NSLI-Y 2024 Taiwan – Week 6
Welcome to our sixth and final week in Taiwan! As our journey comes to a close, it’s incredible to look back and see just how far we’ve come, both in our Chinese language skills and in our personal growth.
This week was all about wrapping up our studies and showcasing what we’ve learned. We had our final five days of classes, where students faced multiple final exams and assessments. This included a mock OPI (Oral Proficiency Interview) and a cumulative final Chinese exam, followed by a speedy TOCFL (Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language) assessment. Everyone studied hard, and their dedication showed as they prepared for the final post-program, phone-based OPI to be done once students are back in the U.S. It was amazing to see how much progress each student made in Chinese; many remarked upon arriving in San Francisco just how accustomed they had become to speaking Chinese daily.
The week wasn’t all exams, though! We also had a final language partner activity that was a blast. Students participated in a trivia challenge and scavenger hunt, testing their knowledge in geography, history, Confucianism, Taoism, Chinese dialects, and even fun facts about their teachers and Resident Directors. The trivia component was all in Chinese, and students raced to complete it with their language partners before heading outside for the scavenger hunt around the campus and neighborhood. A big shoutout to students on the winning teams: Haben, David, Emilie, Jennifer, Sam, Scott, and Juan! They snapped selfies at various sites around the neighborhood and proved their Chinese skills and program knowledge in the trivia. Saying goodbye to our language partners was bittersweet, but many students exchanged contact information, ensuring that these friendships and their Chinese language practice can continue long after returning home.
On Friday afternoon a committee of students hosted our final “Paper Plate” or Superlative Awards! Every student was given their own individual paper plate award with their corresponding superlative. The Chinese teachers were also included in the award ceremony!!
From left: Lucy, Elim, David, Jacob and Haben celebrating the superlative awards!
From left: Sam, Gabriel S., Katherine, Kallianne and Elissa taking in a final paper plate award!
We wrapped up the week and the program with a memorable 5-hour marathon of a closing ceremony on Friday. All students presented their culminating projects in three rounds, impressing everyone with their (100% Chinese!!) presentations on topics of interest to them. The NSLI-Y culminating project isn’t just about research; it’s about authentic learning through interactions and interviews with program staff, host families, language partners, and local Taiwanese. Our students shared insights and stories that reflected their deep engagement with the culture and language, all while showing off their Chinese skills!
Raffaella presenting her Culminating Project on bubble tea.
Haben presenting his Culminating Project on American music in Taiwan.
The closing ceremony also featured a special performance of a Chinese song that students had been rehearsing over the weeks— in the classroom, on the bus during karaoke, and at the group KTV experience. Their performance of “Nuan Nuan” was beautiful, with Haben on piano and Elissa on drums, the lyrics symbolizing just how much they’ve grown together and bonded as a group. Awards were given out, with Jennifer, Owen, and Amelia taking home the Model Student Awards for their respective classes. The ceremony ended with a touching video montage of program memories, complete with video/photo messages from each student’s host family. There were plenty of tears, hugs, and photos by the end of the night.
Students sing “Nuan Nuan” together.
From left: Juan, Gabriel S., Sam, David and Scott take photos together after the closing ceremony.
After a final day with their host families, students began their journey home on Sunday. The flight back across the Pacific was filled with memories and more Chinese practice, as students ordered their meals and chatted with bilingual flight attendants in Chinese. Toward the end of the flight, they even received a shoutout message and welcome home wishes from the crew!
Thank you all for following our journey. This week marked the end of our time in Taiwan, but it’s just the beginning of the many friendships, memories, and lessons that will last a lifetime. 再見! (Zàijiàn!)