Camp Planning Tips
Summer camps offer more options starting in July, when Taiwanese schools begin their break. Earlier camps will have more overseas kids.
Winter camps usually align with Lunar New Year, which varies each year and rarely matches the US school calendar, though there are camps that cater to overseas kids during Christmas break.
Mandarin Immersion Camps are designed for overseas students and typically classroom-based, with a focus on character recognition and traditional cultural topics. While Mandarin is the primary language of instruction, children often speak English with one another. In beginner-level classes, instruction is often bilingual to support comprehension.
English Immersion Camps are geared toward local Taiwanese children. In beginner-level groups, Mandarin is likely to be the main language spoken among the kids. Although these camps don’t provide formal Mandarin instruction, some overseas parents choose them for the Mandarin exposure and the opportunity to connect with local families.
Non-Immersion Camps can be a good fit for overseas children who already have intermediate to advanced Mandarin skills. For younger kids (preschool to early elementary), these camps may still work even if they don’t speak Mandarin fluently. However, the older the child, the more challenging it may be to adjust and make friends without being able to speak Mandarin. Some parents have shared that this has led to frustration and even tears for their children.
