Family Abroad in Taipei, Summer 2027: Mandarin Immersion for Kids 4–17
Santa Barbara Chinese School’s Family Abroad program brings children ages 4 to 17 to Taipei, Taiwan, for two weeks of Mandarin immersion at the National Taipei University of Education’s Reading and Writing Center. Families from anywhere in the U.S. are welcome to join our Santa Barbara families overseas! To ensure quality control, Principal Jenny actively participates in Yixin’s program via Teachers' Training before the program begins, and by conducting individual Teachers' Evaluations throughout.
Summer 2027 offers two sessions: June 21–July 3 and July 12–24. While students are in class, family members can arrange to take private Chinese lessons or simply join SBCS for after-school / weekend excursions! Early Bird tuition is $1,380 through December 31, 2026, a $110 savings over the regular $1,490. Returnees can save $200+ depending on the year and excursions planned.
Program at a glance
Where: National Taipei University of Education: Reading and Writing Center, Taipei, Taiwan
When: Session 1, June 21–July 3, 2027. Session 2, July 12–24, 2027.
Ages 4–6: Early learners drop-off 9:50 am, pick-up 4:20 pm. No overnight excursion.
Ages 7–17: Youth drop-off 9:50 am, pick-up 4:30 pm. Includes an optional overnight excursion, no zero beginners.
Tuition: $1,380 Early Bird through January 15, 2027. $1,490 thereafter. Apply early to avoid being waitlisted!
Housing: Not included. Families can book their own or opt for campus/group bookings through us during enrollment.
Meals & Snacks: Included. Locally sourced and freshly made the day of, sometimes in conjunction with a lesson plan.
Key dates
December 31, 2026: Enroll by this date to avoid being waitlisted. People from all over the world apply to this program.
January 15, 2027: Extended Early Bird pricing ends for those applying through SBCS.
April 15, 2027: Final application deadline.
Give your children (ages 4-17) the gift of language and culture at Santa Barbara Chinese School’s language Immersion Camps! Designed for students eager to explore Mandarin in a fun, engaging, and immersive environment, this exclusive camp is capped at 10 students per class, 3 per teacher, and 2 per adult for outings —ensuring a personalized and enriching experience.
we partner in Taipei with Yixin Chinese School, who shares our pedagogy. here’s how the program works:
Students and teachers speak only Mandarin during the program. The immersion setting makes this achievable even for zero beginners at the early stages.
Classes are small, capped at 10 students max (usually fewer), with a 3:1 student-to-teacher ratio (2:1 on outings).
Learning happens through real tasks: ordering food, shopping, interviews and exploring the city, all in Chinese.
Each term ends with students’ final presentations with parents/guardians’ participation.
Classroom materials use traditional characters with pinyin and zhuyin support, based on personal preference. At SBCS we teach simplified characters with pinyin and introduce traditional characters when it comes up or through Chinese Calligraphy.
See what 2026 looked like: Watch the daily recaps and presentations from our first Taipei summer in the July 2026 newsletter.
FAQs
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After choosing the most language-intensive program, to ensure quality control, Principal Jenny actively participates in Teachers Training before the program begins, and conducts individual teacher evaluations throughout the entirety of the program.
SBCS also offers the following “white-glove” service (mostly on a donation-basis) to assist families outside of camp:
Group housing/accommodations bookings through local connections.
Extension for Early Bird Discount.
Provide pre-departure Orientation.
Camp-specific packing list.
Common phrases practice sheets.
SBCS families group chat to KIT pre- and post- camp.
Weather-based Itinerary planning & group gatherings in Taipei.
**As a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, SBCS does not receive compensation for referring Yixin Chinese School. We have chosen this program for its commitment to its language immersion, and are offering additional services to make the most of this camp experience, as a way to build community aligned with our mission to learn Chinese.
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We looked at programs in several cities before choosing Taipei. It is a great starting place where families can feel at ease: It has a strong safety record and a supportive environment for young families, easy transportation, a good quality of life, and a major international airport. It’s also where we found our first perfect pedagogical match!
The U.S. State Department rates Taiwan Level 1, its lowest advisory level, citing minimal street crime and rare violent crime. Students are supervised at all times, with 2 students per adult on outings.
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Children ages 4–17 with a parent or guardian. Zero beginners are welcome at the 4–6 age group. For ages 7–17, students will be asked to submit a recording or video of their child speaking/reading Chinese for at least 1 minute.
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Santa Barbara Chinese School actively seeks out and evaluates language Immersion Camps from all over! Here’s what we recommend for the following age groups:
15-18 Year-Olds’ Summer Program in China: Where There Be Dragons.
Adults 18+: Families/adults accompanying our children in our Taiwan program can arrange for small group lessons.
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Yes. Families stay in Taipei for the whole program. Students are dropped off for class while parents explore Taiwan, take Chinese lessons or join SBCS excursions.
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Tuition is $1,380 per child with Early Bird pricing through January 15, 2027, then $1,490 per child. This does not include airfare, accommodations (SBCS can assist with group bookings), or other transportation and living expenses on the ground.
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Tuition includes freshly cooked meals daily, classroom supplies, admission fees for local excursions, and a final presentation. Ages 7–14 also includes a 2-day, 1-night cultural excursion to Chiayi, Tainan or Lukang (student’s choice), with transportation, tickets and admissions. Housing, flights and daily travel to class are not included.
Families can book their own accommodations from AirBnB/hotel websites, or SBCS can help with group bookings and campus housing to keep costs under $85/night. In 2026, families budgeted about $90 to $180 per night on their own. -
No visa is needed for stays of 90 days or less. Passports must be valid through your stay, and the Taiwan Arrival Card must be completed online up to 3 days before arrival. Confirm current rules on the State Department’s Taiwan page before booking.
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Yixin Chinese School collects each family’s medical information in order to provide insurance coverage for class time and related travels. No vaccines are required for entry, but ask your doctor about Hepatitis A. We recommend travel insurance with medical evacuation, since many hospitals require upfront payment.
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Summers are hot and humid. Hot days tend to be followed/cooled by rainy days. Plans and outings are timed to minimize overheating, and students are mostly indoors in air conditioning for class.
Taiwan’s government decides typhoon closures, and classes cancelled by natural disasters are not made up. Over the last 5 summers that Yixin had run its in-person program post COVID, there has only been 1 typhoon closure that cancelled class for 1 school day.
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Click here to register for the 2027 June 21–July 3 or July 12–24 session. Applications are accepted until April 15, 2027, space permitting, but early bird discount count ends mid-January. There is no minimum enrollment, but classes do max out quickly.
Withdrawals at least one month before your session begins are refunded, less a 10% administrative fee.
Every site we partner with comes with its own set of learning themes that inspire very specific vocabulary. With our focused curriculum and specialized instruction, this camp provides a structured, full-day schedule that balances learning with outdoor cultural experiences—ideal for families seeking a meaningful, yet educational, summer break option. Space is limited—early enrollment encouraged!
We are also actively seeking partnerships in Mainland China & Malaysia. So subscribe to our newsletter and stay tuned!