Category Archives: Summer 2025

I’d be lying if I said the course load isn’t overwhelming. We have homework every day, 小考试 to prepare for, and a minimum of two hours of studying daily. But I know that once I figure out an efficient way … Continue reading →

Wow! First week at 哈台班, and first week in Taiwan… EVER!First impressions? Taiwan is so much bigger than I imagined. I don’t know why I thought I could just hop from one side of the island to the other with … Continue reading →

Is it still a true immersion when our phones and the essential applications that we use daily are in English? Well, we might not have been able to translate everything, but the level 4 students have undertaken multiple projects that … Continue reading →

The school of Korean’s 소식지 동아리 publishes a newsletter club every week. This week, it was my first time reading it, and I found it to be very interesting. The newsletter is written and organized in such a way that … Continue reading →

During the second week, besides attending classes, I also got the opportunity to participate in what we called “동아리.” They are extracurriculars taught by different professors in the program. The process of choosing which ones to register for was expectedly … Continue reading →

My first week at Middlebury School of Korean went well! It was my first time attending a language immersion program, so I did not have much expectations coming in. I also didn’t completely grasp the concept of a language pledge … Continue reading →

This is my final post here! we have ended Middlebury Chinese school, time really flew by. I am sad but also very excited to go back home. it was so strange to use english again. actually on thursday during dinner, … Continue reading →

我們的語言學校快要結束了。 這個星期很有趣，我在太極課上展示了我們學到的東西，還學會打乒乓球。 我從來沒想到會那麼好玩。我覺得我的研究進行得不錯，可是要用我們學過的語法真的很難。 有時候我可以用中文思考，但是因為這是研究報告，所以語言必須比較正式。還有，我覺得因為壓力很大，我睡得不好，所以很期待快點回家。我們也讀了幾個紀錄片，我覺得這可能是我最會想念的部分。 它幫助我學到了很多關於中國的事情， 也讓我和老師、同學每天的討論更有意思。

這個星期會很有意思，因為我們要寫一篇研究報告！ 寫文章對我來說很難，所以我希望在做這個作業的時候不會覺得煩。 我想寫關於中醫的文章。因為中醫對我的生活有很大的影響， 我想繼續和別人分享我的故事。 但是這次，我想特別寫中醫在幫助創傷後應激障礙（PTSD）方面的作用。 我希望將來能在這個題目上做研究。我也很擔心最後的口頭報告。雖然我們已經練習了很多次， 但是我在大家面前說話還是很緊張。我希望我能提高這個能力！ 其實我們也練習講一個小故事，可是這真的很難。 我用英文講故事已經不太好，所以我會繼續練習。

今天我在學校附近散步，我發現了一個有小橋的湖。 我最近有點生病，所以覺得出去呼吸新鮮空氣會有幫助。 我去了市場買藥和一些零食。 這個星期很忙，也覺得有點奇怪。 我也很想念我的父母和兄弟姐妹，很期待再見到他們。我這個星期的目標是在房間裡多說中文。 因為我喜歡中文電視劇，我想開始看另一部。 我還想試著寫一首詩。寫一首詩會是一個挑戰，用中文寫更難，我都不能想像。 我們星期五有派對，但是我覺得我不會去。 我星期五常常很累，所以只會睡覺和看中文電視劇。 可是下個星期我想去買一些禮物給我的父母和兄弟姐妹。

這個星期很忙，但也很有趣。我去了幾家咖啡店和小商店。 我在這裡交到了一個很好的朋友，跟自己覺得舒服的人一起練習中文沒有那麼難。 我覺得中文正在成為我生活的一部，我希望回家以後也能繼續下去。這個星期我們討論了中國和美國的教育制度。 我很喜歡每天討論的話題。雖然學中文很難，特別是每天學很多東西， 但我很高興能討論複雜的想法。這也幫助我學會提問，並且深入思考。我也看完了一個中文電視劇，我非常喜歡，和他們非常有意思！

我很期待討論明天的報告的話題。今天早上我去了在一家咖啡館兒，然後散步一下。明德大學真漂亮，尤其他們的小商店。午飯以後，我會學習，我得複習一下。對我來說，中文語法很難，其實我還沒找到最好的學習的辦法。我很少吃冰淇淋，對我來說，明德大學有最好的冰淇淋。所以晚飯以後我會吃冰淇淋。我們也開始參加課外活動，我選打太極拳。第一課過得很好，我們的老師也很棒！我希望我可以表演在中文學校特別的活動。說實話我覺得這個學期幫我想一想很多事情，尤其學中文真的是個很大的挑戰。做口頭報告讓我發現我的聲調不好，我得多練習。

i forfot to add this piece last time: I really like writing reflective essays, so I hope throughout my stay here, I hope to be able to express myself as deeply in Chinese. (I will update this!)  I am also … Continue reading →

