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Chiao, Kevin (赵重鈞)
First and foremost, I had the time of my life at AidSummer 2012. This was the first time I've done something like this, and it definitely opened my eyes. At first I didn't know what to expect. I was a bit reluctant and even scared to come to Taiwan, or rather to even think about teaching English to children. However, my mood immediately changed after I entered the program and spent the first night at ChienTan, The first night, with all the introductions and icebreakers, eased the anxiety I had felt, and definitely made it I easier to adjust and to absorb all the coming information. Throughout the week, I learned many different strategies of teaching English, and, quite interestingly, it all seemed easier than I thought after everything was pieced together. As the days went by, I grew more impatient as I wanted to go to our school already. I guess you can already tell the excitement I had because of my urgency. Not only was the teaching week amazing and informational, the bonding time with my future colleagues made the whole thing that much more worthwhile. Without the bonding time, I feel that the program wouldnt have been as successful because one could easily get lost. Anyways, the day we all left to our respective schools was quite sad as we would not get to see opt he new friends we made for two weeks, some even three. Everyone, including me, shared heartfelt moments and embraced in a final hug before we gave our final goodbyes. The two weeks of teaching went by way too quickly! The first couple of hours and up until the end of the first day things were a bit rough as we were still getting used to the new environment and the children were still getting used to us. The teachers, principal, and the advisors all helped us immensely though, and made everything much more relaxed and easier. After the first day, everything fell into place. Teaching was smooth as we were armed with the weapons of knowledge and strategies that we already were taught. The kids went to class everyday eager to learn and that itself melted my heart. They really enjoyed our company and they enjoyed learning English and using it. However, the best part about teaching was the interaction and the relationship we had with our students. Everyday the students would run up to us and greet us with giant smiles. They always wanted to talk, always wanted to learn and know more about us, our culture, and obviously, English. We taught, and they learned. That is the sole reason why the two weeks passed by so quickly. The last day was quite sad, but also rewarding, as we saw the kids perform the materials they learned during the closing ceremony. It was so cute and so emotional to witness their usage of the things they learned. I was the only one out of my colleagues who shed tears, because I know we probably wouldn't ever see the children ever again. The tour was extremely fun. Nthing really to say about that, as visiting the various places of Taiwan is always good. The food was great, and the lodging was really good, except the Feng Chia loading with 14 guys in one room. It was very awkward and no one liked it. Overall, this entire experience has been a life changer: I never knew what this type of program had to offer until I personally experienced and witnessed everything, Im really sad that we all had to part and say our goodbyes, but it was inevitable. I definitely will join AidSummer or another similar program if I have the chance.
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CHEN, BRIAN (程士恩)
I really really enjoyed my time here at AID this summer. I am so glad that I decided to apply for this program. This has seriously been on of the best experiences in my life. I made so many new friends and I really got close with them. The students were superb and the counselors really tried to help us and let us have fun. I really think there could have been more leniency with going outside and having fun but overall this program was truly amazing and I will miss it alot.
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Kang, Connie (康果婷)
AID summer 2012 was truly an amazing experience. Coming into this program, I did not expect it to be so much fun. I was able to learn new things and have a blast at the same time. I've made lasting friendships here in just a few short weeks. This program has given me an experience of a life time. Although it was very stressful and tiring at times, the results were very rewarding. I may have complained a couple of times, but looking back on the experience, I wouldn't have changed anything. Like they say, "no pain, no gain."
The first week at Chientan was so much fun. I created so many new friends in just a short span of a week. Needing to get up early every morning and attend lectures was not the highlight of the week, but once inside the lectures, it was actually quite fun and entertaining. The guest lecturerers made everything fun with constant games, singing, and dancing. Allowing for some competition also made it extremely fun. It was always a jam-packed day, but I can safely say that it was still pretty fun. Especially with all the new friends I've created.
The next two weeks at the school was definitely the best part of this whole program. Not only was I able to interact with little kids to help me further my experience with them to help me with my future career as a teacher, but I was also able to get very close to my teammates, counselors, and teachers. Teaching with my teaching partner was so much fun. We stayed up late a couple nights trying to figure out the plans for the next day, but they were always fun. Stress never really overtook me. As for the weekend tour, it was extremely fun. I loved going around the whole island learning about the different cultures of Kinmen. Being a pretty active person, I absolutely enjoyed the hiking and biking adventures and and around Kinmen and Little Kinmen. The two weeks that I spent with my teammates, teachers, counselors, and students was the best experience I could as for. I learned so many new things while having fun - it doesn't get any better than that.
Finally, the last week of touring with all 350 of us volunteer teachers was a blast too. AID took us to so many places around Taiwan. It was really a lot of fun. Everyday we were running, screaming, and dancing around. By the end of each day, I was absolutely exhausted, but it was worth it all. Being able to hang out with my friends that I've gained was a nice way to relieve ourselves after all the hardwork we put in beforehand for those two to three weeks.
