security Education Office (DLNSEO) for The Language Flagship.
The Language Flagship is a national initiative to change the way Americans learn languages through a groundbreaking approach to language education through a network of programs at institutions of higher education across the United States. The Language Flagship graduates students who will take their place among the next generation of global professionals, commanding a superior level of proficiency in one of ten languages critical to U.S. national security and economic competitiveness.
This website has been developed and is maintained by The Language Flagship Technology Innovation Center. The content of this website does not necessarily reflect the position of policy of the U.S. government. No official government endorsement should be inferred.