I will first write this first post in English. This first week has been exciting, scary, but most importantly I realized that it is very hard to talk to people. I have met really interesting people, from teachers, dancers, musicians, … Continue reading →

2025 KCJS: Entertainment 京都のエンタテインメント Spending two months in Kyoto gave me plenty of time to explore both the traditional and the contemporary sides of the city’s entertainment scene. Between classes, homework, and hanging out with friends I met along the … Continue reading →

My first week in HTA (哈台班）was a bit of a rollercoaster ride. I was experiencing a whirlwind of emotions, feeling the effects of culture shock and jet lag, while also being excited about all the new things I would learn. … Continue reading →

2025 KCJS: Navigating Kyoto 京都の交通体験 Despite Kyoto being a highly walkable city, the humid summer heat makes strolling most pleasant in the early mornings or after sunset. Fortunately, Kyoto is also very safe, so you can comfortably wander the streets … Continue reading →

2025 KCJS: In Reflection 個人的な振り返り Hi!!! I’m Nick Chen, a rising sophomore, and here is my belated first blog reflecting on my experience at the 2025 Kyoto Consortium for Japanese Studies as a third-year student. Although the program ended some … Continue reading →

大家好！哈台班快要结束了。虽然我一直想念我的家人和朋友们，但是一想到离开台北就让我感到难过。我知道我不能一直住在这里，但是我觉得这个夏天过得很快，转眼间就结束了。虽然我还没离开我已经想念我的同学，老师们，和台湾朋友们。这八个星期里我积累了很多经历，不只是中文经验，还有体验台湾文化、认识新朋友、看台湾最美丽的地方。没有哈台班，就没有现在的我。我真的感谢所有给予我帮助的人，要不是你们，这个夏天一定不会这么好玩儿。虽然我们都会纷纷回家，我知道我不会忘记这个夏天，真的对我有很深的影响。我也想感谢读我的博客的人，虽然你们的人数不多，要不是你们我不能来台北学中文，所以真谢谢大家。这是我最后一个博客，不能说“一会儿见”，但是我会说：希望大家的夏天跟我一样难忘！谢谢、再见！

Hello! When abroad at another country, one of the biggest physical changes to your environment is undoubtedly the food. Japan is the same, and many people run into issues with their diet in the first months, despite the food being … Continue reading →

Hello! Since I wasn’t able to find much information on this when coming here, I thought it would be fitting to discuss how someone traveling/living in Japan could continue their fitness journey. In America, I avidly lift weights, and try … Continue reading →

Tokyo! I’ve been here for a week now, and though I’ve visited (and even lived) here before, it feels so much more different now that I can speak a little bit of Japanese! Though, I will say, since almost everyone … Continue reading →

Hello! My program ended just about a week ago, and I’m currently in Tokyo, traveling with friends and practicing my Japanese. I had so much fun at the program, and I feel so much more confident in my Japanese! The … Continue reading →

Hello! Since I’ve officially stayed 2 months in Kyoto, I thought I would share some places that are great for day trips or to just get out of the city. Osaka: Everyone’s go-to location. It’s close, its fun, and its … Continue reading →

大家好！This week I have a 有趣的故事想告诉大家. Earlier this week I went to an area of Taipei called 中山, which is apparently well known for its vintage stores. And to be honest the stores were meh, but I did meet 2 … Continue reading →

Hi again! I thought I’d take this post to tell you a little about what my day looks like here at KCJS. 8:00 Wake up and get ready for classes; I would typically be out the door by 8:30 and … Continue reading →

大家好! Gonna be honest, this week was probably the most difficult of my whole summer. I’m not going to overshare on a blog, but I’ll just say that some things were happening back at home that I felt I really … Continue reading →

大家好！这个星期真可能是我生活里最好玩儿的星期之一, I had fun with friends, went paragliding, explored new cultures, and overall just had an amazing freaking adventure. 第三天 we started off by visiting a local high school and playing badminton with some of the students, it was really … Continue reading →

Hello! This weekend I went on a little daytrip to Uji. Uji is known for their matcha and matcha related sweets, as well as Byodo-in temple (which is on the 10 yen coin). One of the advantages about being in … Continue reading →

大家好！Yesterday we started our Social Study trip, and thus far it has been an absolute blast. For social study trips there are 三个选择 that focus on different aspects of Taiwan, and I chose to go to Hualien to learn more … Continue reading →