I'm extremely happy that I got the chance to participate in this program. It was been a life-changing experience, and definitely a memorable summer that I will never forget. From new experiences to lasting friendships, this summer has been one of the best summer's I have ever had. Hopefully I will be able to do this again in the future. AID summer 2012! :) <3
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Tsai, Carol (蔡欣陵)
Before coming to the AID program, I admit, I was not very excited. I have wanted to be a teacher since I was 6. Therefore, I decided to spend my summer teaching abroad and felt that Taiwan would be a good start since I could speak Chinese and my parents wanted to take a family trip after. However, reading about the program on the website did not seem like the type of program I wanted, but since I had already applied and got accepted, I felt weird not taking it.
Then, after the first day of being at Chientan, I felt I had made a good decision. It didn't take very long for the 8 of us, C1-2 teaching group, to become friends. Spending 4 weeks with each other 24/7 made us close really quick, and it made the experience even more memorable being able to share it with others.
At NanHo Junior High School, we were divided into 3 groups. Three of us had the new incoming 7th graders with very low proficiency, two of us had the 8th graders with low proficiency, and the rest of us three had the 8th graders who were top of their class. Somehow, the different groups seemed to fit us perfectly.
My group had the higher proficiency 8th graders. After the first day of class, we all compared our students, and it seemed like my group had it easy. Our students listened to everything we told them to do and they seemed to learn the vocab really fast. Even when we said "Break time!", none of them would budge, so we had to turn our backs to them! But we had a different challenge. We struggled to provide content difficult enough, and we needed to work on participation. Almost all of our students were shy and would not voluntarily talk and would talk very softly. Therefore, we changed our lessons to include more oral speaking and more games that involved talking but in groups. We felt that we had to ease them out of their comfort zone. By the second week, we had a rowdy class, but in a good way! Near the end, they were all attempting to talk to us during breaks and to get to know us and America better. It taught me that we needed to instill confidence in the students. English is tough and many of them were afraid to speak because they didn't want to be wrong and laughed at.
Another accomplishment that taught me a lot was when our lesson was food. We were teaching them "broccoli". They were a bit confused on what that was so we thought maybe we would tell them in Chinese. But the three of us looked at each other and produced blank stares. None of us knew how to say it! So we had to ask the students. On top of learning how to say it in Chinese, I asked the students how to write it. The students were so eager to teach the teachers something that about 5 students ran up to the board wanting to show us. Then, I thought, "Well, we ask the students to write new words in their journal three times; I guess I should too." So that's what I did. I started writing it once when all the students started to scream and say, "NO! You're writing "tea", not "vegetable"!!!" Somehow, I had kept switching the words. So I wrote it an extra three times! That day, I had a trade-off with the students. Anything I taught in English and didn't know how to say or write in Chinese, they would teach me.The students thought it was so funny but they realized why we had been asking them to write it so many times. They felt better about it and some even started to write it more times if one of the teachers told them it was incorrect. I saw that learning something foreign can be intimidating. Bringing ourselves to their level and showing them that we are the same makes them less scared and more confident to learn.
Before, I thought that it was just 2 weeks, how much could we possibly do? But, even though 2 weeks was certainly not enough, I felt that I had impacted the students. They fell in love with us, telling us we were the best teachers they have met. One student wrote me a letter saying, "I am scared of English, I don't know why, but I effort write this letter." And another had written that they wish we could be their teachers all the time because they think English is fun now after we played a lot of games and told them stories. That made my heart warm because that was the goal all along. 2 weeks is really not enough to really further content knowledge, but for the students to just WANT to try to learn English for their own sake and not just to pass a class is very important.
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Chung, Tiffanie (鐘嘉瑩)
Last month, my school counselor interviewed me in order to get to know me better, and speaking about my experiences this summer with AID Summer 2012, I was amazed when I found myself bawling my eyes out while sitting in the uncomfortable leather chair in her office. The memories that AID Summer has left upon me is still indescribable at this point, and I have even postponed writing a reflection until this very moment.
