KINGSTON, R.I. – Jan. 5, 2026 – At first, learning the linguistics and dialects weren’t the only obstacles that University of Rhode Island student Tegan Kingsley had to overcome in learning Chinese. There was also an element of fear.

Admittedly, Kingsley—a Chinese and accounting major from Upper Saddle River, New Jersey—said she was originally terrified of speaking Chinese with anyone outside of an academic setting during a University-sponsored summer program last year. But learning through exposure by participating in URI’s Chinese Language Flagship Program’s Capstone year in Taiwan helped Kingsley become more comfortable. 

“One thing I didn’t personally expect was becoming such close friends with people outside of URI and being excited to speak Chinese with them in class,” Kingsley said. “People can generally understand what I’m saying in most day-to-day conversations. Realizing this was a big help in getting me to practice speaking off campus.”

Kingsley feels that speaking Chinese can broaden her accounting career aspirations. Kingsley is one of multiple URI students studying abroad in Taiwan, where they are learning from real-world experiences with Taiwanese organizations and through direct enrollment courses on the University campus, as well as preparing themselves for possible future roles in global affairs.

The federally-funded program, led by URI Associate Professor of Chinese Yu (Joyce) Wu, offers students opportunities to combine Chinese with any degree program offered at the University. Wu, along with URI College of Arts and Sciences Interim Dean Brenton DeBouf, visited Taiwan at the beginning of the fall semester to help get students acclimated to the program, review the courses offered, and visit internship providers, to create a deeper connection and better articulation of the URI curriculum to students’ overseas experience.

While studying overseas, students in the program study alongside Taiwanese college students, and participate in internships with multiple organizations, including the National Chengchi University’s International Studies Research Center and the National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University’s Health Innovation Center.

Students who graduate from the program will have professional-level Chinese-language skills enabling them to work for any company or government agency in need of someone with superior proficiency.

“It’s amazing that a lot of our students gain so much linguistic and intercultural knowledge through this program,” Wu said. “They start learning from hello, or ‘nǐ hǎo.’ By the time they graduate in four to five years, they can be functioning as a native speaker in the Chinese language. Ideally by the time they’re done with a study abroad and internship year, they could be in a room with experts in engineering, biology, psychology, international studies and diplomacy. They can use Chinese to talk to experts in their field and have that global conversation with this group of people.”

Wu says URI’s Chinese Language Flagship Program, which currently has about 80 students—putting it among the largest in the United States—saw a 23% growth in its freshman enrollment from a year ago. That, Wu says, illustrates the excellence of the program, dedication of the faculty, strong bonds among students and, more importantly, continuous scholarship support for students to study abroad.

Appreciating cultural values, experiences

Students currently abroad say they were drawn to the flagship program because it offered rare opportunities to develop professional-level proficiency in the Chinese language and the historical context behind it. They also wanted to culturally immerse themselves in the language and align Chinese with their career goals.

Annie Liang, a senior from Westerly, Rhode Island, majoring in Chinese and computer science, recently finished her internship for Superego Technologies Inc. in Taiwan. There, she focused mostly on handling system documentation for multiple projects and assisting project managers wherever possible. 

Liang, who will work on a research project involving agentic artificial intelligence (autonomous AI systems that can independently set goals, plan and execute complex multi-step tasks with minimal human oversight) for the rest of the semester, has also enjoyed experiencing Taiwan’s culture across the island. That includes witnessing Mazu pilgrimages while traveling through the country, she said.

“Seeing how deeply these traditions are woven into everyday life helped me better appreciate the cultural and religious values that shape Taiwanese society,” Liang said.

Anashelly Herrera’s experiences in Taiwan to date are similar. The senior from Woonsocket, Rhode Island, majoring in Chinese and biological sciences has learned a great deal about the country’s culture and, thanks to the kindness of the Taiwanese people, Herrera has never felt lost in the country, she said. 

“The process of getting to know people here and making friends, especially as a foreigner, can be a little daunting at first, but I soon got a grasp on Taiwan’s social environment,” said Herrera, who completed her internship at National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University’s Health Innovation Center, which focuses on developing precision medicine—health care tailored to an individual’s unique lifestyle and genetic makeup.

Herrera had worked in the university’s microbiology lab, where she and researchers studied the role of microbiota (microorganisms living in specific environments within the human body) in different health conditions. She hopes to land a career within global health security, and interning in Taiwan helps Herrera understand how different countries view health care, she said.

Navigating life in a different cultural context was what drew KeiSum Yuen, a senior from Coventry, Rhode Island, to participate in URI’s flagship program. Majoring in Chinese and psychology, Yuen interned at a community service center in Taiwan, working with staff to support local residents through outreach as well as providing administrative support. 

Along with connecting with Taiwanese residents and understanding their daily needs, Yuen also took time to explore the country by traveling to Sun Moon Lake, where she explored Taiwan’s natural beauty up close.

“These experiences, both inside and outside the classroom, allowed me to practice Chinese in real-life settings, deepen my understanding of Taiwanese society, and create lasting memories,” Yuen said.

The URI Chinese Language Flagship Program helps students progress from a beginner level to professional fluency in Mandarin Chinese. For more information about the program, contact Associate Professor of Chinese and Flagship Program Director Yu (Joyce) Wu at 401-874-4704 or yu_wu@uri.edu.