Languages

The official language of Taiwan is Mandarin Chinese, but because many Taiwanese are of southern Fujianese descent, Minnan (the Southern Min dialect, or Heluo) is also widely spoken. The smaller groups of Hakka people and aborigines have also preserved their own languages (Hakka dialects & Indigenous languages). Many elderly people can also speak some Japanese, as they were subjected to Japanese education before Taiwan was returned to Chinese rule in 1945 after the Japanese occupation which lasted for half a century.

The most popular foreign language in Taiwan is English, which is part of the regular school curriculum(More information can be found under "Mainstream Education" in the later blog post of "Modes of Education"). However, to be on the safe side, when taking a taxi in Taiwan, it is advisable to prepare a note with your place of destination written in Chinese to show the taxi driver.

Taiwan is also the most ideal place to learn Chinese. There are numerous language schools that offer Chinese classes, ranging from hourly-based classes to recognized university programs. Many foreigners from Europe and the United States, as well as other areas, spend their holidays or a few years in Taiwan to study Chinese. (More information can be found under "International Exchanges" in "Modes of Education".)

Main information source: http://eng.taiwan.net.tw/m1.aspx?sNo=0002010