Here is my story. I am not originally Taiwanese, so I have never been to Taiwan before. And I had studied in Chinese school for the longest time, but my Mandarin is still nowhere close to perfect since my home language in Cantonese. Nevertheless, I saw this program as a chance to be in a place I had never been to before and to see things I had never yet witnessed. Plus, the idea of interacting with children, meeting new people, and getting hours truly sparked my interests in the program. My friend's cousin told me about her experiences when she was part of the AID Summer program in 2010, and it sounded very enticing to me. When it came time for me to apply during my junior year, it felt like the longest application I had ever done. I had no particular worry about not getting in, as my family had already planned to go on a trip to Hong Kong and China around that time. I would have to miss a portion of the China trip if I went to Taiwan. Also, my birthday was actually a day after the having-to-turn-17-by-November-31-2012 requirement. So, getting that acceptance letter around March, I was still pretty hesitant about actually going on the trip. I did, of course, end up clicking yes, and so my summer was set. Our family flew to Beijing on June 20, spent a few days there, and then we went to Hong Kong. After our visit in Hong Kong, my family split up and went to a different place in China while I flew solo to Taiwan. It was honestly a very scary experience, and I was surprised that I found myself crying as I walked into the airport, waving goodbye to my dad. And that was actually only the beginning for me. My first week at ChienTan was one of the hardest weeks, knowing that my entire family from my mom's side was having fun without me as I had to endure lectures after lectures had me very family sick and bitter. Then, I guess I got a fever from all the family-sickness. So definitely, the first week was not a pleasant week for me. And I wasn't so sure about my group mates at first either. But I consider myself so so so lucky to have been put with the people I was put with. Not only were they interesting and intellectually motivated as I was, they were funny, helpful (with my summer AP Physics homework), as well as... just the best people to hang out with!! Our TA's turned out to be the funniest, chillest people. And hanging out with them on the weekends was basically the highlights of the two weeks at our school. Of course the children were super cute, and although my teaching skills were probably the worst of my group, I still had lots of fun with the children. Seeing them at the market or at the local boba shop or just biking around was the best thing about living in a small part of the city. In fact, they walked over to see us off on our last morning there. My roommates were awesome; the six of us shared three bunk beds on the third floor, and my bottom bunk collapsed a total of three times (and by collapse, I mean collapse). And I swear I also saw a cockroach below my bed. Actually, we didn't have as many bugs as other people did and our living conditions were pretty decent, so no complaints. The guys in our group lived on the second story, and there were only two of them. So, they had lots of room, and their AC never broke on them! I feel like our group clicked really superbly together, and maybe we were one of the closest groups there. Anyway, the thing I really love about Taiwan is the amount of night markets there are. I feel like we went to so many of them that I can't possibly remember all of them at this moment! But they were all really fun. I seriously can keep on going with this, but I will move on to tour week. So basically, tour week started out by all of us B2-4 crying with our TA's when we were back at ChienTan because we already missed them so much (yes, even with them standing in ChienTan). Some of them promised to visit us during the tour, so that was really awesome! We were the Central Tour, Bus B. And I felt like we had a cool bus of people. Honestly, the first day of tour was probably the most exhausting because after a short forty minutes of driving to ChienTan for us, we had a two hour drive to our next destination. But we had to stop by the nature place, and it wasn't pleasant since we were so tired. I can seriously say that tour week passed by so quickly, in such a tiring manner, I can't remember everything that we did. We were in multiple places each day, and they were all so very fun! But still, very tiring. It felt united when there were just so many people together in a place, like at dinner or especially at the talent show. Tour week passed by in a blink, and it was the last night before July 28. We were let out to go to the Shilin night market and given a curfew of 12 AM, which was very exciting. I had to catch a bus at five in the morning to go to the airport, so after the night market, I took a shower and went downstairs to hang out with my some of my friends for the last night until my bus came. I can admit that I knocked out cold on the ride to the airport, at the airport, and on the plane. AID Summer 2012 was definitely, hands down, the most tiring, fulfilling, exciting adventure I have ever been on. Ever.
I never knew much about Taiwan, but after this trip, I feel like I have a piece of Taiwan in me. I see Taiwan differently than I have ever seen it before, and it's really cool when my Taiwanese friends talk about something in Taiwan and I know exactly what they're talking about. This trip, this summer has changed me in so many different ways. My group mates, TA's, and my students still converse through Facebook. And I miss everything about Taiwan very much. I know my sister will be applying as soon as she is old enough to, so I may think about joining her then. As of now, I feel that this was very long, so I leave this with a nostalgic goodbye! And good luck to all.
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Lee, Tiffany (李英慧)
When I first heard of the AID program, I was uninterested and even refused to apply when my mother first suggested it. But I'm glad that I did. Although I was terrified by the thought of going to a foreign country for nearly a month, the program thus far has honestly been one of the greatest experiences of my life.
After I was accepted, one of my first worries was being alone. This definitely has not been an issue. On the contrary, I've been surrounded for the past three weeks by some of the most amazing people I've ever met. Although my own personal interests may not coincide with theirs, I do share one thing with all of the other AID volunteers: our heritage. Many of the volunteers have never been to Taiwan before or have only visited when they were very young. It was reassuring to know that we were all relatively in the same place, traveling back to our homeland to rediscover the culture of our parents and grandparents.
