Taiwanese communities in MA (Boston, Cambridge: neighborhood, school, living)

[Downtheline]

Hi guys,

My family would like to learn Chinese language in person particularly from a teacher from Taiwan. Does anyone know how to find Taiwanese communities in MA? Thanks!

[simplexsimon]

I would use Google.

[bostongymjunkie]

There was once many Taiwanese in Chinatown. These days you will find them in places such as Quincy, Malden, Brookline, and Cambridge. You might want to call the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center or Chinatown Community Education Center.

[Urban Peasant]

Taiwanese are often inter-dispersed with Mainland Chinese throughout Greater Boston. I am not sure about adult education but the Kwong Kow Chinese School https://www.kwongkowschool.org/ in Chinatown was founded decades ago by Chinese Guomindang supporters and still teaches traditional characters commonly used in Taiwan as opposed to simplified characters used on the Mainland. Their texts might even still have the Zuyin Zimu (National Phonetic Alphabet) affixed to the Chinese chracters, a feature found in Taiwan printed books but not Mainland ones. Kwong Kow primarily teaches children but they might have special adult education courses or can at least point the O.P. in the right direction to where to find suitable adult Chinese courses.

[BostonBornMassMade]

I knew a Taiwanese family in Lexington growing up 10/+ years ago. For that and other socioeconomic reasons I’d imagine a good number of Taiwanese to be there.

[bostongymjunkie]

There are quite a few Chinese in Lex and they have a Chinese school.

[simplexsimon]

OP is asking for Taiwanese which is slightly different from Chinese explained well by Urban Peasant particularly for the purposes of learning the written language. Most Chinese people I've met around here are from the mainland or Hong Kong/Guangdong region.

[bostongymjunkie]

Originally Posted by simplexsimon

OP is asking for Taiwanese which is slightly different from Chinese explained well by Urban Peasant particularly for the purposes of learning the written language. Most Chinese people I've met around here are from the mainland or Hong Kong/Guangdong region.

Yes, I get this. I presume most other respondents do as well. Where there are large Chinese populations you will also find, in many cases, Taiwanese. The OP asked for possible communities where those of Taiwanese decent may be living, not a discussion about the nuances between culture or language.

[Bettafish]

If learning Chinese language is the only purpose, it is not necessary to look for a Taiwanese teacher. The official languages of mainland China and Taiwan are both Mandarin Chinese, and the difference is too small for a second language learner to have a strong preference.

(I'm a native speaker of Mandarin Chinese.)

[OyCrumbler]

Originally Posted by Bettafish

If learning Chinese language is the only purpose, it is not necessary to look for a Taiwanese teacher. The official languages of mainland China and Taiwan are both Mandarin Chinese, and the difference is too small for a second language learner to have a strong preference.

(I'm a native speaker of Mandarin Chinese.)

There is a prominent difference in terms of the writing and reading though with traditional characters (Taiwan) vs simplified (China). There are certainly quite a few shared words or symbols, but in my observations, it seems easier going from traditional to simplified rather than the other way around. Traditional is also pretty good for artwork and calligraphy! I'm a native speaker of Mandarin Chinese as well as Taiwanese Hokkien who grew up with traditional characters.

I think an easier way to go about this for the OP would be to look for people who can teach traditional character writing and reading which does not necessarily guarantee Taiwanese, but has a better chance.