Language Courses

Quick Facts about the Courses:Mandarin

Instructor: Yolanda Yu (游浩雲)
Location: Conquer Language School, Hsinchu City, Taiwan
Dates: Friday, Nov 7th, 2025 · 07:00 P.M. – Sunday, Nov 9th, 2025 · 05:00 P.M.
Estimated Cost: 250 USD
Accommodation: Book your hotel room in Hsinchu or commute from Taipei

Paiwan

Instructor: Puljaljuyan Kalevuan (波宏明)
Dates: Wed, Nov 5th, 2025 · 1:30 P.M. – Fri, Nov 7th, 2025 · 1:00 P.M.
Location: Kaohsiung FDJ Bao-An Temple / Taitung Da-Niao Village
Estimated Cost: 300 USD (includes one night accommodation in a Paiwan Village)
Accommodation: Book your hotel room in Kaohsiung or stay at FDJ Bao-An Temple’s Pilgrim Guesthouse (30 USD/night)

Taiwanese

Instructor: Yvonne Su (蘇紋巧, A-khá)
Date: Mon, Nov 3rd, 2025 · 09:00 A.M. – Wed, Nov 5th, 2025 · 12:01 P.M.
Location: Kaohsiung FDJ Bao-An Temple
Estimated Cost: 250 USD
Accommodation: Book your hotel room in Kaohsiung or stay at FDJ Bao-An Temple’s Pilgrim Guesthouse (30 USD/night)

Intro to the Paiwan Language: The Immersive Crash Course

Course Introduction

Learning an indigenous language can be challenging. This crash course uses immersive elements to make it engaging. Alongside classroom learning, participants will visit a Paiwan village and speak with local Paiwan friends.

Quick Facts

  • Instructor: Puljaljuyan Kalevuan (Main Instructor), Terry Hsieh (Facilitator & Translator)
  • Dates: Wed, Nov 5th, 2025 · 1:30 P.M. – Fri, Nov 7th, 2025 · 1:00 P.M.
  • Location: Kaohsiung FDJ Bao-An Temple & Taitung Da-Niao Village
  • Level: Beginner
  • Cost: 250 USD (includes one-night immersive stay in a Paiwan village)
  • Accommodation:
    • Kaohsiung: Hotel or FDJ Bao-An Temple’s Pilgrim Guesthouse (30 USD/night)
    • Da-Niao Village: approx. 30 USD/night

Why Paiwan?

Paiwan (Pinaywanan) is one of Taiwan’s three major Austronesian languages. Taiwan is considered the urheimat of Austronesian languages, including Indonesian, Malagasy, and Māori. Studying Paiwan offers:

  • Insights into Austronesian linguistics
  • Unique grammar and expressions
  • Connection with Taiwan’s original inhabitants and culture

About the Course

  • Day 1 & 2: Interactive classroom instruction
  • Day 3: Immersion in a Paiwan village

Meet the Instructor

Puljaljuyan Kalevuan (波宏明) is a Paiwan from Taitung, widely known as the “father of the indigenous language revitalization movement of Taiwan.” He founded many of Taiwan’s indigenous language programmes and continues to teach Paiwan at schools and universities.

Objectives

  • Greet and introduce yourself in Paiwan
  • Talk about food and drinks
  • Ask about life in a Paiwan community
  • Engage in cultural conversations
  • Gain a general understanding of Austronesian linguistics and indigenous cultures

Course Schedule

Day 1 (Nov 5)

  • 13:30–14:45: Intro to Austronesian linguistics
  • 15:00–15:50: Survival Paiwan
  • 16:00–16:50: Reading and writing Paiwan
  • 17:00–17:50: Introduce yourself in Paiwan
  • 17:50–18:30: Review, practice, questions

Day 2 (Nov 6)

  • 09:00–10:30: The 5W1H of Paiwan
  • 10:45–12:15: Key words for village life
  • 13:30–15:00: Paiwan Grammar 101
  • 15:15–16:45: Paiwan stories, music, pop culture
  • 17:00–18:00: Review, practice, Q&A
  • 18:00–21:00: Travel to Da-Niao Village (train ticket not included)
  • 21:00–24:00: Check-in & Paiwan Welcome Party

Day 3 (Nov 7) — Immersion in Da-Niao

  • 08:00–12:00: Immersion activities:
    • Visit primary school
    • Work in a Paiwan garden
    • Small talk with locals
    • Meet community leaders
  • 12:00–13:00: Lunch & reflections
  • 13:00 onward:
    • Depart for Mandarin Crash Course in Hsinchu or
    • Stay longer in the village (self-arranged)

Additional Information

Mandarin Course

Speak Mandarin, Play Taiwan: Mandarin Bootcamp for Language Lovers

Course Introduction

This course uses task-based conversations to get beginners using Mandarin in real-life travel situations. You’ll also explore Mandarin grammar, cultural nuances, and pragmatic features for smoother communication in Taiwan.

