Originally Posted by
Jamoldo
Although I speak Mandarin (and have been made fun of lightly for sounding like someone from the Mainland), it was my impression that the level of English, particularly amongst younger people in Taipei was far better than that of mainland China.
I can't compare because I don't know the mainland well. But compared with many other Asian destinations there are not many foreigners in Taiwan. You will always find young enthusiasts in Starbucks, but elsewhere even if young people know some English they are often very shy to try which is a pity. Generally shopkeepers, taxi drivers etc won't speak English at all. But there are always unpredictable exceptions - an ancient dishevelled chap accosted me at a junction in Taichung once and was keen to say hello. He claimed to have been "an English teacher under the Japanese".
As you have Mandarin you'll be fine. (Some older people aren't too hot at that though!)
If I find people speaking English I always try and heap encouragement on them. It is a bit different to, say, Vietnam where I've found people never shy to "have a go" even if they are hopeless.
Older people often speak some Japanese.