Strengthening Chinese Language Pathways for International Students
In the fall semester of the 2025 academic year, NTNU expanded its Chinese language support for international students, delivering more than 400 instances of language learning and tutoring within four months. By coordinating resources across academic and administrative units, the University strengthened pathways linking language development with campus adaptation, academic study, and future career planning in Taiwan.
The initiative aligns with Taiwan’s efforts to internationalize higher education and attract global talent, recognizing Chinese proficiency as essential for students pursuing further study and long-term development in Taiwan.
The expanded framework brought together the Office of Academic Affairs, Office of International Affairs, Department of Chinese as a Second Language, and the Mandarin Training Center. During the semester, the Office of International Affairs conducted 188 sessions through its One-on-One Mandarin Tutorial system and organized a Chinese tutoring course with 47 participants. The Department of Chinese as a Second Language provided individual tutoring to 127 students. In addition, 63 students enrolled in the credit-bearing Foundational Chinese course, and 52 participated in the Chinese Reading Seminar.
NTNU’s Chinese curriculum spans foundational to advanced levels. Foundational Chinese supports students at TOCFL A1–A2 levels in developing core communication skills. The Chinese Reading Seminar assists B1–B2 students in strengthening reading and oral expression. For higher proficiency levels, the required undergraduate course Critical Thinking and Expression in Chinese is offered at C1 level for general sections and B1–B2 level for international sections, with emphasis on analytical and academic reading skills.
In the same semester, the Office of International Affairs launched Applied Chinese for Daily and Professional Contexts at both the Heping and Gongguan Campuses. The course combines everyday communication with TOCFL preparation and includes modules on daily life scenarios as well as résumé writing, self-introduction, workplace communication, and interview preparation.
Participants reported that the courses reduced language-related anxiety and increased their confidence in using Chinese. Many noted that the content was directly applicable to daily life, campus interaction, and workplace settings.
Christian Sasot Villena, a second-year master’s student from the Philippines in the Graduate Institute of Global Business and Strategy, said he learned practical expressions not typically emphasized in textbooks, including ordering food and everyday communication, which made daily life in Taiwan more convenient.
A first-year student from Indonesia in the Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering noted that the instructor’s clear explanations and moderate pace made the course accessible to beginners. He found the units on résumé writing and navigating medical services particularly useful for students planning to remain in Taiwan.
The Office of International Affairs stated that it will continue refining course content and support formats to meet students’ needs and facilitate their academic and professional integration in Taiwan.