Farewell Dinner with Principal Lin

On Friday evening, July 25, the teachers attended a farewell dinner with Principal Lin, Helen Lee, and the host families at a traditional Taiwanese restaurant.  The principal expressed his thanks to the host families for their generosity in hosting the American teachers.  He presented a gift and framed certificate to each host family in appreciation!




Principal Lin also thanked each American teacher for teaching in the Summer English Program, and he presented each one with a gift and lovely framed photo certificate. 

A tremendous amount of planning, preparation, and daily monitoring is needed for a successful Summer English Program each year.  The American teachers thanked Principal Lin, Jerry and Ellie Fussell, and Mr. Shih for their capable, never-ending help in making the program what it is. Helen Lee was thanked for her coordination and overall directing of the program.  

 

Homeroom teachers Sandrine and Julia were also in attendance. The American teachers thanked them for their help with the San Sin students during the program.  Office assistant Jen Tsai was acknowledged for her work in preparing materials and certificates for the program as well.

Teaching in Taiwan is a life-changing experience for the American teachers, and they expressed their appreciation with gifts and hugs! Although the teachers will be miles apart from their Taiwanese families and friends, their hearts will remain in Taiwan with the truly wonderful people they have come to love and appreciate!

Closing Ceremony on Friday, July 25

The "Closing Ceremony" was held on Friday, July 25, to signify the end of the four-week San Sin-TCC Summer English Program. The principal, Mr. Lin, opened the ceremony, welcoming the students and their American teachers. Then, Dr. O'Kon thanked the principal, Mrs. Helen Lee, the San Sin English Department head, Jerry and Ellie Fussell, and Mr. Shih for their continued help with the program. She also encouraged the San Sin students to continue working hard with their English studies. Two of the teaching assistants, Alex and Jingo, served as moderators and translated these comments into Mandarin Chinese for the audience.

Dr. O'Kon said to the students, "Your American teachers have all been impressed with the level of English skills found in many of the San Sin students. The students here truly care about improving their English abilities. And it is an inspiration to us all to see how hard you are working to learn more about English and to use it correctly. The ability to speak and use another language correctly will ensure your success in the future. Keep up the good work!"

Next, some students received group awards for their outstanding PBL projects that had been presented the day before. First-year and second-year students were acknowledged for their preparation and oral presentations of their projects. The winners were:

First-Year Students:
     1st Place:  Class A-3  "Leisure Time"
     Sam, Tiffany, Holly, Stan, Win, Dolly

     2nd Place:  Class A-2  "Leisure Time"
     Olivia, Daisy, Betty, Amanda, Aileen

Second-Year Students:
     1st Place:  Class C-2  "Leisure Time"
     Alice, Peggy, Angela, Pearl, Katy, Sandy, Miranda,
     Ethan, Odin, Eric, Fanny

     2nd Place:  Class E-4  "Eating Around the World"
     Cindy, Joy, Anna, Joanne, Tina, May

The American teachers also gave the "Best English Speaker" award to one first-year student, Jessy, and one second-year student, Angela.

Each student received a certificate for completion of the Summer English Program. The American teachers also presented special awards for Outstanding Academic Achievement and for Excellent Participation in class to individual students. Group photos were taken of the English classes with their American teachers!

After a short break, the student performances began.  Groups of San Sin students sang, danced, and played games. Then, the American teachers performed the "Game Show." They played a number of crazy games, drawing student names randomly by lottery as participants.

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The students asked their American teachers to sign the back of their certificates and write brief notes to them.  Also, many students wanted individual photos with the teacher, so a lot of pictures were taken! And although hugging is not a part of Taiwanese culture, the American teachers made it so!










Special thanks was expressed to the Teaching Assistants: Alex, Lily, Jingo, Mita, and Blair.  Their help was invaluable throughout the program.  They worked very hard and are very much appreciated!

Week Four: Teaching about "Check, Please! Eating Around the World"

The curriculum topic for the fourth week of the Summer English Program was "Check, Please! Eating Around the World."  The unit focused on eating in restaurants, types of restaurants, American versus Taiwanese restaurants, and healthy/unhealthy foods. Their vocabulary words included: formal dining, fast food, hot pot, street vendor, four-course meal, buffet, menu, reservation, and specials. 

The students also learned about how to politely complain in a restaurant when there is a problem with either the food or the service. Many "food idioms" were also introduced, such as: pig out, cool as a cucumber, out of this world, and your eyes were bigger than your stomach!

                     

                        Class C

Students in each class were also working on their PBL presentations (Project-Based Learning) that they will be making on Thursday.  Groups of students within each class will do oral presentations in English on one of the curriculum topics, in front of a panel of judges! These projects take a tremendous amount of preparation, and the teachers assisted them after class with their English grammar, spelling, and pronunciation. 

On Monday, Mr. Shih treated the teachers and teaching assistants to a Japanese lunch at the restaurant called Song John Teen.  Much delicious food was ordered and eaten!

On Thursday, July 24, the San Sin students presented their PBL (Project-Based Learning) projects in the 7th floor auditorium.  Principal Lin spoke to the students, saying that he is sure that they learned a lot of English during the Summer Program.  Dr. O'Kon spoke to the students and told them that doing the PBL projects is a great opportunity to show how much they have learned.  The American teachers and Ellie Fussell served as judges for the PBL projects.  

There were 15 group projects, and each related to one of the curriculum themes covered in the Summer Program. The groups that will receive awards for their projects will be announced at the Closing Ceremony on Friday!

