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Lu, Rachel (盧又嘉)
I've heard about this program from a lot of family friends over the years and now it was my turn to do it. I didn't realize how lucky I was to be chosen to be a part of this program until I got to Taiwan, so I wasn't really appreciating the opportunity I was given. Once I got to Taiwan I realized the kind of work we will be doing and it won't be easy. Around 9 hours of sitting through classes in the first week was kind of intimidating for me. I didn't think I could be a good teacher with all the plans, but as we worked and got closer with our group I grew more confident. And soon it actually became kind of fun being able to make up your own lesson plans.
Living at Chien Tan for a week though didn't prepare me for the living conditions of the school for the next two weeks. When we arrived at the school and I saw the bathrooms and how far we would have to walk to shower, I realized that I had been spoiled at Chien Tan. The bathrooms were dirtier than what I have been used to and the shower was a short walk so at night it was kind of scary. Breakfast would was left up to us the students as the principal bought food for us that would be left in the refrigerator. The library that we slept in was actually really comfortable, it was big, clean, and air-conditioned. The teaching soon began and I taught the lowest level class with 12 kids. These children knew absolutely nothing about english so me and my partner had to start at the very beginning with the alphabet. It was quite frustrating as it felt like the kids were not learning anything, the moment we told them to repeat a word and they would forget it a second later. My kids were pretty old compared to their level of english as many were 10 already so it was difficult making lesson plans that wouldn't seem lame or embarrassing for them. Doing easy childish things didn't really interest them. On the weekends the teachers took us to Leofoo Village Theme Park and that was really fun. By the end of the first week my group members and I had grown really close and we had inside jokes. I really miss spending everyday with them! We also met some PTA members and their kids. Getting close with the kids was also amazing, it's like having little sisters and brothers. I have always been the youngest so being with these kids was an awesome experience and I miss them so much!
After the two weeks of teaching saying goodbye to these kids was really tough. Being in this environment where our world revolves solely around these kids and the school it was weird knowing we were going to be thrust back into civilization. Honestly I was a little apprehensive about getting back into huge groups again because being at the school really allowed me to grow close to my group members, teachers, and students. The tour was really fun but honestly most of the fun came from sitting on the bus since once again we're in pretty small groups and we can all play games and get to know each other. My favorite place was Sun Moon Lake since it was just so beautiful and the weather was so refreshing from the humidity. I also loved the Cultural theme park we went to. I'm glad that we also got to know our counselors on the tour since the first week with them we didn't get to spend that much time with them.
Overall, this program was probably the hardest thing I've ever been through. My whole group and I were ravaged by bugs and left the school with literally bug bites covering our entire arms and legs. Even our teachers were shocked at what happened. I still have the bug bites on me now even 2 weeks after the program, but I have no regrets. I've met amazing people and learned amazing real life experience.
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Lu, Amy (呂柏萱)
The AID summer program was definitely one of a kind. During the four weeks of the program, I was able to experience more "firsts" then ever before. It was the first time I have dressed in bright orange, the first time I have roomed with people from other countries, the first time I have taught with a blackboard, just to name a few. It has been such a rewarding experience, full of laughter and joy, and sorrow when it was finally time to part. The students at Yueh Jin Elementary school are bright, cute, fun children with both a capacity to learn and to play. They have made my two weeks of teaching a wonderful experience never to be forgotten. I also could not have done it without the help of our two counselors, Tim and Sara, and our teacher, Rachel.
In this program, I have also made new friends, many who have become very close to me. I have had the best teaching group there ever was, and we share many cherished moments. All of these wonderful people have made my summer unforgettable. Thanks to AID for making this experience unlike any other!
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Chang, Kevin (張凱文)
Hah, a program teaching english in Taiwan. I didn't think it'd be that hard, me having come back every year. But I definitely didn't expect it to be as memorable as it was. Living away from home for around a month didn't really frighten me, as I had done it before, but I was wondering whether or not I'd get along with the fellow volunteers or not.
The first dinner at the program was simple enough. Conversation was light. I met the people around our table and we each stated where we were from and some basic information, but not much deep talk. Little did I know three of the people at that table would become the best friends I met in the program, and possibly much more. The icebreaking activities also took me as unexpected, as we were expected to sing ridiculous songs and massage the people in front of us, whom we hadn't even met! I didnt realize that later these songs would be stuck in my head and i'd be singing them over and over again.
