Teaching Chinese as a Second Language at Tunghai University

Awards are available to pursue a full-time Master’s Degree in Teaching Chinese as a Second Language (TCSL) at Tunghai University (THU). The program is taught primarily in Mandarin.

The graduate program in TCSL is the first-ever program that is designed for international students to be trained as teachers of L2 Chinese. Given the global context, the program envisions that its trained international students with various native languages and different cultural backgrounds will gain a firmer grasp of both Chinese and Taiwanese society and their own cultural backgrounds, bridging cultural differences and language barriers.

Program Features

• Intensive interdisciplinary curriculum: Chinese pedagogy and second language education, Chinese linguistics and applied linguistics, Chinese society and culture.
• Learner-centered instructions: The program primarily focuses on “how learners should learn.” With this objective, courses such as Second Language Acquisition and Educational Psychology are offered in the hope that future teachers will take into account the learning goals and objectives of the learners when establishing what to teach.
• Bilingual environment: Bilingual instruction (English/Chinese) promotes linguistic competence and reinforces delivery in teaching. Chinese Pedagogy and Chinese Society and Culture are instructed in Chinese to ensure a total immersion in Chinese language and culture.
• Small class instruction: The program’s small class instruction prompts intensive interaction between students and teachers or among students and facilitates learner-centered learning.

Fulbright students will be invited to conduct teaching practice: (1) assistantship in English education projects, and (2) internship in teaching Chinese as a Second Language.

The award is co-sponsored by the Tunghai University. The program will take 3 years to earn a master’s degree. International students spend their first year in studying Chinese in order to improve their Chinese language and study skills to the level needed for the program study. After completing a Chinese language program, international students will continue their studies toward their master’s degree. THU offers full tuition waivers and student dormitory as long as the candidate maintains satisfactory academic standards.