Naga students receive Huayu Enrichment Scholarship from Taiwan government

DIMAPUR — Teisovinuo Pienyu and Vimenuo Lhoungu from Nagaland have received the 2024 Huayu Enrichment Scholarship from Taiwan’s Ministry of Education and will now go to Taiwan for study trip of three months and nine months, respectively.

Pienyu and Lhoungu started their Mandarin learning journey in January 2024 at Taiwan Education Center, Assam Don Bosco University, an update stated.

In March, they sat for a standardised Mandarin Proficiency Test –TOCFL (Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language), and received their certificate of band novice level from Taiwan’s Ministry of Education, which secured them the Huayu Enrichment Scholarship.

To encourage Indian students to learn Taiwan’s language and culture, and to boost mutual understanding and interactions between the two countries, Taiwan government provides Huayu Enrichment Scholarship, among others, to Indian learners every year.

The scholarship awardees will receive a monthly stipend of 25,000 NTD (approximate INR 65,447) for their stay in Taiwan. With the recommendation of their Mandarin teacher Kuei-Mi LI, Pienyu and Lhoungu along with their two Assamese classmates from ADBU’s Mandarin class received the prestigious scholarship.

Reflecting on her Mandarin learning journey, Teisovinuo Pienyu said she is grateful that her friend Lhoungu, ADBU alumna, made her aware that “Mandarin opens up a whole new world of possibilities. From connecting with people across Taiwan, China, and beyond, learning Mandarin offers a gateway to endless opportunities.

“Whether it’s for career advancement, personal growth, or simply enriching my life with new experiences,” she said.

And she is quite positive about the learning experience in Mandarin classes.

“What’s really great about the Mandarin classes is that everyone gets involved. Our teacher encourages us to ask questions to each other, helping us to learn from one another and also boosts our confidence in using Mandarin in real-life situations,” Pienyu said.

Pienyu also found out that what she had learned in Mandarin classes has advanced her job prospects.

 “My Mandarin proficiency has already proven beneficial – I secured a job with a Hong Kong-based company, showcasing the real-world value of language proficiency. It’s fulfilling to see how my Mandarin studies have directly contributed to both my personal and professional growth,” she added.

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