Classes were somewhat entertaining but the information was slightly redundant and common, but the teachers sure had us competing to answer and beat the other tables! I remember, even through these activities, I was still very unfamiliar with my school members, and would not really get to know them until teaching.
Teaching came and I only have one word for it: tiring. Maybe it was my fault, staying up with the host family or chatting with friends online until late at night (or early in the morning for that matter). But preparing teaching materials definitely played a part. Teaching was worth it, however, when I saw the smiles on the kids faces. And, teaching in Chinese definitely helps them learn.
As the weeks went by it was finally time for the tour. I was greatly dismayed to learn that I'd not be on the same tour as the three great friends I'd made because they were from a different school, but it was fun nonetheless. The tour, plainly speaking, was not all that great. The time spent with friends, however, was priceless. And besides, I was reunited with my friends back on the last 2-3 days on the tour. We spent all of our free time together, and I'm glad that two of them live in California (although on the southern end, unlike me). We keep in touch.
Thank you AID for giving to me memories that I will never forget.
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Wu, Albert (吳冠賢)
The teaching experience given to me by AidSummer was truly an enlightening one. Not only the experience of being shipped away for a month, but the intense camaraderie and the vivid events I received and felt were an eye-opening experience. The students who I taught were certainly rowdy during class, but they each had their cuter, attentive moments and made each and every day both lively and entertaining. My teaching group was equally, if not more, inspiring, comprised of the most intelligent and enthusiastic teachers and friends one could imagine. The tour of Taiwan at the end of the month was a bonding time, one where we as students could get to know each other outside of the classroom while learning more about the cultural and geographical aspects of Taiwan. I sincerely appreciate and thank Aidsummer for this wonderful experience!
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Chou, Emily (周思婷)
By the time I boarded the plane for Taiwan, I wasn't even sure of how I felt about the coming month. On one hand, I was excited about visiting a country I hadn't been to in six years; on the other hand, my memories consisted mostly of overwhelming humidity and bloodthirsty mosquitoes. However, as soon as I landed I discovered that everyone was really friendly-- and not just friendly, but looking forward to this with such energy that I became optimistic as well. After meeting my group, I believed the coming month would be a lot of fun.
Still, it wasn't just games, though our first week's classes sometimes seemed like it. At night, we were expected to finalize our plans for the two weeks at our school. Even if we did not follow the schedule, it was useful in providing ideas, so we treated it seriously. All of the preparation also made us more impatient to get to our school and meet our students. On the last day of our training, our group of six people along with our table teacher Kiwi flew to Kinmen, a smaller island about an hour's flight away from Taiwan. Except for its location, I knew nothing else about the faraway island, but our teachers made sure that we were as comfortable as possible and took us out to explore the island a lot. We were also finally teaching, and dealing with the students was a major drain on our energy but very interesting as we looked for the best way to get them engaged and not playing their own games. Even though the ten school days looked as long as eternity on the opening day, it was not very long at all before we flew back to Taiwan for our tour. Although some parts of the month were difficult, there were a lot of laughs and memories created that make the entire experience entirely worth it.
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Chen, Kyle (陳慶丞)
What can I say. AID is wonderful as ever, and everyone should have the opportunity to do something like this program at least once in their lives. I have made countless friends inside and beyond the classroom, and though we must move on with our lives, a part of my heart will always hold on to the memories I've made in the past month. Thank you to everyone: my teachers, students, counselors, and friends. You have all made me a better person.
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WANG, JUO-TING (王若婷)
I honestly did not know what to expect when I left for Taiwan. My experiences visiting relatives before was nothing compared to my experience at the school. Training week was an amazing week to meet new people and develop friendships. Although the heat, humidity, and mosquitoes were hard to handle, the kids and people I met were worth it. My host family was amazing; I was as if they were my real family. The kids at my school were the cutest things ever, and I'm honored to be their first English teacher. I'm thankful for the experiences I had in Taiwan while teaching, and I must thank AID summer for that. The tour of Taiwan was also an amazing experience. Being with my friends all day, everyday, allowed me to become even closer to my group and my friends from other groups. AID summer has allowed me to create bonds with others that can never be broken, and I'm thankful for that. This summer will be one I will never forget.
