Learning Beyond the Classroom: One Blazer’s Journey to Taiwan

For Hathaway Brown senior Ava Kline, HB’s Mandarin program opened the door to a summer of immersive learning, new friendships and a deeper connection to Taiwanese culture.

This summer, Ava participated in the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y), a U.S. Department of State-funded scholarship program that provides immersive language and cultural experiences for students around the world. She was one of 26 students selected for the Taiwan program, spending several weeks studying Mandarin at National Tsing Hua University while experiencing daily life in Taiwan. It was a natural next step for a student who had spent four years immersed in HB’s Mandarin classroom.

The opportunity was the result of persistence. After applying to NSLI-Y the previous year and becoming a semifinalist but not being selected, Ava decided to try again.

“I kept thinking, if it didn’t mean so much to me, I wouldn’t have been so disappointed,” she said. “I was still really motivated.”
Once in Taiwan, learning extended well beyond the classroom. Her days included four hours of Mandarin instruction, homework and quizzes, while afternoons and evenings gave her the opportunity to explore local temples, meet Taiwanese students and residents, and experience the culture firsthand.

Some of her most meaningful lessons came from everyday interactions. She developed friendships with local students, connected with a host family and even formed a friendship with an employee at a local 7-Eleven who greeted her by her Chinese nickname each morning.
“I love the connections that I can make with different languages,” she said. “I love seeing people’s faces when they realize I’m not expecting them to meet me where they’re at. I’m meeting them where they’re at.”

Her experience also challenged her to put her language skills into action. Midway through the program, she delivered a seven-minute presentation entirely in Chinese comparing Taiwanese and American classroom culture — without notes and in front of a room full of fluent Chinese speakers.

“I was really proud of how my Chinese skills from the classroom were translating to something I was using in real life,” she said.

That moment embodies Knowledge in Action — one of the five pillars of HB’s Learn for Life Signature Approach: taking what’s learned in the classroom and using it to build real-world skills, self-awareness and personal growth for life ahead.

While HB is not affiliated with the NSLI-Y program, our close-knit community supported Ava’s application through letters of recommendation, including one from Head of School Dr. Bisselle. During the program, NSLI-Y staff told her that her recommendations were among the strongest they had received.

“That’s something unique about HB,” she said. “I feel like there are so many faculty who are willing to support me.”
Her Chinese teacher, Ms. Rocco, also helped her prepare for the experience by sharing her knowledge of Taipei and offering recommendations for places to visit and things to experience.

The summer has had a lasting impact. Ava returned home with stronger Mandarin skills, lasting friendships and a newfound desire to focus specifically on Taiwanese Chinese and culture. It also reinforced her interest in studying international relations and specializing in East Asia.

“I feel like I’ve improved so much. I feel like I’ve learned so much. I feel like I now have so many more connections.”

Ava is already looking forward to returning to Taiwan this spring when she visits again with her family, bringing with her the language skills, connections and perspective she gained through the experience. HB is incredibly proud of how Ava is putting her knowledge in action, both in Taiwan and in our Upper School. We are excited to see how she continues to make an impact in the world beyond HB.