In an effort to foster the outstanding educators
with global perspective, the Center for Teacher Education of Soochow University
administers the one-month internship abroad program with the Department of
English Language and Literature every summer. This year, the director of Center
for Teacher Education, Professor James Lee, along with a group of 6 outstanding
students selected from the Soochow University visited Houston from August 21 to
September 20 for this internship program. The students have completed their
internships in KIPP Intrepid Preparatory School and Sharpstown International
High School for one week each during this program.
Besides, the Education Division of the
Taipei Economic and Cultural Office also arranged several local education
institutions field trips for this group, included University of St. Thomas,
University of Houston, Taylor High School, and Houston Christian High School.
The students had the chance to enhance their knowledge and skills of education
through observation and interaction with the local educators and students.
This internship abroad program initiated
since 2009, and focus on the after-school learning of the disadvantaged
students. This program is appreciated by the students and academic
institutions, and increases the opportunities of education collaboration between
Taiwan and the U.S. Through this internship program, these future educators of
Taiwan would get to know better about the differences of the school operation,
curriculum, and the classroom atmospheres between Taiwan and the U.S., and broaden their horizons.
The director of Education Division, Sophie
Chou, said that it is happy to see so many excellent Taiwanese students visit
Texas for the academic exchange every summer.
She encourages the students to embrace this opportunity to explore the
diverse culture of the United States, acknowledge the education systems and
environments of the U.S., and fully utilize these precious experiences and
knowledge gained from the visits in the future education practice.