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Liang, Tina (梁庭馨)
These three weeks were extremely fun. Not only have I made friends that will last me a lifetime, I gained valuable life experiences as well. Teaching the kids was an eye-opening experience for me. They were unruly, loud, and fun to be around all at the same time. I would also like to thank Aid Summer for helping me realize that I will never become a teacher. However, also because of Aid Summer, I have decided to go back to Taiwan next year to visit the school that I taught at. All in all, this program was one that I will never regret attending and will always look back to with fond memories.
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Shyong, Jocelyn (熊國恩)
I miss the sunsets at Jiufen every evening and the ocean right outside the window and I miss sitting in the library at night with the group and Andrew getting up every once in a while to do handstands and Ryan remarking on the handstands every time they happened. I miss going through the tunnel with Hursuong and Emily and warning each other about the insects and going together to do laundry and our endless riddles and the way Emily says things like “it’s hideous” and Kevin getting up to kill cockroaches with the broken electric flyswatter and group computer time and literature games and Andrew with his guitar playing the ABC’s for the fiftieth time and hugging everyone goodbye…and I miss being out at 12 AM in Taiwan with all the lights and the night market noise and the only group of people with whom I have ever gotten so close in such a short amount of time.
I loved AID. But I wouldn’t do it again, not unless it were the same people, because to me, this summer was us, our Jiufen group, through the teaching and the tour and until the very last day, and the next time could never come close to being the same.
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Chang, Jennie (張心如)
“Teacher, teacher!” After our school’s Closing Ceremony ended, our students swarmed us eight volunteer teachers for our autographs and email addresses, running after each of us with a paper and pen in their hands. It was hard to believe that just two weeks ago when we first started teaching, these were the children that were complete strangers to us and were too afraid to utter even a single word in English.
A lot has definitely happened in between. From chasing each other in games of Tag to swimming together in the pool, playing in-class learning games to dancing Justin Bieber’s “Baby,” we and our 3rd-6th grade students of 溫泉國小 became like a huge family within these two weeks. Although at times our students became extremely difficult to control, they were nevertheless willing to learn and participate in activities, and we couldn’t help but feel proud of them when they finally began to open up and speak English on their own. By the end of the two weeks, my title changed from "老師" to “Teacher,” and my students changed from giving blank and awkward stares to hugging and asking for piggyback rides.
My teaching experience at Hot Spring Elementary School was, without a doubt, one of the most amazing experiences I have ever had. Hoping to pursue a teaching career when I grow up, I have definitely acquired some valuable teaching skills during these two weeks that will greatly benefit me in the future. Also, the English teacher of Hot Spring and our main guidance throughout the program, Yvonne Chen, is one of the greatest teachers I have ever met, and not only made this whole experience all the more memorable, but also served as a good role model for me to follow.
And of course, I couldn’t have asked for a better teaching group. Despite being the youngest in my group and probably the most immature, I always felt welcomed and cared for whenever I was around the other seven members. They always found ways to make me laugh, and spending time with them was always enjoyable. During tour week, although we were touring with many other groups, we eight members of Group B1-2 remained best and closest friends.
Overall, AID was truly a life-changing experience that I will forever treasure and never forget. I made great friends, I taught great students, and I learned great things. To all the students of 溫泉國小: Teacher Jennie misses all of you very much, and hopes that you had as much fun as she did during these two weeks. To Ms. Chen and all the staff of 溫泉國小: Thank you so much for always helping us, and most of all, making this entire program possible. To Katy, Andrew and Rita, my three tour bus counselors: Thank you for always keeping us entertained during the tour and taking such good care of us. To Karen, Michelle, Joyce, Yubo, Clement, Spencer and Andy, the members of my teaching group: Words cannot explain how thankful and lucky I feel to have been able to work with you. You have all become like my big brothers and sisters, and saying goodbye to all of you on the last day was definitely one of the most difficult things I have ever had to do.
And last but not least, to AID Summer 2012: Thank you for giving me an experience that I will never forget, friends that I will never drift away from, and stories that I will never stop sharing.
