From 23rd October to the 2nd November, 23 students and staff from Bexley Grammar School explored Taoyuan, Nantou, Yilan and Greater Taipei, discovering Taiwan’s stunning landscapes, rich cultural heritage and warm hospitality.

Highlights included exploring the forests of Shanlinxi and Xitou, cycling and paddle boarding at Sun Moon Lake, discovering traditional arts in Yilan, releasing sky lanterns in Pingxi, dragon boating, and visiting Jiufen, Taipei 101 and bustling night markets. Students also sampled a wonderful variety of Taiwanese regional delicacies, culminating in a farewell banquet featuring Taiwanese Indigenous cuisine in Ximending.

Mandarin Beyond the Classroom!

At the heart of the tour was our key educational goal: turning classroom Mandarin into confident, real-world communication. As their Mandarin teacher, I incorporated spontaneous, situation-based speaking opportunities throughout the journey, encouraging students to use Mandarin naturally when ordering food, shopping and interacting with locals. Meeting their Taiwanese pen pals at Fanghe Junior High School further enriched their language skills and cultural understanding.

Watching students grow in confidence, independence and cultural awareness was immensely rewarding. Above all, everyone returned safely to the UK with lasting friendships and unforgettable memories.

Heartfelt thanks to our Taiwanese hosts, partner school, guides and accompanying colleagues for making this journey possible.

11 days, countless memories and Mandarin truly brought to life! 

Mrs Lu, MFL Chinese Teacher