To broaden students’ international perspectives and strengthen their foreign-language skills, students from the Department of Buddhist Studies at Fo Guang University traveled to Fo Guang Shan Chu Un Temple in Cebu, the Philippines, during the summer break for an overseas study program. Immersed in an English-speaking environment, they enhanced their language proficiency while participating in monastic life, Buddhist services, and cultural visits. The program offered an international learning experience that integrated language learning, cultural exploration, and Buddhist practice.

Ting-Chuan Teng (鄧葶涓), a sixth-year doctoral student, shared that the immersive English-speaking environment significantly increased the students’ confidence in using English and provided them with valuable experience of living and learning abroad. She expressed particular gratitude for the support of the Chang Family Filial Piety Scholarship and the thoughtful care provided by Chu Un Temple, which enabled the students to devote themselves fully to their studies.

Observing the daily operation of a Buddhist temple overseas also gave the students a deeper appreciation of the challenges involved in propagating the Dharma abroad. While language learning was a major focus of the program, students also put what they had learned in the Department of Buddhist Studies into practice through temple life. Their activities included participating in Dharma services, taking responsibility for Dharma instruments during rituals, and assisting with various temple duties. Teng noted that engaging directly in service and contributing to the temple community gave her a deeper appreciation of the importance and transformative power of the Department’s emphasis on practice-based Buddhist education.

Ting-Hui Yeh (葉丁慧), a fourth-year undergraduate student, shared that being immersed in an English-speaking environment required her to communicate in English with teachers and local residents on a daily basis. This gradually helped her overcome her hesitation to speak and taught her that having the courage to speak is a crucial part of language learning. In addition to improving her spoken English, she strengthened her English writing skills through coursework. With patient guidance from her teachers, she gradually developed greater confidence in expressing her ideas in English.

The overseas study program in the Philippines not only strengthened the students’ English-language abilities and broadened their international perspectives, but also enabled them to grow through monastic life and practice-based learning, deepening their understanding of the Dharma through service. The Department of Buddhist Studies at Fo Guang University continues to encourage students to engage with the wider world through diverse overseas learning opportunities, cultivating Buddhist professionals who combine academic expertise, humanistic concern, practical experience, and a global outlook.