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Lam, Leslie (林嘉怡)
One month. 4 weeks. 31 days. When I first signed up for AID Summer, I thought, “Wow, an entire month by myself in Taiwan!” Then, a month seemed like an eternity. But truly, nothing lasts forever. In the blink of an eye, a month had passed, leaving me whirling with emotions, experiences, memories enough to last a lifetime.
Thinking back upon those days in Taiwan, I can still feel the sweltering heat, hear the music of the garbage truck, the hourly ringing of the school bells. I never imagined that AID Summer would leave such a deep impression upon me. Sure, I would meet new people. Sure, I would make friends. But would I so yearn for time to stop? No. I thought I would come out of AID Summer with maybe some generic “eye-opening experience.” However, I finished the program with more than just that. I gained an immense respect for teachers around the world; while I had only experienced being a teacher for a mere two weeks, I learned the frustration of being unable to communicate, the stress of planning classes for each and every hour of every day of every week, the true relief of Fridays. To be able to do this for a living, I applaud them. Never again will I complain that teachers have it easy, that grading papers is something even I can do.
Even more than this, however, AID Summer gave me something even more valuable. A second family. Living and teaching with my fellow volunteers at Yude Elementary is an experience that can never be replaced. By the end of the two weeks of teaching, we had gone from strangers to best friends. I got lucky. I loved each and every one of the seven people in my group. Not a one of them would I replace. Furthermore, unlike many of the other schools, we bonded with our TAs as well.
It was a joy and an honor to experience AID Summer. I’m truly thankful to OCAC for bringing us all together, for otherwise I would have never met these wonderful people. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing.
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Jeng, Elaine (鄭敏儀)
In the beginning, I was extremely nervous and shy. I didn't know what to expect. This was my first time going to a foreign country on my own, and I honestly had no idea how I was going to survive. However, on the first day of AID, I met my group members and lots of other people; I made new friends. Slowly, the terrified feeling that once consumed me lifted. I felt at ease. New setting, new friends, new outlook. As the weeks passed, I grew closer and closer to my group members as I learned their individual quirks and personalities. I could not have asked for a better group.
Not only did I grow close to my group members, but I also connected with my students. Each student is different and special, and for those two weeks, I felt as if my students were my own kids. I loved them and would constantly hug them; they were extremely cute! I will never forget them. What surprised me the most was that some of my students wrote cards for me. The fact that they took time out of their personal lives to write something for me made me very happy. They will always occupy a special part in my heart.
Everything in AID was spectacular. The group leaders were really nice and funny, my group members were crazy and wonderful, and the kids were adorable. I definitely will not forget this summer.
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Hui, Joy (許承歡)
I did not intend to work hard this summer. This summer will be my last summer before college, and I had applied to AID Summer partly as an excuse to go to Taiwan and enjoy the excellent food. I had not really considered the amount of enrichment and effort I would both gain and invest into AID. Despite my unpreparedness, the past four weeks have been an unforgettable experience and I will always look back to AID as something I cherish deeply.
The first week at Chientan hit me like a bucket of cold water. Even though I had already spent a month in Taiwan, or perhaps because of it, the sudden influx of new faces and imposition of rules shocked me. I had spent July mostly interacting with the same four people without any restriction to my sleeping, eating, or dressing habits. At Chientan, I found myself spending my every waking and sleeping hour with five new girls, all of whom had extremely different and interesting personalities. Added to this, we had to endure the Taiwan summer in long pants and orange polos, which, to me, looked suspiciously like inmate uniforms. As I began to familiarize myself with my roommates and handle the sensory overload that results from 350 other volunteers being crammed into the same building, I found that my social skills were rusty from a summer of laziness and luxury. Because of this, the first week of Chientan was a bit hard on me, but this changed when we left to teach.