In addition, I was also worried about teaching the children. I had heard rumors that Taiwanese school children were little devils, always disobeying their teachers and refusing to do any work. Add on the language barrier and I had one large obstacle standing in my path.
I have experience working with children last summer at a math camp, but the environment was much different. The camp was held during the day at my high school, a short 15 minute walk from my house. Traveling to Taiwan for four weeks to teach children who spoke little to no English was daunting in comparison. Surprisingly, teaching in Taiwan has been very similar when it came to the children. The students in my class are just like all the other children I've ever met – some are shy, some are loud, some are stubborn, some are teacher's pets, and some just want to play (card games, in particular).
Rather than dreading every moment spent explaining “common knowledge” to my students, I've enjoyed the challenges they have presented me, forcing me to look at things from a different angle. Spending time teaching in a foreign country has helped me realize how much I enjoy working with children.
At the math camp last year, everyone loved their students because we were teacher's assistants and only had to help with worksheets and supervise during breaks. Now that we are making lesson plans and writing working journals, a clear distinction has risen amongst the volunteers. I doubt I will be an elementary school teacher in the future, but I know that whatever I choose, it will have something to do with children.
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Zo, Adeney (鄒恩慈)
Coming to AID summer, I had high expectations for the program and visiting Taiwan again. I have not been back to Taiwan in 5 years, and I could not wait to see what could be considered my mother country. When I first arrived at Chientan Youth Activity Center, I was a little disappointed with the way things were run. However, training week (despite how bored and trapped I sometimes felt) proved very useful for the coming weeks of teaching. I picked up useful songs, games, and teaching techniques that helped save me from running out of material to teach before the next break. The actual two weeks of teaching were very tiring but extremely rewarding. The students (I had the older, more advanced class) were rather quiet and aloof at first but once the younger girls warmed up to us, the whole class seemed to liven up. Though attempting to bridge the language barrier was difficult and we often received blank stares, the children found a way to bond with us through games that they would teach me. By becoming the student when it came to their culture and favorite pastimes, I found a way to connect with my students and become their friend. Each and every one of them found a way into my heart and I will never forget the enthusiasm and brightness that they brought to the classroom. Their sense of creativity genuinely surprised me.
AID summer program had its ups and downs for me, but in the end, I will look back fondly at all my experiences here in Taiwan. From training to teaching to touring, each week brought with it new things to learn and new experiences to help me grow. The people I have met (and the amazing and very endearing counselors and table teachers!) will forever have an impact on my life and my personal growth. I truly could not have found a better way to spend my summer time than with AID summer.
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Shieh, Jonathan (謝昌庭)
AID Summer is like a burrito - a fat, juicy, succulent, Taiwanese style burrito. Where am I going with this simile? Teaching English is the outside tortilla, it's the part we all see, the purpose of the program, the thing that holds everything together. Without it, the rest would just fall out into a scattered mess. However, while it is so very important, it is surely not the best part. No matter how cheesy it may sound, the filling is most certainly, the part we really care about. It's the places where we would never imagine going; it's the people we would have never met otherwise; and it's the experiences we all gain from participating in AID Summer 2012.
Many people overlook the first week at Chientan - casting it aside as the least memorable period of the trip. They say bed checks are too strict, lessons are too tiresome, food is substandard, and the fact that we have to wear long pants and uniform is demoralizing. Nevertheless, it is important to note that it is the time when AID is most unified. It is before we split up into our schools for teaching and before we split up for our buses for touring. There is a fair chance to meet each and every one of the other 350 volunteers. It's the easiest time to just go up to somebody and introduce yourself. We're only just beginning to add the ingredients.
The real meat of this program comes during the actual teaching, which is the next two weeks. First I have to give props to the faculty at Ren-Ai Elementary in Yunlin County - you guys did a *fantabulous* job of taking care of us. Thank you very much. Special props to Kelvin our security guard for getting his nails painted by the girls - you are an...interesting chill guy (Now back actual reflection). Honestly my 4th graders are no different any other 4th grader in the world. They were energetic and inquisitive, yet sometimes they refused to do work. They were smart and fast learners, yet sometimes they feel afraid to speak English. Obviously every teacher has their own style at tackling these problems, and what I've learned from teaching these kids especially is to be flexible and open-minded while remaining the firm leader of your classroom. Those two weeks have been so memorable though. I bet even after a couple of years, I can still name all my kids in our old photographs. Let's wrap this burrito up.
