In the age of globalization, studying abroad is one of the necessary experiences for students. Graduate students studying Maritime History or Global history get to experience life in a foreign country and learn about different cultures, which is an essential part of their education. At NTNU, we have abundant resources and collaborate with various countries and universities to provide international exchange opportunities, at the department, college, and university levels. On October 13th, Graduate Institute of Taiwan History held a “Global Exchange Forum” & invited 3 returning students to share their learning experiences in Tokyo, L.A., and London.
Chang Hui-yu, a student participating in the college-level semester exchange program at Meiji University while studying in our Institute, was influenced by Professor Hsu’s courses and the exchange program with Yamagata University. As a result, she made up her mind to improve her Japanese language skills. She went to Japan in September 2022 and returned to Taiwan in March 2023 for the fall semester, which is longer and offers more scholarships compared to the spring semester. During the program at Meiji University, students are placed into Japanese language classes based on their proficiency. They learned speaking, reading, and writing, and also had the option to participate in a seminar on “Asian History.” She had classes from Monday to Friday and used their weekends for cycling trips and camping, making the most of their six-month stay. For students who are still learning Japanese, giving presentations and completing assignments in class can be challenging. She recommends using the “Foreign Student Japanese Language Support” office at Meiji University, where staff help correct the basic content of student reports to ensure that their oral and written presentations during discussions are accurate. Finally, she enthusiastically shared her love for exploring the nearby Jimbocho district, a place filled with bookstores. She mentioned that this area is particularly great for discovering old maps, including some from Taiwan!
In addition to the 6-month semester exchange, there’s also an option to apply for a 1-month summer exchange. Chuang Ko-Jen shared his experience at UCLA. Even though it was a short time, he took courses in “Popular Culture in Modern Chinese Societies,” “Introduction to Chinese Linguistics,” and “Intermediate Modern Chinese.” He traveled from Taiwan to the U.S. and learned about the language variations between Taiwanese Mandarin and Chinese Mandarin. He also analyzed the development of Chinese rap and hip-hop in his courses. In these 3 classes, he experienced how teaching Taiwanese and Mandarin is different and even how to teach various languages in English. During his stay on the West Coast from July 3rd to 27th, he learned that he couldn’t survive without 3 essential cards: The BruinCard (student ID), Debit Card, and Social Security Card. If he didn’t have 3 cards with him, he might encounter many difficulties. In the end, he emphasized the importance of mentioning UCLA if you encounter any discrimination against Asian people while using the subway. This could help resolve any issues.
If you don’t want just a short exchange and plan to pursue a master’s degree abroad, the U.K. is one of the options. During the pandemic, Shih Hsiang-yao went to study at SOAS University of London and proudly mentioned that he lived right across from the British Museum, which was only a 10-minute walk to the campus. The university system in the U.K. is different from Taiwan and the U.S.A., and it’s essential to understand this before applying. In the U.K., for a master’s degree, students are encouraged to complete their studies within 1 year before they even start. The program lasts for 1 year, equivalent to 3 semesters, starting from the welcome week on September 27th to submitting the dissertation in September the following year. On average, students need to complete 4 courses per semester to graduate. He took courses related to Taiwan, such as “Elections, Social Movements, and Gender in Taiwan,” “New Taiwan Cinema and Beyond,” and “Culture and Society of Taiwan.” Even though he’s Taiwanese, and it might seem easy, discussing with classmates from different countries in a foreign place allowed him to experience various issues and gain inspiration that he wouldn’t have thought of otherwise. Finally, he mentioned that participating in a teacher strike during his study abroad was a way to experience European culture.
The 3 students’ presentations not only talked about why they decided to study abroad and what courses they took but also shared a significant part of their travel experiences in Tokyo, L.A., and London with the attendees. Going for an exchange program is not just about engaging in intellectual discussions on campus with teachers and fellow students. It’s also about the food, fun, and leisure activities in their rented places, as well as how they spent their free time. These experiences are the most direct ways to get to know local people and understand daily life in those cities. Of course, living in these 3 cities can be expensive, so the students discussed scholarships, money-saving tips, and application details, which were popular questions among the attendees. We look forward to having more students going to different cities for diverse exchange experiences in the future to share their own experiences abroad. (S.L.)