ICLP: What It’s Like Attending The “World’s Premier Chinese Language Institution”

From September 2018 until August 2019 I was enrolled in the prestigious International Chinese Language Programme (ICLP) at National Taiwan University, where I studied four semesters of intensive language classes.

What Is ICLP And Why Did I Chose It?

ICLP prides itself on being “the world’s premier Chinese language institution” and the rapid pace of progress students can hope to see during their time studying there. Initially established by Stanford University and commonly referred to as Stanford Centre, it continues to be well known across the globe.

When I traveled to Taiwan in 2017 to visit different language centres, I focused primarily on the speed of learning. At the time, ICLP’s estimate of self-study to be completed outside the classroom was roughly double what other schools stated: 6–8 hours instead of 3–4 hours — it almost seemed designed to attract only the most devoted of students.

The choice of school, hence, was an easy one.

The Structure Of ICLP

ICLP promises 3 hours of group classes of no more than 4 students and in addition, one individual class every day. It is worth mentioning that for additional payment it is possible to replace a group class with a second individual class, depending on availability. The school advises that for each hour of class time, students are expected to spend between 1.5 to 2 hours preparing, though I found this could vary widely depending on the class.

Class selection varies too. At the beginning of your first semester, ICLP will assign classes to you according to your performance in their ‘entrance exam’. Each level offers a selection of different classes, one of which will be mandatory and usually taught for two hours per day, while students can independently choose an additional two classes. Naturally, the selection grows exponentially as you progress through the levels.

Unique Teaching Philosophy

On the subject of teaching, some clarification is needed. One of the most common grievances I encountered amongst my peers stemmed from the fact that ICLP does not exactly follow the traditional teacher-student model (as practiced by most competitors). Rather, the onus of teaching falls on us students too. This means prior to class students will need to familiarise themselves with a chapter’s new vocabulary, common phrases and even grammar structures. Furthermore, students are expected to memorise in detail the contents of each chapter. The textbook, hence, is in essence self-taught. As a result, class time focuses heavily on application and the recital of contents using the grammar structures and vocabulary studied at home.

Whether or not this teaching method is suitable for you, depends entirely on the type of learner you are and at ICLP too, you will encounter students who thrive in this environment while others struggle throughout their time in Taiwan. I personally found it to be empowering and most importantly, effective. In conventional lessons slower students are often left behind, feeling confused and discouraged while quick learners end up feeling bored and equally discouraged. By contrast, ICLP trusts each student to find the learning strategy that works for them and to spend as much time as each individual needs preparing. Ultimately, come class time, every single student, irrespective of their individual learning speed is equally familiar with the lesson’s contents, creating time for valuable application and discussions students would be hard-pressed to lead by themselves outside class. Students hence, rather than inhibit each other’s progress, empower each other to learn faster.

In Short: The Good

A multitude of factors enables ICLP to offer an intensive and immensely stimulating learning experience that is unparalleled in Taiwan. The program’s small class sizes allow each student to be paired with classmates at a very similar level of Chinese.

Moreover, given the high cost of attending the program, students are generally eager to use their time well, i.e. studious and hardworking. Furthermore, fortunately for us students, the same can be said about the teachers. Every teacher I met was very capable and equally as passionate, which left a lasting impression on me. I consider myself lucky to have established close ties with my teachers and still keep in touch.

Finally, the unique concept of self-study mentioned above, for me, is the most significant advantage ICLP offers. It enables students to most effectively use class time, routinely getting more out of each class than we would otherwise, which considering the price of tuition, I am relieved to report. With 20 hours of class each week, this simply means one thing: nowhere can you learn Chinese faster than at ICLP.

In Short: The Less Good

What you dislike about the program will ultimately boil down to whether or not you can see yourself shelling out on average $4,700 per semester to essentially teach yourself. ICLP will ensure you are challenged in class every day and forced to apply what you have learned in a multitude of ways, but if you do not spend hours every day teaching yourself, you will not learn.

Furthermore, though ICLP generally does assign classmates with similar ability, when they fail to do so, as a consequence of small classes, it becomes immediately noticeable. In those instances, I would have wished for teachers to be a little more strict about encouraging lazy students and quickly reassign them, rather than spending a third of class time letting them display their lack of preparation.

Should You Choose ICLP?

Whether ICLP is ultimately going to be worth it for you, depends entirely on your personal objectives. If you are merely searching for a meaningful way to pass a few months or even a year, and you are hoping to also grow as a person through travel and diverse experiences outside language learning, then, by all means, you would do well seriously considering others language centres.

But if your primary, secondary and even tertiary goal is simply to learn Chinese in the shortest time frame possible, then ICLP is right for you. In my experience, studying at ICLP, you will, for the most part, be surrounded by people equally committed to learning Chinese as yourself and teachers will pour their heart and soul into helping you improve as quickly as possible. If that sounds appealing to you, then the price tag is worth it and I wholeheartedly recommend ICLP to you.