Study plan

To apply for the huayu scholarship, I needed to write a study plan with 300 words. Now it's ready, and here it is!

STUDY PLAN

>> Why I want to study Chinese in Taiwan

My grandparents, Astrid and Kristoffer Fotland, were missionaries and moved to Taiwan with Chiang Kai-shek in august 1949. Between 1949 and 1979 my grandfather worked as a missionary doctor in different areas of the country. My father was born in Taiwan, and he and his two brothers all speak Mandarin fluently. Today my father is married to a Taiwanese and lives in Xindian District, New Taipei City. In the recent years I’ve found more and more interest in my ancestors story and in Taiwan as a nation. I’ve been there twice, and recently celebrated R.O.C. 100 year anniversary.

>> My goal for the studies

As I’m finishing my military service summer 2012, I have the opportunity to walk in my grandparents and fathers footsteps. An opportunity I won’t miss, and therefore I apply for the Chinese Language Center at NCCU and huayu scholarship. My first goal is to learn to speak Mandarin Chinese and write traditional Chinese at intermediate level. I’ve read it’s common to study 2-3 semesters to get there.

My plan is to study for a minimum of four semesters, then see where I stand and whether I’ll continue my studies in Taiwan or find an interesting job.

>> Future plan

In addition to my own interest of the language and culture, I know the fact that Chinese as a world language is becoming a more and more important world wide. Not to mention what opportunities it gives me to be able to understand the spoken and written language when finding a job. Whether it’s tourism business, industry or other I don’t know. But I know there will be a greater nead for people with Chinese knowledge in the years to come.

Today we talked about trafic safety. This fall, I'll wear sivil clothes and hold a chinese textbook in my hands. 

Application-preparation

Start your preparations in good time! When I started google for information about chinese-studies, I found rather limited opportunities. I wanted to study in Taiwan, but all I found was poor-looking websites with little information. I almost started to prepare for mainland China when I found www.studychineseintaiwan.com and heard of all the Taiwan-universities offering chinese courses.

It turned out there were endless opportunities for studying chinese in Taiwan. I fell for National Chengchi University and its nice surroundings, and moved on to the application form. I needed:

• An english-written proof for medical incurance (or get an incurance through nccu)
• Passport copy
• Several 1 inch photos
• A completed scholarship application form (or a english- or mandarin written bank statement of at least 3000USD)
• Everything scanned

A little bit of work, and the application was ready. I used a month since my first draft, but that's really not necesarry... Now I have to complete the scholarship app form, and if I'm lucky, I can get up to 25000 NTD every month for 12 months. The ministry of education may also pay my flight-tickets.. At the ministry of education-website, they had an outdatet app form. On the norwegian Taipei Representative Office-website the link was broken. But after mailing them, they sent me the correct form. Now I need:

• Copy of diplomas
• Official sealed Transcript
• Passport copy
• Study plan 300 words
• Copy of CLC application form
• Two reference letters in sealed and signed envelopes (only desirable)
• Certificate of enrollment (not needed until june)
• Signed HES agreement (not needed until june)

By now, I've got a nice reference letter from my current chief in the 138 Air Wing. Now I just need to collect the remaining documents and deliver them next time I'm in Oslo. I could post mail them, but I feel better delivering it personally.

Pre-admitted!

30 minutes after I mailed my application, I got this reply:


"Dear Lars Peder Fotland

Greetings from Taipei, Taiwan!

Hope this e-mail reaches you well and in high spirits!

Thank you for choosing the Chinese Language Center (CLC) at National Chengchi University (NCCU) as your learning destination.

We would like give you our most sincere congratulations, for you have been pre-admitted to the Fall Term 2012 at the CLC, NCCU.

Your application for Fall term 2012 is completed for the first stage..."

So, I'm in! Hooray!

Here is a welcome-video from the CLC website. Looking forward to get there!

See you soon!

Application form finished

One month after the first draft, I've now completed the application form for the Chinese Language Center at National Chengchi University. The application will be posted in two days, on monday. Next step is to deliver the scholarship application form at the Taipei Representative Office in Oslo, and hopefully recieve the one scholarship granted for one norwegian!

So, as the first step towards learning chinese is completed, I created this blog. I intend to post updates along the preparation process and throughout my chinese language studies. For your interest, and for my memories.

Zaijien!