Experience the crossroads of ancient culture and 21st-century innovation.
Discover how tradition and technology, faith and freedom, history and creativity all converge in Taiwan, one of Asia’s most open, forward-looking democracies. In the Tradition and Modernity in Taiwan Program (TMT), you’ll learn Chinese language (no prior experience required), explore Taiwan’s complex history and modern global role, and experience daily life in a society that honors its roots while constantly reinventing itself.
Based in New Taipei City, just a short metro ride from central Taipei, you’ll dive into a world of contrasts, including bustling night markets and peaceful temples, skyscrapers and mountain trails, heritage villages and high-speed trains. You’ll meet innovators, artists, and entrepreneurs shaping Taiwan’s future while building friendships with local university peers and community members who are eager to share their culture, language, and warmth.
Blending language immersion with academic exploration, TMT gives you the chance to connect deeply with Taiwan’s past and present. Through lectures, seminars, and cultural excursions, you’ll explore topics such as:
Taiwan’s evolving identity and place in the Indo-Pacific region
The island’s dynamic democracy and civic culture
The interplay between traditional Confucian values and contemporary social change
Innovation, sustainability, and the creative industries driving modern Taiwan
Courses are taught in English by faculty from Tamkang University, one of Taiwan’s most innovative and globally connected universities. Founded in 1950, Tamkang is renowned for its international programs and its beautiful campus overlooking the Tamsui River. Its programs bridge the humanities, social sciences, and technology, making it an ideal setting to explore how Taiwan continues to shape Asia’s future.
While you study, you’ll also have the opportunity to learn Chinese in small, interactive language classes that adapt to your level and goals. Whether you’re a beginner or already studying Mandarin, you’ll gain practical communication skills to help you navigate life in Taiwan and connect with people on a deeper level.
Learn Chinese language in a welcoming, authentic, and supportive environment.
Engage with Taiwan’s vibrant democracy, culture, and role in the world.
Experience a country where ancient traditions meet cutting-edge technology.
Gain academic credit and global skills in international studies, culture, and communication.
Join a community of curious, adventurous students ready to explore Asia beyond the expected.
Taiwanese culture is a rich blend of traditional Chinese and indigenous Austronesian influences, further shaped by Japanese colonization and modern Western values. It emphasizes collective harmony, respect for elders, and strong family ties, all informed by Confucianism. The culture is characterized by its unique cuisine, vibrant festivals, and a deep spiritual connection to Taoism, Buddhism, and folk religions.
Renowned for its welcoming and friendly people, Taiwan is the ideal location for students of culture, history, politics, and language. TMT participants enjoy exploring New Taipei’s bustling urban neighborhoods and its scenic waterfront, as well as vibrant night markets and cultural festival. With easy access to a highly efficient, safe transportation system, students are also free to explore Taiwan’s many ancient cities and historic sites, as well as breathtaking natural landscapes, beaches, hot springs, and mountain trails.
(4 credits) This course emphasizes recent developments in the political processes that have shaped Cross-Strait relations. Students will learn about the role the U.S. plays in the relationship between China and Taiwan, as well as Taiwanese public opinions about China, whether perceived as opportunities or challenges.
(4 credits) This course explores Taiwan’s modern and contemporary history from political, economic, cultural, and social perspectives, helping students understand its historical research, sources, and the development of Taiwan’s history and culture.
(4 credits) This course provides an in-depth exploration of why Taiwan matters on the global stage. Participants delve into the history of post-World War II Taiwan, Kuomintang rule, and the early suppression of dissent, which led to decades of martial law. The course traces Taiwan’s transformation from authoritarian rule to the vibrant and free technological leader it is today. Through lectures, readings, case studies, and discussions, the course analyzes the interplay of politics, economy, and technology in shaping modern Taiwan and its global significance.
(4 credits) Students complete five hours per week of in-class Chinese language study in small groups. Chinese language classes are designed to produce measurable gains in speaking, reading, listening, and writing skills through high energy, student-centered instruction and communicative teaching strategies. Students are placed in small groups according to language proficiency.
Students live in Tamkang University's international dormitory, a fifteen-minute walk to campus with easy access to supermarkets, cafes, restaurants, bus stops, and the MRT (Taipei's subway system). Students are responsible for paying for their own meals besides those provided during orientation and cultural excursions.
Students also spend a memorable weekend with a local host family to gain perspective into Taiwanese everyday life and experience the island's trademark hospitality.
Each week, your studies come to life through guided excursions, hands-on activities, and immersive experiences - from exploring the historic streets of Jiufen and the temples of Tamsui, to hiking Elephant Mountain for a panoramic view of Taipei 101, to tasting local favorites at night markets alive with color and sound.
You’ll also travel beyond New Taipei City to other regions of Taiwan, gaining firsthand insight into the country’s geography, communities, and diversity - from indigenous villages in the mountains to the modern tech hubs driving global innovation.
Participants are paired with Tamkang students who serve as both conversation partners and cultural guides. Conversation partners not only provide additional support with speaking practice and listening comprehension but also help U.S. participants form meaningful friendships and social connections within the Taiwanese student community. Students with no prior knowledge of Chinese are matched with language partners who speak English. Conversation partners are selected by American Councils and Tamkang staff from students enrolled at the host university. Many students report that their conversation partners provide invaluable opportunities for them to find new social networks.
American Councils administers the TMT program in partnership with the Chinese Language Center at Tamkang University (TKU) in New Taipei City, Taiwan. TKU is Taiwan’s oldest private university. Renowned for its programs in business, economics, and mathematics, it is the ideal location for students to explore the interplay of history, culture, and societal issues in Taiwan and East Asia more broadly. With a lush and spacious campus perched in the hills north of Taipei, TKU offers visitors a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the city while providing easy access via public transportation to numerous sites of historic, cultural, and political significance.
Multiple sources of funding are available to support participants in paying for programs abroad. Participants are encouraged to apply for private scholarships, federal aid and grants, college/university scholarships, and American Councils fellowships and scholarships.
Semester participants attend a two-day pre-departure orientation in Washington, D.C. before the start of their programs. Orientation sessions cover health and safety, academic culture, host-family life, cultural adjustment, onsite support, and strategies for maximizing language learning. Lodging and meals are provided.
While abroad, participants have access to full-time in-country staff who offer academic, administrative, and personal support, as well as 24/7 emergency assistance. The AC Study Abroad team in Washington, D.C. stays in close contact with students, host institutions, and families throughout the program.
All participants are covered by Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) for the duration of the program. CISI provides up to $250,000 in medical coverage per accident or illness and full emergency medical evacuation coverage.
American Councils provides visa support for participants for the duration of the program in the host country, if applicable. Students are responsible for obtaining any additional visas required by their travel plans. Visa instructions and forms are provided after acceptance.