The tour is your typical tour - it's just that you get to spend it with the same people you've bonded over the past 3 weeks. That's the special sauce - otherwise all you're doing is going to different places. By the time we've made full circle back to Chientan - time to say goodbye - it was really, really sad. And I know, that I will always savor my experience in AID Summer 2012
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Hsieh, Benjamin (謝永信)
Words cannot truly describe my experiences in AID summer program of 2012. From the first letter of acceptance to the final farewell party, the program has shaped not only my understanding of Taiwanese culture, but has also given me an experience of a lifetime. Looking back at the photos on Facebook, I want to laugh, cry, and relive those moments with the children, counselors and teaching group. I sincerely thank the program for giving me an opportunity to form friendships, create memories, and inspire the educational careers of Taiwanese children.
“Now for execution!” The whole crowd burst into laughter as the AID counselors explained the rules and regulations with humorous “Engrish” at the Chientan Activities Center. I found myself surrounded by 350 anxious volunteers participating in icebreaker games. Through massages, handshakes, songs, and chants; the perfect combination of confusion and amusement on the first day allowed most of us to feel somewhat welcomed, if not, at least intrigued by the warmth and spirit of AID counselors. By the end of the training week, we have endured countless hours of tedious lectures and planned numerous teaching presentations. Yet I realize now that all the classes are less of a technical preparation than a mental one. The first week was a time to bond with our teaching group, a time to familiarize ourselves with foreign environment of Taiwan, and a time to gather up our wits for the unexpected ahead.
As the bus pulled in to Yueh Jin elementary in Tainan, I found myself admiring the front courtyard: benches, sculptures and walkways surround by trees, flowers, and grass. The faint sound of beetle and cicadas further reminded me of the beauty and simplicity of Yueh Jin children. The principal and administrators welcomed us with opened arms, brought us out to eat, and explained the social background of many Yueh Jin families. While most children lived with a single parent, grandparents, or step parents, they continue to seek academic opportunities with a strong will to learn. Indeed, this is the spirit of Taiwan, the kind of mentality I have come to love and respect.
“Big Poop, Big Poop!” the children howled my nickname every morning while I enter the classroom. Slowly, I have come to like all the children from smart Alice and witty Jessie to loud Bill2 and queer Ben (aka fried chicken kid). I still hope for the touch of flower presents from giggling girls or the sound of whining kids asking for piggy backs because it is these moments of pure happiness that I find the most rewarding. In the classroom, I feel proud when they learn new vocabulary and participate in class activities even though my teaching partner (-in-crime) has to shush them and maintain classroom control. Outside of class, I cherish those afternoons full of duck, duck, goose and Chinese dodge ball because they remind me that playing hard comes with working hard. Their youth, energy, and enthusiasm have truly touched my heart and empowered me to make a difference in their lives.
Yet all good things must come to an end. Although I am not a very sentimental person, I was especially disappointed to see the program end after what seemed like a blink of an eye. Still, I know I am leaving Taiwan with precious memories and gratifying accomplishments. I want to give a BIG THANK YOU to the AID program and sponsors for making this experience possible. You have indeed lit up my world!
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Hsieh, Pei Yang (謝珮揚)
I'll never forget that first moment I stepped into Chientan filled with anxiety and worry and wondering how I ended up standing there. Before AID, I had never been away from my family for more than a week. I had little experience teaching children anything. I could not contemplate how I would survive a whole month in a foreign country by myself. Unlike some others, I did not know anyone before this program. However, I knew AID was what I wanted to do; I wanted to help the disadvantaged children in Taiwan and have the experience of a lifetime.
That first week of Chientan seemed to go on forever. Training gave me many good ideas and I was very excited to meet my teaching group. Yet despite all the training and lectures, I found myself clutching onto the AID handbook with sweaty hands on the day we left for the schools. I was convinced that I would spend the next two weeks getting destroyed by my students.
For two weeks, I taught rising 5th graders (with a couple 7-year-olds) at 大村國小 in Changhua. On the very first day, my partner and I realized immediately how we could not possibly rely solely on our teaching plan. We had underestimated the time of each period. We had overestimated the student's English skill. We had not accounted for the extreme diversity of English levels in our class. As a result, we found ourselves constantly thinking on our feet.
My class had 16 students. As a first impression, I thought they were quiet and well-behaved. Unfortunately, I discovered the opposite was true by the third day, when we were all more familiar with each other. I will never forget how when the reporters came on day 3, my students suddenly behaved as their normal rowdy selves. To make matters worse, we were getting filmed at a farm, where I frantically tried to make sure I did not lose any of my students. Luckily, that day went more smoothly when we brought slurpees for all the children after the field trip.
Throughout my period of teaching, we encountered many challenges such as this. I will never forget when one student refused to answer a question and consequently laid down on the floor, playing dead. Situations such as these constantly arose, but when we knew our students better, it became much easier to deal with it.
