Before interviewing Nguyen Thị Ngọc Mai, this author was already aware of her rich experience in Taiwan thanks to the many new reports discussing her academic, professional, and social achievements. When talking about her long experience with Mandarin, Nguyen recalls that after meeting her Taiwanese husband in Vietnam, she started studying Mandarin in earnest. After moving to Taiwan, she continued unabated with her language study, later graduating with a master’s degree from the Department of Chinese as a Second Language at National Taiwan Normal University with a thesis that explored the possibilities of the development of Chinese language educational opportunities in her hometown. In the years after her graduation, Nguyen has published several language primers for Vietnamese and Mandarin as a way to bring the two cultures and peoples closer together. She currently works at the International Affairs Office at Hungkuang University in Taichung, as well as serving as a teacher of Vietnamese in several schools.

Nguyen recalls that, even as a child, she was interested in languages. When she was studying in the master’s program at the Department of Chinese as a Second Language, she continued to use her language skills on a regular basis outside of class. In addition to serving as a teacher of Vietnamese, she was frequently called on to assist in activities both inside and outside of NTNU, such as serving as an interpreter for the National Immigration Agency and related organizations who provide assistance to new immigrants, or working with Vietnamese tourists, contract workers, new immigrants and spouses. She also served as a New Resident Ambassador at the National Taiwan Museum, using Vietnamese to help visitors from Vietnamese better understand Chinese culture. Her work in these areas earned Nguyen recognition from both the Office of the President and the head of Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture.

Despite her many extracurriculars, Nguyen planned her time carefully to ensure that she stayed on top of her schoolwork. Furthermore, she was able to skillfully introduce these work experiences into her studies and research. She says that during this time, her coursework was heavy. When working on her thesis, for example, she reported to the library every day, as she knew it was only through hard work and voluminous research that she could pass. Nguyen says that in many ways she was lucky to chose the right school and department, both of which helped her select the perfect research direction.

In this period in which she had little free time, Nguyen remembers that underpinning all her work was her passion for language instruction and cultural interaction. Whether it was working with companies to review new immigrant course curriculums, reviewing and writing Vietnamese language courses, interpreting and translating, managing a YouTube channel, or publishing books and articles, Nguyen always believed that it was through such interactions that cultural exchange and understanding between Taiwan and Vietnam could be successfully conveyed to the public. And through her constant efforts and the achievements they garnered, Nguyen became a leading voice in several related fields.

Drawing from her own experience in learning Mandarin, Nguyen recently (2023) published a book looking to aid Vietnamese students in their study of Mandarin. The book divides Mandarin into different themes, while making it a point to introduce Taiwanese culture along the way. Nguyen’s goal in writing the book was to help Vietnamese in Taiwan, whether new immigrants or contract laborers, learn about the local culture in addition to the language.

Nguyen also hopes to encourage her readers to seize every learning opportunity to enrich themselves. Studying aboard is a quick way to learn, but before embarking on this step, she believes it is best to first learn the local language and understand its cultural underpinnings. Only by doing so, can one cope with the challenges that come with living in a foreign country and be resistant to being knocked off course by setbacks or unexpected problems. She also believes that the people around you are just as important as the topics you are studying, and that the effort you put into something will always be paid off many times over in the days, months, and years ahead.