My group, B2-1, was assigned to teach at ChiDong Elementary at Penghu. I think it is miraculous that I was assigned to Penghu as well as my teaching group. Penghu was beautiful. Add this fact to my group's unofficial motto, "you only live once", and the result becomes a life-changing two weeks spent on a small island off the coast of Taiwan. While juggling the preparations necessary to teach 14 students English and to introduce tidbits of the American culture, we also explored many scenic spots in Penghu with the guidance of our two supervisors. I grew much closer to my roommates in our adventures together, from learning how not to flood the shower to scrambling over rocks in flip-flops to look at other rocks. I am especially thankful to AID for the friendships that I formed on Penghu with five extraodinary individuals. My teaching partner and I, through learning to interact and teach (as well as learn from) our class of rambunctious but bright students, gained an extremely strong belief in flexible teaching plans and a bond of trust in the other to help out when needed. When it came time to leave, we were all reluctant to part with the friends we had made on Penghu. The members of B2-1, including me, hope to be able to reunite someday with the students and supervisors of ChiDong Elementary.
Returning to Chientan was less of the sensory overload that coming to it was in the first place. This was helpful, since all six of us were recovering from a sort of homesickness for Penghu. This did not last too long, thankfully, because the fast pace of the Central Tour soon all but distracted us from missing Penghu too much. In the span of a week, we toured various key spots between Taichung and Taipei, all via bus. I got to see Sun Moon Lake, a bit of aborigine culture, and Taiwan's most famous nightmarket, to name a few of the places we visited. In the middle of all this, I was still getting to know my roommates and bus buddies better, which I would say was more exciting than anything else. During the Talent Show, it dawned on me that I was surrounded by some of the kindest, smartest, and most incredible people I had ever met. This made the Closing Ceremony, and our goodbyes, more emotionally demanding than I would have thought possible. I will truly miss the people I met during AID, and I hope that I will have the chance to see them again.
I am glad I applied for AID, and even more thankful that I was able to participate in this program. It has changed my perspective on so many things; I have learned so many surprising and useful skills; most importantly, I had met and come to know so many amazing people. AID is an invaluable program to anyone lucky enough to get in, no matter what their plans are. Thank you for helping run AID. It's changed my life.
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Chen, Calvin (陳長恩)
So, it's been four weeks. Well, almost four weeks, since I'm writing this the second to last day of the program. Anyways, it's been a fun, =fulfilling four weeks that I really wish could have lasted longer.
Anyways, a bit about me. I live in Fremont, CA. NorCal! I've spent most of my life in California, except for two years (5th and 6th grade) and travel back to Taiwan every year or two.
I first heard about AID through some friends, but forgot about it until I found it on the web. I thought it'd be a great excuse to visit Taiwan, help underprivileged children, and make new friends. It was. I met so many cool new people, people who I will hopefully stay friends with long after this program is over, and had fun learning more about myself while enjoying this last summer before college.
However, teaching the children here was the most rewarding part. Although they often gave us headaches and refused to follow instructions (I had a class of 10 boys and 3 girls...go figure), they quickly became a major part of our lives and woke us up in the morning...literally. Some days, I would wake to the yells of children who came to school well over an hour early, or hear them playing basketball on the courts. Anyways, to cut this reflection short, I would definitely recommend everyone join this program. The training was a tad boring and the teaching quite exhausting, but the children easily made up for it, not to mention the week-long tour at the end. These four weeks at AID have been unforgettable, and I'll forever miss the times I've had here. Oh, and as a final thought...FYI: mosquito repellent doesn't work against those super-mosquitoes in the mountains...T_T
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Chang, Chih-Chiun (張智鈞)
What a crazy two months this has been in Taiwan! There are no words to explain how my visit has been. Simply put, these memories are certainly unforgettable. I have visited Taiwan multiple times before to visit family members, but this particular visit was the most memorable.
The first month in Taiwan was visiting family members, while the second month was AID Summer 2012. AID Summer 2012 was filled with incredible memories, as I got to know so many people and made many new friends!
When I joined the program, I focused on the teaching aspect of the program and felt the program revolved around that. However, although teaching was a job, the real emotions came with the relationships and bonds that I formed with my students, teaching partners, and people I met during the program.
At Guoxing, Nantou, all eight of the teachers became very close with the students. The love and passion the students and faculty showed us at Nantou really rubbed off on us, and they really touched my heart. I will definitely visit Nantou again in the future to visit the students, faculty, and friends.
