{"id":67464,"date":"2025-04-21T08:20:25","date_gmt":"2025-04-21T12:20:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/?p=67464"},"modified":"2025-04-27T21:47:32","modified_gmt":"2025-04-28T01:47:32","slug":"utc-sophomore-heading-to-taiwan-after-landing-prestigious-critical-language-scholarship","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogarchive.utc.edu\/news\/2025\/04\/utc-sophomore-heading-to-taiwan-after-landing-prestigious-critical-language-scholarship\/","title":{"rendered":"UTC sophomore heading to Taiwan after landing prestigious Critical Language Scholarship"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Vinny

Vinny Nguyen will spend two months at Tamkang University in New Taipei City, Taiwan\u2014from June 17-Aug. 15\u2014after landing the Critical Language Scholarship to study Mandarin. Photo by Angela Foster.<\/p><\/div>\n

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga sophomore Vinny Nguyen is taking his passion for language, diplomacy and international engagement across the world.<\/p>\n

Nguyen, a double major in political science international\/comparative studies and economics international public policy with a minor in Asian studies, has been selected for the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) to study Mandarin in Taiwan this summer. He will spend two months at Tamkang University in New Taipei City\u2014from June 17-Aug. 15\u2014as part of the prestigious U.S. Department of State initiative.<\/p>\n

The CLS program<\/strong><\/a> is designed to provide rigorous language instruction and cultural enrichment to American students preparing for careers in public service or international affairs.<\/p>\n

A member of the Innovations in Honors program in the UTC Honors College, Nguyen is no stranger to international experiences and language immersion. Last summer, he was selected for the CLS Spark<\/strong><\/a>\u2014a virtual language program that provides American students with foundational skills in languages deemed critical to U.S. engagement with the world. In his case, that meant learning beginner Mandarin.<\/p>\n

That experience helped propel him into the prestigious in-person CLS program.<\/p>\n

\u201cWithin 10 weeks, I went from complete beginner to intermediate low,\u201d Nguyen said of his CLS Spark experience. \u201cThat gave me a foundation\u2014how to ask where the bathroom is, how much something costs. Now I get to build on that in Taiwan.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Vinny

Vinny Nguyen<\/p><\/div>\n

At Tamkang University, he will begin with two weeks of dorm-style housing alongside his cohort. Participants then rotate between university housing and homestays with local families to deepen their language learning and cultural understanding.<\/p>\n

Daily Mandarin classes, weekly one-on-one tutoring sessions, language partner meetups and hands-on cultural excursions\u2014such as traditional cooking, tea ceremonies and dragon dance\u2014round out the immersive experience.<\/p>\n

Growing up speaking Vietnamese at home, Nguyen\u2014a first-generation college student\u2014said his background has helped him to learn other languages. He is proficient in English, Vietnamese and German, \u201cgetting closer\u201d in Spanish, and is excited to sharpen his Mandarin skills through the CLS experience.<\/p>\n

\u201cVietnamese is a tonal language and so is Mandarin,\u201d he explained. \u201cThat\u2019s helped my ear pick up the differences in pitch and tone more easily. The shared vocabulary and linguistic influence between Chinese and Vietnamese also helped me when I was starting out.\u201d<\/p>\n

This won\u2019t be Nguyen\u2019s first extended international academic experience. After graduating from Lookout Valley High School in 2022, he spent a year in Germany through the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange program, where he interned at the City Hall of Wolfsburg.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat experience really solidified my passion for international relations,\u201d he said. \u201cIt gave me a first-hand look at how interconnected local economies are and inspired me to pursue economic diplomacy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Now, with CLS Taiwan on his summer plate and aspirations of a career in the U.S. Foreign Service, he is focusing on Mandarin and its significance in global economic policy. While in Taiwan, Nguyen said he hopes to gain a deeper understanding of U.S.-Taiwanese foreign policy, especially regarding technology and trade.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re going to visit the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Innovation Museum while we\u2019re there,\u201d he said. \u201cSuperconductor manufacturing and emerging technologies are key areas I want to learn more about. My long-term goal is to work in economic and political diplomacy\u2014particularly in Southeast Asia.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nguyen said the opportunity to connect with local culture is just as important as the language coursework. Of particular interest: he\u2019s looking forward to the dragon dance workshop\u2014having participated in Vietnamese dragon dances growing up during Lunar New Year celebrations.<\/p>\n

\u201cI want to see how that tradition differs between cultures,\u201d he said. \u201cLearning language is one part, but learning people\u2019s traditions\u2014that\u2019s what helps you really understand a place.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Taiwan trip isn\u2019t his only upcoming overseas adventure. Right after UTC\u2019s spring semester ends, he\u2019s departing for what he calls \u201ca self-organized month-long Spanish language study program\u201d in Spain.<\/p>\n

As a student who thrives in multilingual, multicultural environments, he sees every opportunity abroad \u201cas a chance to grow personally and professionally.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve learned that no matter how different people seem, deep down, we\u2019re all so similar,\u201d he said. \u201cThese programs remind me of the importance of building global connections\u2014and of keeping those connections strong.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really have my eyes on becoming a foreign service officer. I want to be out there networking with people and promoting the policies and agreements that the U.S. will need to strengthen its economic independence.\u201d<\/p>\n

Learn more<\/h4>\n

Visit UTC<\/a><\/p>\n

The Office of National Scholarships<\/a><\/p>\n

UTC Honors College<\/a><\/p>\n

Language learning and cultural exchange: Two UTC students receive national scholarships<\/a><\/p>\n

How to apply<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

UTC sophomore Vinny Nguyen is taking his passion for language, diplomacy and international engagement across the world. Nguyen, a double major in political science international\/comparative studies and economics international public policy with a minor in Asian studies, has been selected for the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) to study Mandarin in Taiwan this summer. He will spend two months at Tamkang University in New Taipei City\u2014from June 17-Aug. 15\u2014as part of the prestigious U.S. Department of State initiative.<\/p>\n

Continue Reading <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1493,"featured_media":67469,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_slider":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_featurette":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8244,70,48248,61,3,122495,57,12745,6743,64,12778,781,8325,661],"tags":[125518,124344,125519,123827,122780,117231,124776,122088,123829,125520,124343],"class_list":{"0":"post-67464","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-academics","8":"category-center-for-global-education","9":"category-college-of-arts-sciences","10":"category-community","11":"category-economics","12":"category-college-of-business","13":"category-honors-and-awards","14":"category-honors-college-2","15":"category-international-programs","16":"category-news","17":"category-political-science","18":"category-scholarship","19":"category-service","20":"category-students","21":"tag-cls","22":"tag-cls-spark","23":"tag-congress-bundestag-youth-exchange","24":"tag-creating-the-mocs-experience","25":"tag-critical-language-scholarship","26":"tag-innovations-in-honors","27":"tag-mocs-learn-mocs-do-mocs-lead","28":"tag-office-of-national-scholarships","29":"tag-operating-with-excellence","30":"tag-tamkang-university","31":"tag-vinny-nguyen","32":"entry"},"yoast_head":"\nUTC sophomore heading to Taiwan after landing prestigious Critical Language Scholarship | UTC News Archive: Jul 2007 - Oct 2025<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"UTC sophomore Vinny Nguyen is taking his passion for language, diplomacy and international engagement across the world. 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