Hello everyone. I’m @olivertomolife and I’ve studied abroad in Kaohsiung!
If you’re currently preparing to study in Taiwan, there’s something I’d like to tell you.
I would like to share something with you, so that you don’t panic when you arrive in Taiwan.
I myself have regretted neglecting my preparations in some areas, so as a reminder, I would like to explain the process of preparing to study abroad in an easy-to-understand manner!
If you have any concerns about studying abroad, please read through this article.
- Those who are planning to study in Taiwan
- Are currently preparing to study in Taiwan
- Have concerns about preparing to study in Taiwan
- 5 Steps to Prepare for Studying in Taiwan without Failure
I experienced a working holiday in Kaohsiung for one year from February 2020. Currently, I am writing a blog based on that experience.
By reading this article, you’ll be well on your way to preparing to study in Taiwan!
5 Steps to Prepare for Studying in Taiwan without Failure
1 Choose your study abroad location
First of all, you need to decide which city in Taiwan you want to study in!
It is said that about 90% of students choose Taipei as their study abroad destination, but I would not recommend it.
However, I do not recommend it because it is a cosmopolitan city and you will encounter a lot of students from the same country.
Since you are going to be concentrating on a language in a foreign country, you want to keep stop your native language to yourself as much as possible, right?
If such opportunities are reduced, the meaning of studying abroad will be lost.
Outside of Taipei, Kaohsiung, Taichung, and Tainan are the most popular cities.
However, there are places where you cannot live without a motorcycle, so if you take that into consideration, I think Taipei or Kaohsiung are appropriate.
In Kaohsiung, where I studied, there were fewer foreigners and I had a better life and learning experience.
How about referring to this as an option?
2 Choosing an Agent
Once you have decided where to study, the next step is to choose an agent.
Depending on whether you want to study abroad officially at a university or on a working holiday, there are different types of visa applications.
A typical agent will provide you with a service that includes all the arrangements from visa application to school.
However, I personally do not recommend such agents because school arrangements can be easily made by individuals.
By using translation software and other means to communicate directly with the school, you can save on intermediary fees.
Therefore, I recommend that you ask an agent only to apply for a visa, and make other arrangements by yourself.
3 SIM card
The most important part of your study abroad experience is the communication environment.
You can buy a SIM card directly on the day you arrive, but this is not recommended because it can be rather expensive if you buy it in a hurry.
There are five different telecommunication companies in Taiwan, each offering different services, so choose the one you like best.
I personally recommend a company called Taiwan Mobile.
For a student plan, they offer unlimited 4G data for 2,400 yen per month for a six-month plan, which is very attractive.
It is probably the most affordable company in Taiwan.
4 Opening a bank account
If you plan to stay in Taiwan for a long time, you will need to open a bank account.
There are many banks in Taiwan, and many people may not know which bank is best for them.
From that point of view, let me tell you, it is possible to narrow it down to three banks.
I recommend Chunwa Post, which is Taiwan’s national post office, CTBC Bank, which has ATMs at 7-Eleven, and Cathay Bank, which has ATMs at FamilyMart.
These banks can be found everywhere in Taiwan, and their greatest strength is that you can withdraw money at convenience stores as well.
Since there are still many situations where cash is used in Taiwan, why not take a look at these banks?
5 Finding a room
When you arrive in Taiwan, you should decide on a place to live as soon as possible.
However, most of the property websites in Taiwan are in Chinese, so it can be a hurdle for first-time visitors.
I myself fell into this category, but with the help of my Taiwanese friends, I managed to find a room.
It depends on the owner, but in many cases the rent is sent by bank transfer, so you’d better open an account before you start looking for a room!
Other than that, it is a good idea to get a Taiwanese personal number for proof.
Summary
- Choosing a place to study
- Choosing an Agent
- SIM card
- Opening a bank account
- Finding a room
I have explained the process of preparing to study abroad in Taiwan!
There are things you have to do for each, but if you follow the steps, it’s surprisingly easy.
Let’s all do our best to prepare for our future study abroad!
I will be sending out more information about Taiwan in the future, so please stay tuned.
Thank you for reading to the end!
コメント