Though two weeks is a very brief period of time, I wanted to make the most out of it. I hope that if my students forget my lessons, they will retain happy memories of learning English forever. My partner and I tried our best to make creative lessons. We took them outside to use chalk to draw vocabulary words. We took them to the supermarket and made fruit monsters for our food and cooking lesson. We even turned their favorite game (大風吹) into an English one. With each day, we all bonded more, and my anxiety of teaching them slowly melted away.
There is so much more I can say about my AID experience, but I will keep it brief. This journey was truly unforgettable. The last day of teaching came way too soon. I learned so many life lessons that will stick with me forever.
I would like say thank you to the staff at 大村國小 for all their help. I want to thank my host family for spoiling my roommate and I. Thank you to my students for teaching me that it's okay to make mistakes and bringing me so much joy in the two weeks we were together. Of course, I want to thank my teaching partner; without him, I would never have made it through it all. Lastly, thank you to AID for making this program possible.
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Su, Maggie (蘇芳儀)
When I first applied for this program and got accepted, I told a high school friend about my summer plan to teach English in Taiwan. Apparently, she had gone through the same program a few years back and really enjoyed it. “It’s really fun,” she told me earnestly. What she didn’t tell me was how much work it would be. I had no idea I would spend a good four to five days battling a cold. I hadn’t known that I would spend two weeks staying up late typing out lesson plans and worksheets and planning fun games that would be both educational and interesting for the students. But you know what? I wouldn’t trade the past two weeks for anything in the world. It’s been one unforgettable experience.
Of course, when I first walked into that classroom on that first day we were to teach, I wanted to die. I was scared to death. What if the students hated me? What if I turned out to be a horrible English teacher? Suddenly, being an English major at UCLA seemed completely irrelevant to what I was about to do. This was all about effectively interacting with these children and simultaneously being their teacher and friend, a balance that I found to be difficult to maintain. But I needn’t have worried. Yes, most of the students were eerily quiet at first, being the oldest and smartest students of the elementary school, but they started to open up to my teaching partner and me after a few days and especially when we had them play some competitive word/sentence games. During lunch, I sat down with my students and ate with them while slowly getting to know them. Sadly, two weeks is not nearly enough time to understand them on a deeper level, but it’s enough time to see how intelligent, sweet, and cute they all are. Some are more outgoing, some are quieter (as I was when I was in elementary school, so I completely understood), and some get on my nerves (the rowdy boys, but I love them all the same), but in the end, they’re all my students, and I love them all. I will truly miss them. On the very last day of school, I had them all sign a poster, which I will hang alongside the group picture on my bedroom wall when I go back to college in California.
In the future, whenever I hear the song “Count on Me,” which was the song my class performed today at the Closing Ceremony, I will probably start crying. Tears actually did start flowing when we rehearsed the song today. After the ceremony ended, many of the children rushed off, especially the boys. I knew that some of them were used to having AID volunteers come in and out of their lives, so they didn’t feel the need to say a sentimental goodbye. It’s sad, but it’s the truth. Others, however, were indeed getting emotional and just didn’t want to show it. I swear Cindy almost cried as she rushed down the stairs, waving goodbye to me. Celina, on the other hand, actually wept as she tried to say goodbye to me as quickly as she could so I wouldn’t notice her tears. Tiffany, the quietest and arguably the smartest girl in class, cried the most. All of this was too much for me – I too started to cry, and the tears wouldn’t stop. It wasn’t until the last day that I realized how much I would miss these wonderful students. During those two weeks, I was so busy trying to put together lesson plans and struggling to control the rowdy students that I never really paused to think about how I would feel after it was all over. And now, I feel both relieved that the work is over but incredibly sad that I may never see my dear students ever again. Thank goodness there’s Facebook.
The students here have taught me so much. I’ve gained so much confidence from teaching them, and I’ve also learned to let loose and have fun with them. They may seem really shy, but underneath the surface they’re just fun-loving, cheeky little kids who want to be loved. I’ve had to be stern (yelling at kids repeatedly to sit down in their seats) and gentle (comforting crying children). I’ve learned that teaching is not an easy profession; my respect for elementary school teachers has increased tenfold. And I’ve learned how wonderful it is to be Taiwanese-American. It’s been a very long time since I was last here in Taiwan, but now that I’m actually living here and making a difference in Taiwanese children’s lives, I feel so happy and enlivened. I’m so grateful for this opportunity and for the wonderful memories gained here that I’ll cherish forever.
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Kang, Eric (康果翔)
It's been nearly three weeks since I started the Aidsummer program. I was honestly scared at first about what I'd encounter during this trip. But my worries all turned to naught. Though some of my groupies are a little eccentric, they provide so much color to the group. There hasn't been a moment when I've thought hanging out with them is boring.