Quick Facts

  • Institution/Instructor: Yolanda Yu · Conquer Language YunFei Chinese Teachers Team
  • Dates: Fri, Nov 7th, 2025 · 07:00 P.M. – Sun, Nov 9th, 2025 · 05:00 P.M.
  • Location: Conquer Language School, Hsinchu, Taiwan
  • Level: Beginner
  • Cost: 250 USD
  • Accommodation: Hotel in Hsinchu or commute from Taipei

Why Taiwan Mandarin?

  1. Unique Learning Experience – Taiwan’s Mandarin uses Traditional characters and Zhuyin (Bopomofo).
  2. Global Communication – Spoken by over a billion people.
  3. Cognitive Benefits – Improves memory, multitasking, and problem-solving.
  4. Artistic Writing System – Chinese characters carry meaning and history.
  5. Personal Growth – Mandarin is a challenging but rewarding language.

About the Course

  • Introduce yourself and handle daily situations
  • Build tone awareness and word order intuition
  • Explore cultural norms and pragmatic features
  • Learn essential grammar (measure words, time, vocabulary)
  • Apply learning through real-world tasks and videos

Course Schedule

Nov 7 (Evening)

  • 19:00–19:30: Welcome & survey of Mandarin
  • 19:30–20:00: Self-introductions
  • 20:00–20:45: Ordering drinks at a stand
  • 20:45–21:00: Greeting culture
  • 21:00–21:30: Record video: “Polyglot self-introduction”

Nov 8

  • 09:00–09:45: Traditional characters & Zhuyin
  • 09:45–10:30: Ordering bubble tea
  • 10:30–11:00: Service customization culture
  • 11:00–11:30: Numbers & measure words
  • 11:30–12:30: Mandarin word order vs. other languages
  • 13:30–14:30: Food vocabulary
  • 14:30–15:30: Ordering in a restaurant
  • 15:30–16:30: Intro to characters
  • 16:30–17:00: Polite expressions
  • 17:00–17:30: Your first Mandarin song
  • Output Task: Order food & record dinner video

Nov 9

  • 09:30–10:30: More vocabulary for introductions
  • 10:30–11:30: Common topics for socializing
  • 11:30–12:30: Roundtable practice
  • 13:30–14:30: Using EasyCard in Taipei
  • 14:30–15:30: Public transport phrases
  • 15:30–16:00: Time expressions
  • 16:00–16:30: Sentence order logic
  • 16:30–17:00: Continuing Mandarin learning
  • Output Task: Interview a stranger & present a one-day Taipei tour

Additional Information

Taiwanese Course

Intro to Taiwanese: The Immersive Crash Course

Course Introduction

Taiwanese is spoken by ~70% of Taiwan’s population. This immersive course teaches basic conversational skills and gives you real practice in a cultural setting.

Quick Facts

  • Instructor: Yvonne Su (蘇紋巧, A-khá) (Main), Terry Hsieh (Facilitator)
  • Date: Mon, Nov 3rd, 2025 · 09:00 A.M. – Wed, Nov 5th, 2025 · 12:01 P.M.
  • Location: Kaohsiung FDJ Bao-An Temple
  • Level: Beginner
  • Cost: 250 USD
  • Accommodation: Hotel in Kaohsiung or FDJ Bao-An Temple Pilgrim Guesthouse (30 USD/night)

Why Taiwanese?

  • Preserves features of Old Chinese
  • Influenced by Japanese, Mandarin, English, Austronesian languages
  • Related to Teowchow, Hokkien, Minnan
  • Shared vocabulary with Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean

About the Course

  • Learn Pe̍h-ōe-jī (POJ) system (consonants, vowels, tones)
  • Daily phrases and sentence patterns
  • Cultural learning in a temple setting

Meet the Instructor

A-khá grew up in Kaohsiung speaking Taiwanese, later raising her children in the language. She now leads Taiwanese-language activities for adults and children.

Course Objectives

  • Master basics of POJ
  • Greetings & self-introductions
  • Gain cultural insights
  • Develop real-life conversation skills
  • Interact with locals

Course Schedule

Day 1 (Nov 3) – Basic Understanding

  • 09:00–10:00: History of Taiwanese
  • 10:15–12:15: POJ introduction
  • 13:30–15:00: Greetings & introductions
  • 15:15–16:45: Family & feelings
  • 16:45–17:00: Review & Q&A

Day 2 (Nov 4) – Exploring More

  • 09:00–10:30: Food & dessert
  • 10:45–12:15: Seasons & festivals
  • 13:30–15:00: Nature & geography
  • 15:15–16:45: Society & religion
  • 16:45–17:00: Review & Q&A

Day 3 (Nov 5) – Real Taiwanese Experience

  • 09:00–12:00: Explore Pó-an Kiong (保安宮) & optional ritual participation

Additional Information

FDJ Bao-An Temple Website: fdjbak.org.tw