Taiwan Public School Short-term: Everything You Need to Know

Taiwan public school 5th grade

Nostalgia for Taiwan, 戀念臺灣, often referred to as the OCAC public school program, is a short-term program that gives children of Taiwanese descent the opportunity to attend classes at select Taiwan public schools. The experience will give your child a glimpse into Taiwan’s daily life and improve their Mandarin language skills through interaction with local children. Your child will return home with new friendships and a deeper appreciation for their Taiwanese heritage.

Read about my children’s experience during winter break 2024, where I share both the positive and negative aspects, along with my overall thoughts on the program in my article, One Week in a Taiwan Public School, Two Experiences.

What is the OCAC: Overseas Community Affairs Council

The Overseas Community Affairs Council (OCAC) collaborates with Taiwan’s Ministry of Education to make this program a reality. The OCAC is a government agency dedicated to serving and connecting with overseas Taiwanese communities worldwide. Its primary mission is to strengthen ties between Taiwan and the global Taiwanese diaspora, promote Taiwanese culture, and support the interests and well-being of overseas Taiwanese individuals.

Promoting Mandarin Language Learning

The OCAC also produces a variety of Chinese language learning resources including Mandarin and culture teaching materials, courses, films, and games. You can download free resources at Huayuworld.org and pick up free textbooks and workbooks at the OCAC office in Taipei.

Overseas Taiwanese Youth Programs

In addition to the short-term public school program, the OCAC organizes the Taiwan Study Tour for individuals aged 16-25, better known as Love Boat. I attended the Chien Tan session right before Love Boat, and while there wasn’t much studying involved, the unforgettable memories made it an experience of a lifetime.

For those seeking a more serious opportunity, the OCAC offers the English Teaching Volunteer Service Program for participants aged 17 and up. This program includes a week of training, after which volunteers are placed in Taiwan’s junior high or elementary schools to gain hands-on experience teaching English.

OCAC Nostalgia for Taiwan: FAQ

Who is eligible for the OCAC program?

This program is for children of Taiwanese descent ages 6 to 15. At least one parent must hold Taiwanese nationality. Although I do not have Taiwanese citizenship, I applied using my non-resident Taiwan passport.

You can learn more about the 2024-2025 program but please note the information is updated yearly. All the information is in Chinese, so I used Google Translate and ChatGPT to help translate it.

If you do not qualify for the OCAC program, you can consider a camp or this short-term Montessori elementary.

Does my child need to speak Chinese?

Although the OCAC program doesn’t officially require language proficiency, I recommend it only for children with at least an intermediate level of Mandarin. For grades 3 and up, students need to know advanced vocabulary for subjects like math and science, which can be challenging even for intermediate learners. For younger children in grades 1-2, it may be okay if they can understand spoken Mandarin, even if they’re not confident speaking. The more they can communicate and understand, the more they’ll get out of the program.

Will my child have homework or tests?

Both of my children were assigned homework, but they weren’t required to complete it. I encouraged them to try their best so they could have a more authentic experience. Visiting students are also not expected to take tests. From what I’ve heard from other parents, these expectations are common, though homework policies may vary depending on the school or teacher.

Communication TIP

The emails from the OCAC and the public school were all in Chinese, so I relied on ChatGPT to help translate them, along with my responses. When I emailed them, I made sure to write in both English and Mandarin—English for clarity on my side and Mandarin to make things easier for them. It worked out well and made communication much smoother!

How much does the OCAC program cost?

The program is free of charge. Uniforms are provided if needed, and school lunch is included each day.

Flights and accommodations are not included in the program.

How long is the OCAC program?

You can enroll your child in the program for at least 5 days and up to 30 school days.

The enrollment dates vary each year, but for reference, the 2024-2025 enrollment periods are from October 1, 2024, to January 10, 2025, and from March 3, 2025, to June 30, 2025.

Which public schools in Taiwan participate in the OCAC program?

Each year, the OCAC publishes a list detailing the participating host schools along with their participation dates. You can take a look at the 2024-2025 list of schools to get an idea but keep in mind the schools may change each year.

How to register for the OCAC public school program

The OCAC will announce when registration opens. I emailed the program organizer on January 15, 2025, and they confirmed that a registration date has not yet been set for Fall/Winter 2025 or Summer 2026. I’ll provide updates and share the information on social media as soon as registration begins.

Step 1: Gather info and documents

  • Contact info for the contact person in Taiwan (Relationship, Chinese name, email, home or mobile number, optional: LINE ID)
  • Parent’s photocopy of passport or ID card of R.O.C. (Taiwan)
  • Picture of parent’s signature and Taiwan relative’s signature
  • photocopy of your child’s valid passport
  • Photo Taken within 6 Months: Color, Front, 2 inches
  • Address in Taiwan
  • 1st, 2nd, 3rd choice school (participating schools are shared in a PDF document on their website)

Step 2: Create an account with OCAC

Go to the OCAC registration website and create an account. You will need a separate account for each child. This is not the most user-friendly step because it requests you to use multiple emails. The parent is the “applicant” and will submit a form for each child.

For students from the US, select a grade one level lower than your child’s current grade in the US. This is because children in Taiwan typically start elementary school a year later than children in the US.

You can apply ONLY ONCE per school year.

Next Steps

You will receive an email from your local TECO office notifying you if your child was accepted. If you were accepted, the email provides important information and instructions:

Confirm with the School:

  • Fill out the “Experience Student Information Form”
  • Confirm the experience dates that you’ve chosen
  • Your child’s grade
  • A copy of your child’s passport
  • Proof of travel accident insurance. I mentioned that my credit card provides travel insurance and they accepted that. Alternatively, you can purchase insurance when you arrive in Taiwan.

Travel Planning for the OCAC Program

The OCAC will announce when registration for the program opens. In 2025, registration opened in May. I applied at the end of May and received the acceptance email in the first week of August, with our school dates starting at the end of November. This gave me just over two months to book flights and arrange accommodations. Unfortunately, I missed the chance to book cheaper flights, and many Airbnb’s were booked.

The program does not include flights or accommodations and does not assist with finding a place to stay during your enrollment.

Be sure to read my Taiwan family travel tips for a stress-free trip!

EVA Airlines OCAC Discount

Eva Airlines also offers the Joint Promotion of i Compatriot Card discount for families returning to Taiwan to participate in OCAC’s programs. To receive the discount, go to the special events page and enter the promo code: ocaccard.

Please note that this promo code may expire.

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