Heritage Learners & Minority Students

Heritage Learners

If you are of Chinese descent, studying in Taiwan may be the realization of a long held desire to learn more about your own heritage and roots.  It is a wonderful opportunity to experience first-hand a land that you’ve heard and read so much about and, of course, to improve your language skills.  It may also be an important phase in developing your understanding of yourself.  At the same time, some former students felt they were psychologically unprepared for the challenges to their self-identity that they met in Taiwan. There is often a feeling of being “caught between two worlds.”

You may be surprised by the assumption made by classmates, locals and even some teachers, that, since you are Chinese-American, you should speak the language well; when off campus with your classmates, some locals may mistake you as their official interpreter.  Or they may tell you how poor your language skills are while your non-Chinese peers are complimented for their fluency!  While being of Chinese descent will help you blend in and avoid the stares that your other classmates may regularly encounter, at other times you may be envious of the “novelty” treatment your fellow classmates receive—everything from photo requests to spontaneous invitations home for a meal.  There may be times when you encounter discrimination.  The vast majority of the time, however, people will simply be curious about your upbringing and eager to hear about your experiences in the U.S. as a Chinese-American.  Many Taiwanese citizens are patriotic and will be pleased to learn that you have “returned” to study the language. (Many Taiwanese also have friends or family members who live in the US or have emigrated here, and they may be eager to share these stories as well. In general, most Taiwanese have good feelings toward the US and Americans, even if they don’t approve of all US policy.)

Minority Students in Taiwan

Students from minority backgrounds may feel as though they stand out a great deal in Taiwan. You may find yourself met with curiosity about where you are from everywhere that you go, as well as requests to take your picture. This is typically friendly and well-meaning, and you may be pleased with the positive attention you receive. Sometimes, however, these requests may try your patience, or you may experience negative discrimination. This often results from a lack of knowledge about other countries or minority groups, and is usually not intended to offend.