As the program ended with the tour, the eight of us teaching in Nantou became close friends. We had our inside jokes, and each of us had our unique quotes. Our favorite pastimes are karaoke party and Monopoly Deal. When we sat around the third floor table on the first day, we were complete strangers. At the last day of the program, when we sat around the exact same table, we were very close friends that would miss each other when the program was over. What a difference one month makes, which shows how truly valuable the program is and how much we accomplished in that one month.
This program was particularly memorable due to all the people I have met here. The awesome AID counselors, my teaching group, the students, and friends that I met during the program have all formed many memories that I will store in my heart forever.
I would like to thank the teachers and faculty at Nantou for taking such great care of the AID teachers! Also, I would like to thank all the Taiwan teacher aid volunteers in Nantou as well for helping us out and being great friends! Furthermore, I would like to thank the AID counselors for their support during the tour. Lastly, I give my thanks out to my amazing teaching group that I will always keep in touch with. Thank you C 2-2, for being such a great group to hang out with!
I am very happy that I did this AID Summer program. I made many new friends and learned a lot about being an English teacher. Also, I found a place I can call my second home, Nantou.
I would recommend this program to anyone and would pursue in doing more overseas programs like this one. In my opinion, these programs are more than just traveling. I wasn't just exploring Taiwan. I was also exploring myself, as relatives said that my personality was changed by the program (in a good way haha).
I would like to thank AID Summer 2012 for making this such a great, memorable experience! <3 I'm not sure if I will do this program again in the future, but I will definitely visit Nantou and Taiwan to see all the friends I met! Also, I will keep in touch with everyone I met in AID Summer 2012. May these memories last forever as we create more! The future is filled with opportunity! :)
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Lyu, Keziah (呂錫雅)
Taiwan is my second home, but it's just as like home than the United States. I wasn't born in Taiwan, so I can't really say that, but I've always loved Taiwan since I was a little kid. I love Taiwan for its culture, its people, its way of life, its food, its clothes, its sights, everything about it. I would endure the heat and mosquitoes just to be there. When I first heard about AID, I was really interested because I've been waiting for an opportunity to go back to Taiwan. Also, I love kids, so I thought it would be an excellent way to spend my summer. When I was accepted, I couldn't believe it, and I was really excited because I knew it would be quite an experience and I was right.
When I first got to Chientan, I was really nervous, because I wasn't sure if I would get along with the people in my group. However, after a month living together and doing almost everything together, we've become really close friends. I know we'll always keep in touch, and we'll be lifelong friends. I met so many people, and it's been a lot of fun getting to know them which totally shattered my expectations. The first week of classes at Chientan was a bit boring at first, but it turned out to be pretty helpful when we were teaching. The songs, the dances, and the chants were full of fun and easy to apply to class, but teaching at the school was nothing I imagined.
Teaching was so tiring, and it was hard to keep kids engaged. Still, they tried to cooperate with us, and they really wanted to know about us. We loved playing with them even though they tired us out. They were adorable even if they weren't that interested in learning English. I'm pretty sure most of them didn't learn a thing from those two weeks, but we showed them that learning English was easy, and I know we all will remember all the times we had together. I'll definitely remember their sweet smiles and the little gifts they prepared for us. We showered love and care on these children, and all our hard work and hard times were definitely worth it.
The last week was the tour which was the bittersweet ending to our AID experience. We went to so many places, ate so many things, and met so many new people. I'll never forget any of it: Sun Moon Lake, the Aboriginal Culture Village, making black tea, hiking at Sitou, visiting old streets, survival skills training, Taipei 101, etc. I really felt like I experienced a big part of Taiwan and the best part is I experienced it with the greatest people ever. The week of classes, two weeks of teaching, and week of tour made up one of the best months of my life. This certainly was an experience of a lifetime with so many memories that I'll cherish. Special thanks to everyone who made it possible for us.
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Fu, Beverly (傅貝貝)
Upon completing the teaching portion of the AID summer program at Song May Elementary School in Chiayi, I cannot but help feel a mixture of happiness and sadness. These past two weeks, I've spent hours staring at a computer screen planning each day's lesson, creating worksheets, powerpoints and other teaching aids, browsing through Youtube videos, and reflecting on each day's teaching. During these busy sessions, I learned that being a teacher is nowhere near simple. Despite these busy times, however, I managed to find a source of enjoyment. Everyday, my fellow teachers and I would review each class's behavior for that particular day. In addition, the working periods were never dull for we would randomly burst out in laughter and chat about various topics. To think that these days are behind me leaves me filled with sadness.
