Teisovinuo Pienyü and Vimenuo Lhoungu, the two students from Nagaland who received the 2024 Huayu (Mandarin) Enrichment Scholarship from the Taiwan’s Ministry of Education and have reached Taiwan last month after a relatively smooth visa-application process and some pre-departure excitement mixed with anxiousness.
Kuei-Mi Li, teacher incharge of Taiwan Education Centre at Assam Don Bosco University, Guwahati, informed that the students’ first impression of the country confirmed the reputation of Taiwanese people’s legendary hospitality. Citing one experience that she had at the bank, Pienyü said: “We needed some assistance, and the staff guided and assisted us with great care and attention. What stood out the most was that rather than us thanking them, they thanked us instead. This experience made me appreciate the phrase ‘Xie Xie’ (Thank You) even more. This exceptional friendliness and courtesy truly highlighted how exceptional the people here are.”
Apart from the local people’s friendliness, Pienyü was also fascinated by the landscape, the advanced technology and people’s discipline.
Their Mandarin teacher also informed that the two Naga students are impressed by the modern and technologically advanced classroom setting, well-equipped and helpful teachers, diverse cultural activities. Moreover, “the fact that people from all over the world are coming to Taiwan to learn Mandarin language is really encouraging and incredibly inspiring. I feel great to be a part of this diverse learning environment.” Lhoungu shared.
During their first days of settling in Taiwan, Pienyu and Lhoungu realized the helpfulness of the Mandarin classes at Taiwan Education Center in Guwahati. Pienyu said, “Ms. Kuei-Mi Li’s Mandarin classes have been incredibly helpful in almost every aspect of our lives here. Most of the population speaks Mandarin, so the lessons she provided have proven valuable in countless situations, from dealing with formalities at the immigration office to everyday tasks like grocery shopping. Every single vocabulary word we learned in class has turned out to be useful, far beyond what I ever expected.”
And Lhoungu is of the same opinion: “My ability to comprehend and speak basic Mandarin has made it easier for me to interact with the local people and to engage comfortably in class activities. The abilities I acquired in my ADBU Mandarin lesson have undoubtedly helped me in my life in Taiwan. I’m very grateful to my Laoshi Li Kuei-Mi who told me everything there was to know about Taiwan in advance, making things easier.”
The two students strongly recommended others to learn Mandarin and seize any opportunities to go to study in Taiwan, as Pienyü argued: “Immersing yourself in the world of Mandarin will allow you to fully appreciate Taiwan’s vibrant culture and stunning beauty and the language skills you gain will open doors to exciting career opportunities. It’s a remarkable adventure that offers both cultural and professional growth.”
Lhoungu echoed this remark: “I would also recommend to others to go study in Taiwan to experience first-hand learning, real life conversation with local people.”
The latest batch of Mandarin class at ADBU’s Taiwan Education Center is now open for registration, the class is open to all Northeasterners with an affordable fee. For more info, please contact: 9365096013.
Read more: 2 Naga student receive Huayu (Mandarin) Enrichment Scholarship from Taiwan Government
