Language Policy on Chinese as a Second Language in Taiwan

With China’s rise in the twenty-first century, global demand for Chinese as a second/foreign language proficiency has surged. In response, Taiwan’s Ministry of Education (MOE) established the National Chinese Language Teaching Policy Committee in 2003, followed by the Working Group on Chinese as a Foreign Language in 2007. Despite its abolition in 2008, efforts continued with the 2012 creation of the Department of International and Cross-Strait Education, overseeing Mandarin Chinese education. The EIGHT-YEAR CHINESE LANGUAGE EDUCATION PROMOTION PLAN (2013–2020) aimed to unite government, academia, and industry but faced challenges in implementation. In 2020, the MOE signed the US-Taiwan Education Initiative, positioning Taiwan as a key destination for Chinese as a second/foreign language learning. Further initiatives, including the TAIWAN HUAYU BEST PROGRAM launched in 2021 and the Mandarin Education 2025 Program launched in 2022, underscore Taiwan’s commitment. However, Spolsky’s tripartite model (2004, 2009) suggests that successful language policies require alignment between language practices, beliefs, and management. To enhance these initiatives, Taiwan must establish a dedicated national unit for international Chinese as a second/foreign language education, prioritize intercultural teacher training, develop digital teaching materials, create an AI (artificial intelligence)-powered education portal, and adopt hybrid teaching methods for the post-pandemic era.