July 23, 2013
In an effort to provide better English language learning environments
for school-aged children in Taiwan, the Ministry of Education, R.O.C. (Taiwan)
has been actively bringing qualified foreign English teachers to teach in primary
and secondary schools, especially those in the rural areas throughout Taiwan.
 |
| Right 1: Ms. Judy Fang, Teacher |
The goals of the program are to broaden the experiences of Taiwan’s
young minds and to create lifelong international goodwill between the United
States and Taiwan.
To achieve the goals, the Ministry of Education of R.O.C. (Taiwan) has
signed the Memorandum of Understanding on Educational Cooperation with the
Education Department of Arkansas State and the Texas Education Agency.
Contracted teachers will be compensated with the cost of round-trip
airfare, housing stipends, and monthly wages in accordance with their
educational background and teaching experiences. The intangible benefits to the
teachers are even more appealing, including intimate exposure to the rich
heritage, natural beauty, and diversity of Taiwan. Moreover, Taiwan’s
world-renowned cuisine, wealth of historical landmarks, and unique cultures
await exploration.
The program was introduced to qualified (holding a bachelor or
higher degree with valid educator’s certificate) teachers who are interested in
sharing their passions and professional in Taiwan by the Education Division of
Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston since year 2007. Up to year 2013,
there will be a total of thirty three qualified teachers landing in Taiwan’s
English language classrooms. The statistical table is as indicated below.
Statistics of Teaching English
in Taiwan Program 2013
|
|
Year
|
Number of Teachers
|
2007
|
3
|
2008
|
1
|
2009
|
1
|
2011
|
8
|
2012
|
13
|
2013
|
7
|
TOTAL
|
33
|
As of year 2013 alone, there are eight application submissions,
seven teachers are approved by the Ministry of Education of R.O.C. (Taiwan),
and are assigned to nine schools over five counties respectively; the list
below shows schools and counties to which those teachers will be giving English
lessons.
County
|
School
|
Hsinchu County
|
Chu-Bei Elementary School
Fu-Long Elementary School
|
Miaoli County
|
Wen-Hua Elementary School
|
Wen-Feng Elementary School
Jao-Hu Elementary School
|
|
Hualien County
|
Tzu-Chiang Elementary School
|
Feng-Lin Junior High School
|
|
Chiayi County
|
Affiliated Experimental Elementary
School National Chia-Yi University
|
Nantou County
|
Ying-Pei Junior High School
|
The program not only takes advantage of the pedagogies, resource materials,
and curriculum expertise that foreign teachers have to offer but also creates
great opportunities to students, local school teachers, administrators,
parents, and even communities with genuine intercultural exchange with those
from different language and cultural backgrounds.
 |
| Left 1: Mr. Robert Gunn, Teacher |
As the program continues, the increasing number of teacher recruitment speaks the endeavors that educational correlated units between the U.S. and the Education Division of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston had been put in to make the program come to reality. Moreover, the Colorado State has made an agreement on the Memorandum of Understanding on Educational Cooperation with the Ministry of Education of R.O.C. (Taiwan) with strong belief that more qualified teachers will be recruited for the Teaching English in Taiwan Program in the year to come.