Beyond the group bonding among us teachers, a large part of my experience at Song May Elementary School was of course with the students. Here, I was one of the teachers for Class B, the second highest of four classes. At first glance, there was a large variation in student personality. Some students were the studious type who went to cram schools and studied English constantly. Others, however, were a tad bit more of a nuisance and simply created disorder. Nonetheless, at the end of the two weeks, I can't help but think that all the students were in one way of another truly hardworking diligent people. Despite fooling around, screaming at each other, and ignoring us teachers, the students all managed to understand a portion of the English we were trying to divulge. In fact, many students would hang around during break time to pester us to "kao dan zhi, kao dan zhi!" It was truly amazing to find out that the students here were so dedicated to learning English. To further add on to this thread of thought, I was humbled to discover the depth of their talent. The students were all quick to learn the words necessary for the Closing Ceremony performance. By the end of the program, countless bonds were created between my class and I. Beyond the basic student teacher relationship, we had a formed a sibling relationship where we would chatise and make fun of each other. This experience was especially heartfelt for I have never had the chance to have siblings.
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Chen, Howard (陳希豪)
I really liked these two weeks because I feel like I gained a lot of insight into the english teaching system here in ChiaYi. Also I bonded decently with the children and my group members. Meeting all these new friends makes leaving a very difficult matter. Even the troublesome students seemed sweet on the final day. That being said, I am glad that even the trouble students seem to have learned some english and gained a slight interest in the language. Furthermore, the hard working students have made very visible progress, learning new words and how to approach new words. I feel very proud of John, who began as the leader of the trouble students. However, after a few days, he shot to the top of the class, becoming a proficient reader and wielder of phonics. All in all, the experience was fun, rewarding, and enlightening.
I think the main problem with the English teaching method in Taiwan is that they teach by memorizing words. This strategy works well in chinese, which is the only non-phonetic major language. However, since English is a language constructed on phonics, it should be taught as such. The students learn all the letters and the sounds they make, but they are never taught to connect those sounds to the language itself. This creates a huge challenge when it comes to reading new words, and fails to build a base for prefixes, suffixes, and roots, which are critical parts of the english language. I hope these two weeks have improved the students' phonics and changed their method of learning the language.
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Tseng, Alex (曾憲暘)
This was an amazing experience. Although I was the one doing the teaching, I had a big share of learning, as well.
At first, I was very excited to meet my class. It came as a bit of a disappointment when I realized I had a group of very rowdy boys.
They were difficult to handle at times. Other girls often called me fat because I'm pretty big. It's understandable for little children to exaggerate everything, so I forgave everything.
Still, in the middle of the week, I would have said that some of them were just quite difficult and that I wouldn't miss some of them.
This, however, was not the case.
When Friday came, I still cried a bit. Mostly, it was for the sweet girls who called me "panda" or "壞叔叔." But I was also surprised that a few tears were for the rowdy boys who grew on me. Yes, they were difficult to handle at times, but they were also my friends. They talked to me during breaks like they talked to their own friends. Sure, it's a bit unusual for a child to call his teacher "變態," but it was special anyways.
I learned that teaching is actually quite difficult. True, a real teacher doesn't need to write Working Journals or School Class Schedules. The real work, though, was in preparing lessons for the next day. I feel like I should go back and thank all my teachers for all the hard work they put in.
I also learned about how amazing it can be to teach little children. I've been camp counselors and done lots of work with children that age before, but I'd never actually taught them.
It was difficult catering to their interests and short attention spans, but it also helped me realize the importance of planning.
Planning ahead has always been a big part of my life, and I got to see it in action in these two weeks.
When the post-test scores came in, I was very impressed by how much they improved. I almost teared up right there.
It flutters my heart to know that I was a big part of their lives--big enough to start the flow of tears!
The sentiment, however, is mutual. They will also be a big part of me; and I hope that their knowing this will maybe twang a few of their heartstrings.
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