Rotary Youth Exchange in NPTU: Igniting New Sparks in Mandarin Learning

The Chinese Language Center (CLC) of the International College at National Pingtung University (NPTU) successfully concluded the Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) Mandarin Program, co-organized with Rotary International District 3510. This term, seven students from Thailand, the United States, Brazil, Argentina, and India participated in the four-month program, engaging in both intensive Mandarin study and diverse cultural experiences with outstanding results.

At the closing ceremony, Rotary District 3510 Governor D.G. Susan Chiu and Committee Chair P.P. Gem Huang, among other distinguished guests, attended to congratulate the students and express their best wishes. Representing NPTU, Dr. Chien-Chih Liu, Director of the Chinese Language Center, conveyed appreciation for Rotary’s long-term support and collaboration. Course instructor Ms. Hsiao-Mei Teng also shared reflections on the students’ progress, noting how they had grown from being unfamiliar with Taiwan upon arrival to now confidently conversing in Mandarin and adapting to local life — a transformation achieved through dedication and perseverance.

A major highlight of this year’s program was the integration of local Pingtung culture with NPTU’s interdisciplinary resources, creating a curriculum rich in both cultural depth and practical language application. In collaboration with the Meinong traditional craft industry, students took part in a Hakka oil-paper umbrella painting workshop, learning about the art and heritage of Hakka culture. The Center also partnered with NPTU’s Indigenous Students Resource Center to organize workshops on leather carving and wallet making, alongside Indigenous song instruction led by Mr. Hung-Wei Hsu, supported by Indigenous faculty and students. Through these interactive experiences, students gained deeper insights into Taiwan’s multicultural landscape and the unique cultural spirit of southern Taiwan.

Governor Susan Chiu highly commended the program’s curriculum design, recognizing NPTU’s innovative approach to integrating local culture into Mandarin education. Under Ms. Teng’s guidance, students advanced from basic conversation to cultural expression, showing significant improvement in both linguistic competence and cultural understanding. She encouraged them to continue learning Mandarin as a bridge to connect with the world and broaden their international perspectives.

To celebrate their achievements, the Chinese Language Center presented each student with a set of “Four Treasures of the Study”—the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone—as a symbolic gift representing cultural inheritance and the enduring spirit of learning. NPTU emphasized its commitment to further collaboration with university departments and local partners to design programs that merge language learning with cultural immersion, building a distinctive “Pingtung-style” Mandarin education that allows international learners to experience the beauty and diversity of Taiwan’s cultures.