Guwahati, June 03: Insan Hamesha Lyndem from Sohra hills of Meghalaya has received 2025 Huayu (Mandarin) Enrichment Scholarship from Taiwan’s Ministry of Education and will go to Taiwan for a study trip of 6 months.
Lyndem has started her Mandarin learning journey back in 2022 at Taiwan Education Center at Assam Don Bosco University (ADBU). In 2023, she has sit a standardized Mandarin Proficiency Test –TOCFL (Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language), and received her certificate from Taiwan’s Ministry of Education, which made her qualified applicant for Huayu Enrichment Scholarship.
To encourage Indian students to learn Taiwan’s official language and culture, and to boost mutual understanding and bilateral exchanges 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 Rs. 65,447) for their stay in Taiwan. With the recommendation of her Mandarin teacher Ms. Kuei-Mi LI, Lyndem along with her 3 Assamese and Manipuri classmates from ADBU’s Mandarin classes all received this prestigious scholarship.
Insan Hamesha Lyndem, an alumna of ADBU, reflecting on her Mandarin learning journey, said that she wanted to learn Mandarin because she realized that “Mandarin is not just a language-it’s a gateway. From tech companies and international trade to pop culture, it plays a big role. I wanted to comprehend that world, not simply read about it.”
And thanks to the opportunities offered by ADBU and Taiwan government, Lyndem was able to learn Mandarin and eventually earned this scholarship to further her language study in Taiwan. In the Mandarin classes, in addition to speaking, listening, and writing, she has “learnt to be patient, realized how essential tone and context are in communication, and to appreciate other cultures, and respect cultural differences. Mandarin is not just about words but it also helped me to focus, slow down and observe. I have also grown confidence in simple talks which felt impossible at the start.”
This learning experience motivated her to apply for Huayu scholarship, “For me, the Huayu scholarship is more than just a study program, it is a bridge. Taiwan is a technological powerhouse, a democracy with rich cultural traditions, and one of the most welcoming countries for students. I regarded it as a unique opportunity to develop not only my language skills, but also my global citizenship.”
And she was “surprised” when she learned that she was selected for the scholarship, “I had a mixture of excitement, pride and thankfulness. It was a moment of validation, that all those hours of learning and trying were worth it, all thanks to our Laoshi (Teacher) Kuei-Mi LI, because it was all her efforts in pushing us.”
With her own successful experience, Lyndem also encourages the others to join her for learning Mandarin and applying for Taiwan scholarships, because “with remote work, cross-continental networking, and online education, our generation is living in a globalised age. Knowing Mandarin gives you an edge in business, diplomacy, technology and culture. Getting the scholarship makes you not just learning the language but living it.”
The Mandarin classes at ADBU’s Taiwan Education Center are open to all Northeasterners.