It's been about two weeks since I've arrived at Song May Elementary School. I didn't know what to expect out of the students I was going to teach. When I first met my students, they were all quiet and stiff. It worried me a little just how still they were. But eventually, they all opened and warmed up to us teachers. I learned a lot about them. Teaching them English was hard, since being taught English isn't the most exciting thing in the world. I tried to spice things up with games, but I soon found out that the games I enjoy playing weren't always games the students enjoyed playing. This made it hard since I would have to guess just what they liked. I've tried to forward approach and asked them what game they wanted to play, but all they do is shake their heads and shrug. For the first few days, it was honestly frustrating. They weren't really receptive to anything I did and they didn't display enormous interest in learning English. But after the first few days, with the help of a few lucky guesses, I managed to get them to play and shout more naturally. Students would cling and students would seek attention. That moment was truly fulfilling. It was a little disappointing that they don't always absorb everything you teach, but seeing them try hard really makes you forget the disappointed feeling.
I had a lot of trouble teaching them English. There were times when they just wouldn't understand anything I had to say and there were times when they just wouldn't listen to anything I was saying. Whenever I was teaching vocab through powerpoint, I would always see some students pouting or looking out the window. It made me want to get over with the vocab and move onto the game. Once, I actually did. The result was terrible. They were unable to fully enjoy the game since they didn't know any of the words. Over time, I learned to bear their blank stares and continue with my teaching. Despite having their face tell me that they weren't really listening, when you played the game after properly teaching, they would always do much much better.
Teaching English to the students was tiring but fulfilling. During break, the some students would stay in the classroom and ask to be tested on vocab words. It warmed my heart every time they correctly spelled a word I taught them. It made me feel that I was fulfilling my purpose there; that I was making a difference to them. However, getting the students to remember everything I taught them was hard, and would often require hours of planning and guesswork.
I worked alongside the seven other teachers during the two weeks. Each of them had their own troubles. But we got through the two weeks helping each other. We would come up with ideas and solutions to problems, and we would even bring our classes together to spice up the day. It truly was fun. I feel blessed that I got to meet such awesome groupmates. They really are there for you when you need it. They make the time fly away and the work three times shorter. I doubt my sanity would've lasted had not I had my groupmates to help me out.
I've learned a lot about myself ever since I started teaching at Song May Elementary. First of all, I'm not as patient as I thought I was. I had always viewed myself as the patient and calm type. But since starting teaching, I could feel the wear and tear of each day. There were times when students got on my nerves; there were times when I would get on my own nerves. I never seem to be fully prepared for class. There's always something missing. Certain students always seem to love making trouble for me. They don't stop talking, they don't stop shooting rubber bands, and they don't stop making trouble for other classes. I was really energetic and cheerful the first few days of teaching class. But as the days went on, I could feel my brain fogging up and becoming more irritable. Fortunately, I had my partner who was always there to back me up.
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Cai, Grady (蔡智先)
From Chientan to Song May, the AID program has given me one of the greatest experiences I've ever had in my life. Sure, it was tiring and completely frustrating at times, but the program as a whole gave me so much knowledge and experience in teaching English, I feel like I can teach anyone English, especially since I had to teach the loudest and most rowdy class in the school. Teaching English here at Song May taught me three things: patience, patience, and patience. Teaching kids was a more challenging feat than I ever could have imagined. My partner and I spent so much energy, time, and vocal power trying to calm the kids down and fit some English into their minds. It was extremely difficult at times, but we managed to figure out each child's individual behaviors and predict when an interrupting event would happen. As the days passed by, my feelings toward the students changed from superb annoyance to warm care. I fell in love with Class D; sure, they were disobedient at times and could not calm down when we wanted to, but then which 10-year-old isn't? I decided I couldn't blame my students for wanting to have during the summer. After all, when I was that age, I wouldn't have wanted to sit in a sweltering classroom while chalk dust stuck onto the glistening sweat on my arms and neck. As I taught them, I realized that all of the kids, even the most rowdy ones, learned all that I taught. One of the kids, after we passed out candy, came up to me, returning a piece of candy and saying "I don't want." Sure, the grammar was not correct, but the fact that he decided to speak his feelings in English warmed my heart and gave me a terrific feeling: I had taught something to a child, and it had clicked in his mind; clicked in a way that he would be confident enough to use it in a daily situation! In all, the amount of sleep and energy used throughout this program working on lesson plans, preparing for the next day's classes, paid off in a beautiful way. My students learned so much from me and I learned so much from them. I learned how to deal with rowdy kids, dish out consequences that may seem harsh but are fair and teach the children about right or wrong; in this process I realized that I was not just a small part of my students' lives; I taught them English, but I was also a big part in teaching them the difference between right and wrong, especially because they were all so young. I understood that most of them came from underprivileged families where parents did not usually have the time to give their children the attention they need. At AID, I made sure that each child got the attention they needed and made sure I didn't neglect or treat one child different from another. I wanted them to know that someone did care about them, about their futures, that everything they accomplished and everything they did would be recognized and should be made up as very important milestones in their lives. A lot of the children who were put in my class had working-class parents who left the house very early in the morning and came back home very late at night; as a result, they were being brought up by their grandparents, or grandparent. Their grandparents would often be very old and too tired to give each child attention, and the child's accomplishments may pass by unheeded, unpraised. I noticed a lot of the children felt this way about their work; they felt that whatever they did was unappreciated, invisible to the world. I wanted to make sure that they understood that no matter what people around them said or acted like, their work was important, and it is vital for them to try their hardest in everything they do, regardless of how much attention their work may garner. Thus, my two weeks here were spent not only teaching English, but also teaching them that they are important and that their work and their education is as important as their lives. These two weeks taught me more than I could ever have imagined. Thank you to AID and the staff of this school for making this volunteer experience the best one I've ever had in my life. I am forever grateful.