 

Adapting to Life in Taiwan

Teachers and student teachers from Tallahassee have participated in the San Sin-TCC Summer English Program in Kaohsiung since 1993.  Living in Kaohsiung and adapting to Taiwanese culture has always presented challenges for the American teachers. The reversal of one's nights and days, the extremely warm temperatures, the language barrier, the squat toilets, the crowded city, the heavy traffic, the hundreds of motorcycles in the streets and on the sidewalks....these are only a few factors that make every day interesting!  Despite the differences, the warmth and beauty of the Taiwanese people make this the experience of a lifetime!

This year, each student teacher was asked to describe some of the things that he or she found to be the most challenging in adapting to living in Taiwan. Here are their responses:

SEAN CARMICHAEL:   My journey to Kaohsiung has required some adjustments from my normal American routine, but I have experienced more than I ever would have thought possible. The people of Taiwan live a fast-paced lifestyle. Since my arrival, every minute of my day has been filled with some sort of activity. My host brother will often stop halfway through lunch to make sure he explains the next three items on our daily agenda. I wake up early and rush to the bus, the bus driver drives expeditiously, I eat breakfast quickly, and I walk with haste to school. My entire day feels like I am moving at warp-speed.  If by chance there is a rare moment of down time, the appropriate thing to do is take a quick nap to recharge the life battery.

        I have so much respect for the people of Taiwan, because they have a real sense of drive about their school and work.  It is easy for any foreigner traveling to the country to see their passion for people and life. Another adjustment that I quickly made upon arrival in Kaohsiung, was the abandonment of my own ideas on personal space. Kaohsiung is a large city, but with so many inhabitants, space is still limited. My first ride on the city bus to school was met with awkward body bumps and at least three incidents of an uncoordinated American falling into someone. The great thing is it never seems to bother the wonderful people of Taiwan. Everyone smiles and continues with their busy, often crowded day. This teaching opportunity in Kaohsiung, Taiwan at San Sin High School has been the greatest learning experience I have ever been a part of. Taiwan is amazing!  Please let me stay!

DANIELLE HESS:  I think one of the biggest changes you make here in Taiwan is the change of pace. I feel that every time I come over to Taiwan (this is my third time), I have to adjust from the busy, busy, busy rush of life in Florida to the more casually planned Taiwan. In my life in Florida, I have many things planned in advance to do and I have to get them all done yesterday. In Taiwan, activities are much more casually arranged, change at the last minute, or are added at the last minute. (That's not to say we don't have deadlines and plans for our teaching activities.)

            Traffic is another big adjustment. You go from the rigidity of traffic in Florida, to the fluidity of traffic in Taiwan. Right of ways, red lights, pedestrian crossings and lanes are all just suggestions. However, there is a beauty in the chaos. Drivers here (as I have observed) SHARE the road.  They are willing to let others make a three-point turn in the middle of a busy four-lane road, or allow someone else to merge directly in front of them. In Taiwan, horns are "just want to let you know I am here" and not an angry road rage induced blare. 

JESSICA OLIVE:  Even though this is my first year in Taiwan, I was amazed right off the bat with how "at home" I felt. The Taiwanese culture in general is extremely gratuitous and giving. It was amazing to me on my first day how clean the public transportation was, and how, despite the language barrier, the attendants were extremely helpful.

                   One of the biggest changes I've had to make personally, at home with my host family, and in my teaching, is the speed at which I talk! That language barrier itself isn't hugely overwhelming, but reminding myself to slow down so everyone can understand me is very difficult for some reason! I have really enjoyed that little battle, though, because it shows even more how patient and caring the people of Taiwan are. My host parents especially have struggled to communicate with me at times and their continual effort is so appreciated. I am always amazed that we find a way to understand each other, no matter what!

KATIE LILLY:  This is my second year coming to teach in the San Sin-TCC Summer English Program. It is a completely contrasting environment, culture, and all-around dynamic from the United States. Even though I knew a little more of what to expect this go-round, I'm still amazed at how wonderfully welcoming the Taiwanese people are, and how we are given opportunities to learn and grow each day.

            With that being said, not only do we experience first-hand a huge language barrier (with our host families, students, and even with people on the street, bus or MRT), but we experience different foods, driving/traffic etiquette, and maybe a different type of bed or mattress. What truly amazes me, though, is that with all of these variations, we get over the barriers. We connect deeply with the people of this beautiful culture.  In the end, Taiwan sincerely could change the country's slogan from, "Taiwan: Touch Your Heart" to "Taiwan: Where Your Heart Will Stay."

Motorcycles everywhere!

Open Air Market in Taiwan.

Trip to Sandiman and Meinong

On Sunday, July 20, Mr. Shih and Helen Lee took the teachers and teaching assistants by bus to the Sandiman Artistic Village in the mountainous area of Pingtung County. First, they went to the Dragonfly Bead Art Studio to learn how to produce and glaze glass beads.  They selected a designated design, and then native aboriginal women assisted them in heating the glass and refining it. They decorated the bead shape by melting specific colored glass sticks on the surface. They put the final touches on each bead and made them smoother over heat.  After cooling, each bead would be used for a bracelet, necklace, or key chain.

Next, they went to the Taiwan Indigenous Peoples Cultural Park, and immediately went to the theater to see the 10:30 show. They watched a dance and folk song performance by members of native aboriginal tribes.  There are many native tribes inhabiting the island of Taiwan, including the Amis, Yami, Paiwan, Truku, Thao, Rukai, and Puyuma tribes. The dancers wore very colorful costumes and clearly enjoyed showing off their native dances, songs, and musical instruments. 

 







                               

The traditional jumping picture at the Taiwan Indigenous Peoples Cultural Park.

The teachers also tested the strength of a very old, but sturdy, suspension bridge. Fortunately it held! After a delicious traditional Taiwanese lunch, the group traveled to the folk village at Meinong for ice cream and a little shopping.