Cultural Exchange with AIESEC Volunteers

I’ve been thinking about how to create a more authentic environment for my students to use the language. Today, two student volunteers from Holland and Australia, Noel and Chelsea, helped a lot with both language practice and cultural exchange. Working in groups, my students did a little presentation about windmills, floating houses, bicycles and the Anne Frank House in Holland.

Sharing International Video Conferencing with Teachers-To-Be at NTCU

By invitation of Professor Liaw from the National Taichung University of Education, I shared what I have learned along the way with these teachers-to-be at a workshop. My presentation was divided into three parts, For the Love of English, Embarking on a Fascinating Journey and The Project Will Flourish, because I wanted to create an atmosphere of storytelling so that the participants could be more engaged in it.

Teaching Demonstration at Chang Te

Overwhelmed with a heavy workload, I didn't have time to come up with a new lesson for this teaching demonstration at Chang Te. I made do with an old one. This is the sixth time that I taught students whom I've never met before, with all the English teachers sitting in the back as well. 

KuangMing and Seijo's International Video Conferencing Will Flourish

Akiko's flyer for recruiting students to participate in this project

Principal 栗原's blog entry on Seijo's homepage

They finally pulled this off yesterday and got the principal’s full support. Ten students and Akiko went to the principal’s office, and what those Japanese students did at the meeting was really extraordinary and unbelievably amazing. According to Akiko’s vivid description, one by one they expressed their thoughts and feeling about this project. One said he came to realize that he really enjoyed talking to Taiwanese friends at his age without worrying about his imperfect English. Another said he did not have time to worry about making any mistakes because he tried to respond as soon as possible. Still another said he felt so much more relaxed and was able to use the language with Taiwanese students compared to another program offered by the school in the summer, requiring him to talk to native speakers from Barkley California.

Teaching English in English

I’m a crazy English learner. I seldom let my mind wander. I always listen to some English even when I mop the floor, hang out the clothes, drive on the road and take a dump. I’m very eager to feed my brain with as much English input as I can, such as Taipei Times, Advanced, Biz, Harry Potter, The Kite Runner and so on.