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Wu, Shannon (吳品萱)
A month ago, I would've never thought I would be where I am today. The AID Summer 2012 Program had changed my life significantly since the day I stepped into the Chientan Youth Center. At the Youth Center, I roomed with rising college freshmen who gave me so much helpful advice. Even though they weren't in my group, I was glad I had the chance to bond with them before leaving for my school. Upon entering Song May Elementary in Chiayi, I was expecting a completely rural environment: no toilets, no Internet, no nothing. Instead, Song May was simple yet welcoming at the same time. This summer was the first time I had to use an outdoor restroom. Being extremely afraid of practically everything, I was horrified. For the first few days, I was battling geckos, spiders, flying cockroaches, ants, bats, mice, beetles, centipedes, the heat and most of all, the kids. However, my partner and I had the greatest time with those troublemakers and managed to help them develop an interest in learning English. Every night, we would gather together to chat and to wait to use the shower. Through those nightly bonding sessions, the eight of us became extremely close. I was surprised yet so happy at how quickly seven strangers became my best friends. The days at Song May Elementary flew by and soon enough, we were saying our goodbyes to the kids and heading on the tour. Everyone on our bus became really good friends with each other through traveling together and rehearsing for the Talent Show. Every day and night was another adventure because our bus would gather to eat midnight snacks, play mahjong and explore our new living space. On the last night, we stayed up to sign shirts and to view the sunrise. All in all, this short reflection does not do my summer experiences any justice for my time with AID had been indescribable. I would like to thank the Principal for being so kind to us, the counselors for putting up with us, Bus A for being Attractive, Awesome, Affectionate and my group for being the best I could've ever asked for. Most importantly, I would like to thank AID for giving me the opportunity to gain such an amazing experience, to meet such outstanding individuals and to make such unforgettable friends and memories. B3-4 and Bus A, I love you guys!!! Thank you for making my 2012 summer so perfect! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!! <3
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Liu, David (劉牧翰)
Not being the most extroverted person and though I often enjoy keeping to myself, I have to say my experience with AID was nothing less than phenomenal. Though, as a volunteer, I was restrained by many rules and there were more than just a few problems with the program, the memories I have gotten from all these experiences I will never forget. Having been to Taiwan 3 other times, I can easily say that my visit this Taiwan was the most memorable. Maybe because I am older now, but nothing can match the friendships I have made throughout the trip.
First of all, to have had all my living conditions seen to by either the AID program or my very awesome host family, I am extremely thankful. Three meals a day and a bed to sleep on every night for an entire month at the expense of others is not something that I will just take for granted and the best I can do here is offer my gratitude. In addition, the experience with my host family was nothing less than amazing. Though they didn't provide 5-star hotel living conditions, to see what their daily lives were like and enjoy the company of everybody in their family was truly an unforgettable two weeks. Also, the teaching itself was my favorite part. Though I stayed up quite late, to spend those two weeks with such wonderful children and to pass on my knowledge to them was the most enjoyable part of my trip. If at first I questioned whether or not I would enjoy this program, my time spent teaching the students was what made me love this trip. Of course I also couldn't have done it without my beautiful and wonderful teaching partner Jenny (we taught our children to say "My teachers are beautiful"). She made the experience truly work out as she accompanied me extremely well in our teaching process. As for the rest of my teaching group, they are truly amazing people and I am thankful I had the opportunity to meet them. From singing 千里之外 for the openning ceremony to 童話 for the closing ceremony and everything in between, it was an unforgettable two weeks with these 7 other people.
Though the program did have its problems (website, weird rooming arrangements, etc.), the experience I have gotten from it was truly amazing and if my time allows it, I will most likely be wanting and willing to try it again next year. Thank you AID for the wonderful time in Taiwan.
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