Taiwan has many benefits, including its course structure, high quality of teachers, and friendly people.
Smaller Class Sizes. Learning Chinese in Taiwan will usually entail taking courses in smaller class sizes, compared to what may be offered in mainland China. Class sizes at private language schools in Taiwan rarely rise above six students, which will allow you to have a more personalized experience.
Visa Free Entry. Unlike most other Asian countries, Taiwan actively takes part in the three month tourist visa exemption. This means that many visitors, from over 100 countries, can arrive in Taiwan without having to obtain a visa. The majority of Chinese language learners are, therefore, visa exempt for up to three months (which is equivalent to one term). For long-term Chinese language programs in Taiwan, students from certain countries are able to obtain a visa extension easily, or simply leave the country (there are low cost one hour flights to neighboring countries in the region) and re-enter to receive a new three month visa.
Living Costs. While Taiwan boosts a modern economy, it is considered a rich county. Tuition costs and home rentals are average priced (aka not considered low costs). Food and eating out is extremely cheap in Taiwan, however, so this usually offsets the higher accommodation costs and tuition rates.
Accommodation. The main challenge for students who choose to learn Chinese in Taiwan tend to be felt within the realm of accommodation. When it comes to homestay opportunities, Taiwanese families do not commonly offer up spare bedrooms within their homes for foreigners; this is due to the culture of Taiwan, where many kids live with their parents until they are in their mid-30s. In addition to this, unlike other countries that are popular for language learning, homestays are not really an accepted cultural practice.
However, homestays can be found, if students are willing to travel up to an hour from neighboring suburbs of Taipei, where local families tend to live in larger houses more suitable for homestay accommodation, rather than a typical small apartment in Taipei. Many Chinese language programs in Taiwan, specifically those located in Taipei, offer student accommodation located on campus or nearby to the institution. Lastly, short-term accommodation is readily available in Taipei and can be found for approximately $30 per night.
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